Dr David Marlin presenting – Are welfare and performance mutually exclusive in equestrian sport?
At the National Equine Show at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday 4th, March 2023, Dr David Marlin was asked to speak on the subject of Social License to Operate (SLO).
Over recent years and heating up in recent months, the equestrian world has had its Social License to Operate questioned by the general public. But what is SLO, why do we care, and what can we do to protect it?!
In this 20-minute presentation, Dr David Marlin addresses the importance of SLO and how it is already shaping the world of equestrianism worldwide, as Australia bans jump racing and Modern Pentathlon loses its ability to host riding as part of the event at future Olympic Games.
If a non-horsey person asked you these questions, how would you answer them?
- Do horses enjoy being ridden and trained?
- Does being trained and competed compromise their welfare”?
- Do they suffer pain and injury as a result of being ridden and competed?
Dr David Marlin also has a podcast on the subject of SLO, Social Linense to Operate. Listen Here.