Tom Best: Time equestrianism earned its 'social licence' status

For my part, I recognise the stinking cold, or 'flu' that I have been enduring for the past 10 days lies at the root of my own attitude towards looking positively ahead. The complete loss of my sense of taste has added injury to all the usual symptoms so, as a result, I have been heeding Professor Jason Leech's recent advice.

Despite testing negative for Covid, I have reverted to wearing a mask in public places and find it no great deal.

Maybe there's a bit of a Covid flash-back going on somewhere in my head at present, which brings me nicely to the main focus of this month's column – a flash-back to a topic I've previously raised – Social Licence as it applies to the world of equestrianism.

For those readers not too sure what this is all about, I'd refer you to a quote from chief executive officer, Helen West, during her address to the British Eventing (BE) agm in December: “When an activity does have society’s approval, or acceptance. It’s said to have a social licence to operate. The equestrian world needs to maintain and strengthen its social licence for it to have a future.”

She went on to add: “This means the welfare of the horse must be put first – and seen to be put first all of the time – and it’s the responsibility of everyone who is involved with horses to demonstrate this.”

Her comments followed an announcement at the same agm regarding the society's new whip rule which is to be rolled out this year. From 2023, only padded or cushion-type whips will be allowed during the jumping phase, a trend set by British Racing for flat races in 2004 and jump races in 2007 as well as British Showjumping in 2020.

With a horse welfare committee in place to consider further implications of social licence within its sport, it looks as if BE is sitting up and taking notice – a very wise move, in my view.

For those who follow racing, you'll know that its governing body, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), after much consultation within the industry, set out new whip rules to commence this year. However, this policy on how the whip should be held caused uproar among jockeys and a climb-down by the BHA ensued.

The final changes refer to the number of times the whip can be used and the resultant penalties for misuse stepped up.

Given the high speeds involved in horse racing, the use of the whip for jockey safety and adjusting direction is understandable and justifiable for those who understand.

However, the BHA wished to make whip use more palatable to the public in order to maintain its use in the future. Sadly, the final stages of races witnessed by the public often feature a smack to the quarters and, to the unknowledgeable, this isn't seen as safety, or adjustment nor encouragement for that matter, but simply a cruel action to secure a win.

Week in, week out, we hear racing pundits extol the virtues of jockey technique which is easy to identify among the best of them.

Unconvinced by the science behind the use of the whip, I suspect that the general public won't be convinced and 'social licence' will dictate that racing develops without the use of a whip in the not-too-distant future. The sooner the whip is not identified by the onlooker as a 'beater', the sooner it will be disregarded and cease to be an issue.

Racing is not alone in this regard, nor the use of the whip a single issue for change, hence the reason why all the performance disciplines are reflecting on public perception of their activities. Bits, bridles, nose bands and spurs are all in the current spotlight of 'things' involved in competition and so, too, is transport.

Nothing is exempt if it's in the public view. Which makes me wonder why showing societies continue to ignore the obvious issue of inappropriately mounted ponies being allowed to compete in classes and why they, along with show organisers, allow large riders to ride-in small ponies for younger jockeys prior to competition.

Regardless of any arguments put forward to support either case, the public vision is that of a cute wee pony being put through its paces by someone who doesn’t fit the picture. It is a matter of time before the 'social licence' for these practices is withdrawn, purely on welfare grounds of the ponies.

Strangely enough, the topic was highlighted for me during a recent episode of the Gaelic documentary series, Trusadh, the title of which was 'Each nan eilean', or 'Horse of the islands'.

It's one of those rare beasts, a TV programme combining equine and Scotland without straying further afield. Better still, there were no high profile equestrians, or personalities offering their wisdom – instead it was the beauty of the locations and local enthusiasts, along with their ponies and horses that were the stars.

The subject covered what it said on the tin lid, the native breeds of Scotland, namely the Eriskay, from the Outer Isles; the Shetland that it took its name form the islands of that name; the Rum pony, a specific type of Highland pony developed on that island; and the Clydesdale, with its origins in the Clyde Valley of Lanarkshire.

With the horse-loving presenter, Mairi Ross, coming from Lewis, it was little wonder that the Eriskay and its interesting history held centre stage.

Two comments from those interviewed particularly interested me. Firstly, Beverley Walker – who, along with her husband, David, breeds Clydesdales at their Glancantray Stud, near Inverness – waxed lyrical about the temperament of the breed.

Together, they saw its future lying in both the ridden and driven spheres and suited to the one horse owner. Curiously, Beverley commented that the Clydesdale was bred as a draught horse and not suited to carrying heavy loads, so any 20-stone rider should look to a Highland pony instead. (You tell them Beverley!)

However, I was taken by the comments of Shetland Pony Studbook president, Roselyn Fraser, from Whalsey, Shetland, when she enthused about her iconic diminutive Scottish native breed.

In her words (not mine) she said: “Bairns are the future of the breed. They are so versatile – the best pony for any bairn.”

Her view is backed up by studbook's website that states: 'Today the Shetland pony no longer has the hardworking life of its ancestors, as nowadays the main employment is for a child's riding pony, or for carriage driving, and it is hugely popular world-wide.'

The back drop to Roselyn's interview was a Shetland pony show on one of the islands, where children seemed to be taking part in every sort of class. The only adult competitor to be seen was one who acknowledged that she was much too big and heavy for a pony so she had developed a stand-on driving vehicle which was reminiscent of the breed's working history.

Her research had led her to understand that a Shetland was capable of pulling 380kg and she was well short of that. By thinking out of the box, here was an adult who made herself a perfect match for her little pony.

The Shetland is not alone in appearing under saddle in the show ring with adult jockeys, albeit some of them quite small and light but adults nonetheless. Exactly the same can be said for Welsh Mountain, Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies.

I have to ask the question, how long do exhibitors of these ponies and the Societies of which they are members think that 'social licence' will allow this practice to continue? Let’s face it, there are plenty other native breeds to fit the bill.

The same question can be levelled at those responsible for large jockeys riding on small ponies, such as lead rein and first ridden ponies in order to quieten them sufficiently for a smaller, often inexperienced rider to compete? What message does it send out about suitability and temperament?

'Social licence', which allows us to continue in our equestrian activities, sadly has to be earned in this day and age and not presumed a given.

My advice to all concerned: It's time to get ahead of the game and get your house in order before the general public exerts an unacceptable and unnecessary influence on it largely based on a lack of understanding, or knowledge.