Are sport horses under more pressure than leisure horses, or is that a misconception? In this expert interview, a leading behaviour-focused veterinarian challenges common assumptions about equine welfare across different management systems. From stress and emotional wellbeing to turnout, routine and environmental enrichment, discover how both competitive and amateur horses face unique welfare risks, and what each world can learn from the other.

Olympic rider Lisen Bratt Fredricson has long been a leading figure in international showjumping. But beyond the arena, she has also become one of the most influential women shaping the modern equestrian industry.

In this conversation, as we celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, she reflects on the transition from elite sport to building businesses, the challenges of driving change in a traditional industry, and why the future of horse sport must continue to balance passion, innovation, and horse welfare.

Diagnostic imaging has moved from the margins of equine practice to the centre of performance medicine. As Sweden’s first equine diagnostic imaging specialist, Ellen has built her career at the forefront of this shift. In this interview, she explains how imaging is transforming our understanding of injury, training load, and welfare in sport horses, and why the future of equestrian sport must evolve alongside advances in veterinary science.

International showjumper Joe Fernyhough shares his second go-to gymnastic jumping exercises, offering practical guidance on building straightness and confidence in horses from youngstock through to Grand Prix level. Designed for everyday schooling, these exercises help riders fine-tune technique while strengthening partnership and balance.

Filmmaker Ashley Avis launched ‘The Lost Horses: Anthem Film’ at Sundance Film Festival, set to Billie Eilish’s Oscar-winning song, ‘What was I made for?’. Blending cinematic storytelling with advocacy to highlight the fate of America’s equines, it features voices from sport and entertainment. The initiative aims to raise awareness, inspire public engagement and support stronger protections for horses across the United States.

International showjumper Joe Fernyhough shares two of his go-to gymnastic jumping exercises, offering practical guidance on building suppleness and confidence in horses from youngstock through to Grand Prix level. Designed for everyday schooling, these exercises help riders fine-tune technique while strengthening partnership and balance.

A new graphic book is changing how equestrians engage with science, using visual storytelling to explain horse behaviour, welfare and learning. By blending research with narrative, The Mind of a Horse makes complex concepts accessible to riders, owners and professionals, helping bridge the gap between academic insight and everyday horsemanship.

The Lost Horses letter writing competition invites young people to speak directly to lawmakers on behalf of horses facing export and slaughter. Led by the Wild Beauty Foundation, the initiative combines storytelling, education, and civic engagement to shape a more compassionate future for equine welfare.

Svetlana “Equestlana” Kandybovich blends creativity, honesty and humour to explore how online equestrian culture shapes rider identity, ambition and connection. In this in-depth conversation, she speaks openly about setbacks, the realities behind the highlight reels, and why the heart of horse life lies far beyond perfection.

Horses rarely enter clinical spaces, yet Sjukhushästen is changing that reality in Sweden. Through carefully designed visits to hospitals, homes and Sparreholms Castle, these horses offer comfort, confidence and connection to children facing illness. We speak with founder Louise Chatteli about the emotional impact, the welfare considerations and what this programme reveals about the healing power of animals.

Nathalie Wahlund did not grow up in an equestrian family. Instead, she built her own path into elite dressage through grit, curiosity and a deep love for the horse. In this intimate conversation, she reflects on mental strength, slow progress, true horsemanship and why partnership remains the real measure of success in the sport.

When a routine training session turned into a catastrophic accident, Mattias Renberg’s life changed in a single moment. Two years later, he is not staging a comeback—he is reconstructing his entire relationship with riding, with his body, and with himself. This is the story of how a horseman chooses to rebuild, with LA28 on his vision board.