Moody Lifts the Roof Off the Dickies Stadium | Great Britain's Moody and Jagerbomb takes home the Freestyle victory in Fort Worth, Texas
Kent Farrington and Greya on Form in Fort Worth | Farrington leads, but the Final remains open ahead of Sunday.
FEI World Cup™ Finals in Fort Worth | Moody and Farrington Take Early Control on Opening Day of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Finals
New Research | Highlights Gaps in Current Understanding of Stress in Dressage Horses
The 2026 FEI Sports Forum highlighted a sport evolving in structure, but still facing a gap in perception. From welfare and Olympic formats to communication strategy, the discussions revealed a clear need for stronger athlete-led storytelling and a more aligned approach to building trust with global audiences.
INDUSTRY UPDATES
Research Highlights*
A new study examining stress behaviours in dressage horses has found that conflict signals increase as competition level rises, yet scores at medium level and above remain unaffected. The findings add to growing equitation science research suggesting a disconnect between observable welfare indicators and judging outcomes. As debate continues around tack use, competition intensity and performance expectations, the latest evidence invites a closer look at how equine wellbeing is recognised within the modern dressage arena.
Using wearable sensor technology, researchers analysed gait patterns in over 400 horses across three European breeds. The findings challenge traditional assumptions about movement quality, highlight discipline-specific traits, and point towards future applications in genetics, welfare and performance assessment.
Transportation triggers measurable stress responses in horses, including elevated cortisol and metabolic disruption. New research suggests transdermal melatonin may help reduce some of these effects. This article explores what happens inside a horse’s body during travel, what the latest study reveals, and why careful interpretation is essential before wider adoption.
PERSPECTIVES THAT MATTER*
“Equine Technology Fails in the Training Environment, Not the Lab”
As digital tools and data analysis become more accessible, technology is transforming how horses are monitored, trained and cared for. From motion tracking and wearable sensors to artificial intelligence systems capable of analysing movement patterns, the “connected stable” is changing the way riders, trainers and veterinarians understand equine welfare. By combining traditional horsemanship with objective data, new technologies are helping the industry move toward more proactive, transparent and evidence-based horse management.