An international Delphi study has identified the key domains and sub‑domains essential to managing sport horse health and welfare in Olympic disciplines — creating the first globally agreed scientific framework for evaluating welfare in elite equestrian sport.
A global scientific effort to define sport horse welfare
Until recently, the equestrian world lacked a unified, science‑based definition of what “good welfare” means for sport horses. To address this gap, researchers conducted a global Delphi study, gathering expert insights from veterinarians, scientists, trainers, riders, grooms, farriers, and federation representatives across multiple nations.
Using the Delphi method — a structured, multi‑round process designed to build consensus — the study identified the core domains and sub‑domains essential to safeguarding sport horse health and welfare in the Olympic disciplines. These domains encompass physical health, mental wellbeing, training practices, management routines, environmental conditions, and competition‑related factors.
A shared framework for the equestrian community
The resulting framework provides the international equestrian community with a science‑based, consensus‑driven foundation for evaluating and improving welfare standards. It offers federations, trainers, and policymakers a shared language for discussing welfare expectations and implementing evidence‑based best practices.
By establishing a globally recognized welfare structure, the study supports more transparent decision‑making, strengthens public trust, and helps ensure that sport horses receive the care, training, and management they need to thrive — both in and out of competition.
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Two days. One shared goal: advancing horse welfare through science, education and practice. Join leading international experts at the Horse Welfare Summit 2026, where Dr Andrew McLean will deliver two keynote lectures and receive the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation Scholarship.
A new review examines how smartphones are becoming genuine tools for monitoring a horse's soundness, heart rate and recovery, and even for meeting international competition requirements. Among the systems it highlights is Sleip, co-founded by Dr. Elin Hernlund, one of the Foundation's own scholarship recipients, whose work builds on decades of Swedish equine biomechanics research going back to Professor Ingvar Fredricson himself.
On November 2, visitors gathered in Hall B at the Jönköping Horse Show for the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation’s 2025 scholarship ceremony, celebrating groundbreaking Swedish research in equine biomechanics. From the pioneering efforts of the 1970s—when high‑speed cameras and manual measurements were the researcher’s tools—to today’s AI‑powered motion analysis and robotic hoof simulators, the audience was taken on a journey through decades of innovation. Professors Lars Roepstorff and Marie Rhodin, together with Associate Professor Elin Hernlund, shared their latest breakthroughs, followed by live demonstrations showing how AI and high‑precision sensors are transforming the understanding of horse–rider interaction. Moderator Jens Fredricson guided the dialogue and inspired exchange between researchers, while post‑event discussions with attendees helped build valuable bridges between research and practice.
The FEI's guardian framework resonates with the work we champion at the Professor Fredricson Foundation. Advancing equestrian sport means placing the horse's welfare and wellbeing at the center — not as an afterthought, but as the foundation upon which all excellence is built.