From representing Belgium on the world stage to speaking openly about horse welfare and competing at the 2026 World Cup Finals while pregnant, Alexa Fairchild reflects on the horses, partnerships, and values that continue to shape her career in elite dressage.

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.