Social Licence to Operate

SLO is the public acceptance of the equine world to undertake riding and other horse activities. This social acceptance can change over time. What was accepted years ago, might not be acceptable today anymore. Looking from now into the future, we must ask ourselves: what do we find acceptable and what does science tell us?

By being proactive and showing the world that we are actively thinking about this, we take an active role in current discussions. 

vielleicht hier auch: welfare im Vergleich zu SLO?

Major changes include the following

2024 – Establishment of an expert group with internationally renowned veterinarians and hoofsmiths from all over the world. – die ist aber noch nicht wirklich existent…..

2024 – Luxembourg statement?

2023 – Equipment regulations were fundamentally changed, and a list of permitted equipment now applies.

2015 – Introduction of firewalls in the Sport Judges’ Guidelines meaning performances can no longer get more than 7.5 unless the connection is soft and harmonious. Wwe have also strict rules about all equipment used, including the permissible length of hooves, thickness of shoes and weight of protective equipment. The Sport Judges’ Guidelines are reviewed annually.

2014 – The FEIF Hoof Study (Weishaupt et al, 203, University of Zurich and Vejle Equine Clinic) resulted in a change of the permitted hoof length after scinetific studies proved a higher risk for injuries with longer hooves. This resulted in tighter regulatons of hoof length and limitation in the weight of hoof boots and protective equipment.

2005 – New rules to include looking into the horse’s mouth during the equipment check. To standardise the procedure, a new form includes all injuries in the mouth and on the whole body, espeacially the legs of the horse. Find the current forms here: Vet Form 1 (fit to compete) and Vet Form 2 (equipment and health check after the presentations)