Prevention, monitoring and sustainability in equestrian sports
Patricia RathgebWhether a passionate recreational rider or an ambitious tournament professional – more and more horse people are asking themselves a central question: How can I keep my horse healthy, performing well and mentally balanced in the long term – and in a fair and responsible way?
The answer lies in a new approach that focuses on three powerful concepts: prevention, monitoring, and sustainability.
1. Prevention: Health begins before a problem becomes visible.
Riders who take responsibility don't wait until something "is wrong" to act. They invest in prevention rather than aftercare because they understand that a healthy horse's body results from attention – not from chance.
Modern equestrian athletes therefore rely on:
- Regular physiotherapy sessions
- Early analysis of movement patterns
- Individually tailored training and posture plans
- Mentally balanced routines in everyday stable life
Because those who train wisely today will have a high-performing, resilient and motivated horse tomorrow.
Esther Weber-Voigt, founder and CEO of EWV, sums it up perfectly:
"Prevention means responsibility. Those who look early, who understand how movement sequences work and what stresses a horse compensates for in everyday life, actively protect against overload – and secure the future of their sporting partner."
2. Monitoring: Observe instead of waiting – and empathize with the horse.
Monitoring means attentive guidance – not mistrust, but partnership. Riders who know their horse often notice even the smallest changes intuitively.
- Does the movement sequence seem "different" today?
- Has the posture or facial expression changed?
- How does the connection feel during training?
Thanks to technical aids, detailed training protocols and close cooperation between rider, therapist, veterinarian and trainer, a real network is created around the horse.
Monitoring means: knowing instead of guessing.
And it leads to greater safety, faster intervention – and a deeper trust between humans and animals.
"A horse doesn't speak with words – but its body does. The BEST-BOX helps us to listen before something gets loud. For me, monitoring is not a luxury, but a duty of care – because every horse deserves to have its needs recognized early on."
– Gerold Reinwald, founder of EQUUSIR
3. Sustainability: Sport with foresight and genuine respect
Those who think sustainably don't just ride for the moment, but for the horse's entire life. Specifically, this means:
- Gentle training instead of quick wins
- Respect for the horse's body – no wear and tear
- Sensible material selection and environmental sensitivity
- A riding style that promotes development instead of exerting pressure.
This attitude is central to EQUUSIR and EWV. Because sustainability begins in the mind – and is reflected in daily actions.
Here too, Esther Weber-Voigt makes a strong statement:
"Sustainable equestrian sport means not only being successful today, but also still happily taking the horse to the stable tomorrow – healthy, motivated and trusting."
Conclusion: A new generation of horse people
The world of equestrian sports is changing – and that's a good thing. More and more riders are now combining:
- Performance with empathy
- Purposefulness combined with knowledge
- Discipline with respect
They're not just asking themselves: What can my horse do today?
But rather: What will it take for me to still be happy to be by my side tomorrow?
The Free Learning Center EWV and Esther Weber-Voigt support precisely these people – with profound expertise, individual support and an unshakeable ethical compass.
Esther explains the importance of the partnership with EQUUSIR as follows: "My partner EQUUSIR helps me to better document my work, provide sustainable support, and guide my clients' horses. Our students at EWV Freies Lehrzentrum benefit from all our knowledge and our desire to provide sustainable support for both people and animals, because Knowledge Makes Us Move."
Want to learn more?
If you are one of those riders who think outside the box – and want to provide holistic care for your horse – then we cordially invite you to become part of the EQUUSIR/EWV community.
👉 Learn more now at equusir.com
or directly at EWV – Freies Lehrzentrum .
