{"id":9588,"date":"2022-11-29T12:27:50","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T12:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hallmarq.net\/?p=9588"},"modified":"2022-11-30T10:44:08","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T10:44:08","slug":"joining-the-conversation-what-do-we-need-to-consider-when-asking-when-does-use-becomes-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hallmarq.net\/us\/2022\/11\/29\/joining-the-conversation-what-do-we-need-to-consider-when-asking-when-does-use-becomes-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Views from the 2022 World Horse Welfare Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 2022 World Horse Welfare Annual Conference<\/a> centred around the question \u201cWhen does use become abuse\u201d and follows the current exploration into the social license to operate (SLO) for equestrianism. The thought-provoking day saw speakers from across the globe share their expertise, and experience on matters ranging from working equids to high-level competition horses.<\/p>\n\n

We were delighted to have a representative for both Hallmarq and VetCT<\/a> attend the conference and join the discussion. Read on for a summary of the event<\/p>\n\n

Can We Do Better?<\/h2>\n\n

As members of the equine society, it is easy to acknowledge the care, dedication and high welfare status we see, and assume all is well within the community. <\/p>\n\n

However, as highlighted in US eventer Matt Brown\u2019s presentation, we all need to continually ask ourselves if we can do better. Matt shared an honest account of his career and how he has changed many of his practices over time to be a kinder horseman. He shared questions he asks himself at the end of each day. They include \u201cAm I happy with how I handled the horses today?\u201d \u201cDid I help the horses become more comfortable and confident?\u201d \u201cWas I able to catch myself becoming frustrated and stop to rethink my approach?\u201d and \u201cDid I let external pressures control how I worked with the horses\u201d. <\/p>\n\n

Likening the current SLO conversation to the #MeToo movement, he expressed that instead of turning a blind eye to behaviors that once were common practice but are now no longer acceptable, we must be willing to call out this behavior when we see it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Changing Public Perception<\/h2>\n\n

It was discussed that the line between use and abuse is not as black and white as we may like to believe. World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, Roly Owers, addressed the hybrid audience in his keynote speech. Roly highlighted that despite World Horse Welfare working and reflecting on this question for the past 100 years, never before has there been such a need to ask, \u2018When does use become abuse?\u2019 <\/p>\n\n

There are mixed views on what is use and what becomes abuse in the public perception, the equestrian community, and indeed even between vets. This, he reasoned, is due to three factors:<\/p>\n\n