Preface
Equestrian: a sport for all?
-The myth of gender equality
-Economic barriers to participation
-More flags does not really mean more participation in equestrian
events
-Promoting grassroots take-up of equestrian sport?
-Poverty-washing PR is demeaning and potentially harmful
-Abuse of power in equestrian sport
Animals in the Olympics are a liability, not an asset
-Animal exploitation and the Olympic brand
-No evidence horses want to compete
Modern horse sport does not represent tradition
-Traditional horsemanship and modern competition
-Equestrian traditions and modern times
Doping, cheating, and why equestrian sport can
never be clean
-The normalisation of drugs that enhance performance
-Clean or corrupt, international horse sport and welfare don't mix
-Additional difficulties in avoiding prohibited substances in horses
The stories of Anton and Never
-Removal of the ban on de-nerved horses in competition
-Implications of allowing de-nerved horses in competition
Equestrian rules are unenforceable
-A growing gap between rules and reality in dressage
-Implications for fairness in judging
-A welfare code incompatible with the reality of horse sport
The impact of social media
-The emergence of 'rollkur'
-YouTube and the impact of video
-From 'rollkur' to 'hyperflexion' to 'LDR': plus .a change
Equestrian sport and media repression
-'The riders don't feel comfortable with the camera'
-FEI World Reining Finals: well that was awkward
-'Take down that video!'
-Intimidation of photographers at shows
-Taking the fight to the courts
The price of more flags is declining safety
-Logistical barriers limit opportunities to qualify
-Standards in Equestrian's 'new markets' are still too low
-Contrived universality may harm athlete safety and public opinion
The equestrian fanbase is overstated
-As the sport bleeds fans, the side-show becomes more and more
undignified
Equestrian will not meet modern standards.
Will the IOC?
-Fear of litigation limits officials' ability to enforce the rules
-Conflicting views among member countries
-Equestrian may not meet modern legal codes
-Public exposure of abuse will only increase
-Over to you, IOC
Bibliography