The Swedish Icelandic Horse Association (SIF) has been awarded project funding from the Swedish Animal Protection Association to continue, during 2026, the development and implementation of the ongoing work with welfare protocols for competition horses.

The project is carried out by the Swedish Icelandic Horse Association in collaboration with researchers Anna Lundberg and Jenny Yngvesson at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), as well as MSc Ronja Berg.

The project has the potential to contribute to the development of evidence-based welfare tools in additional equestrian disciplines and to strengthen the work surrounding equestrian sport’s social licence through increased transparency and systematic knowledge follow-up.

The project builds on work carried out during 2025 at, among others, the Swedish Sport Championships, the Swedish Gaedingakeppni Championships, and World Cup Tölt during SIHS, where specific welfare protocols were tested and further developed in different competition environments.

Two complementary protocols are in focus:

• a protocol for observing and monitoring horses’ behaviour during competition performances
  • a protocol for assessing environmental and welfare factors related to stabling and housing at the competition venue

The project has a clearly positive approach, where the focus is not only on identifying risk factors and shortcomings, but also on highlighting positive welfare indicators and good examples in competition environments. Examples of such indicators include relaxed behaviour in horses, well-functioning recovery, and positive interaction between horse and rider.

During 2026, the project will include, among other things:

• continued implementation of the protocols at major competitions
  • training of observers
  • data collection and analysis at the Swedish Sport Championships, the Swedish Gaedingakeppni Championships, the Swedish Team Championships and the Nordic Championships
  • continuing education for judges
  • knowledge dissemination through seminars, lectures and presentations both within SIF and in external contexts

The project Welfare Protocols for Competition Horses is a collaboration within SIF Competition and SIF Education, together with SLU and the Swedish Animal Protection Association. The project manager is Sabina Anderberg.

Original article: Stöd beviljat för fortsatt arbete med hästvälfärd i tävlingsmiljöer | Svenska Islandshästförbundet