RSPCA Policy C04 Animals in competitive events

Organisations or individuals responsible for organising competitive events involving animals must act to ensure the safety and well-being of participating animals.

The RSPCA advocates the adoption of mandated and enforced animal welfare standards for competitive events involving animals. Compliance with mandated standards should include:

• Courses to be designed and maintained such that healthy and trained animals can complete them with negligible risk of injury
• Exclusion of the use of equipment that causes injury, pain, suffering, or distress
• Exclusion the use of performance enhancing techniques or medication which would enable an injured animal to compete
• Cancellation of an event if conditions were such that the welfare of competing animals would be compromised
• Assessment by a competent person of an animal’s fitness to participate and continue to participate in the event
• Protocols to be in place to conduct tracing of participating horses in the event of a biosecurity incident
• Attendance of a suitably qualified veterinarian for the duration of events where there is the potential for injury or stress to participating animals.

Competitive equestrian events

Horses in competitive equestrian events (and in training for such events) must not be subjected to excessive behavioural restriction, discomfort or constant pressure. Competition rules and judging standards must be set so as to minimise the risk of adverse outcomes for horses.

Novelty events

The RSPCA opposes the use of animals in novelty events for fundraising or entertainment, because of the inherent welfare risks including injury, pain, fear and anxiety associated with handling, transportation, unfamiliar environments, noise and lack of choice and positive experiences. There is also inadequate legal protection to ensure that these animals are acquired and cared for in an ethical and humane manner.