A high-stakes partnership? Responsibility, interdependency, and vulnerability in elite equestrian sport

Elite equestrian dyads develop relationships amidst a considerable degree of risk. Serious accidents and injuries are not uncommon in equestrian sport and uncertainty may pervade relationships with horses owned by a third party. Little psychological research has addressed the dynamics of the horse-rider relationship. This study examined equestrian dyads in elite sport using social constructionist grounded theory. Thirty-six interviews were conducted with riders from a range of equestrian disciplines. The findings suggest that
the relationship between horse and rider is fundamental, but increasingly contested in an elite sporting context. Participants experienced complex relationships with horses that were shaped by interdependency and mutual vulnerability. The inequality that characterises the horse-rider relationship led to an emphasis on rider responsibility and nuanced understandings of power dynamics. These findings have implications for the moral and ethical status of equestrian sports and provide insights into how riders understand risk
when interacting with horses.