What is an Equestrian Journal?

An equestrian journal is a diary used by horse riders to track progress, reflect on achievements and plan for the future. Whether you are a dressage rider, barrel racer or eventer, this journal is the perfect tool to help you reach your goals. It features mindfulness techniques, monthly planner pages, goal setting exercises, horse health reminders and a space for journaling.

The journal has a range of other useful features that help the equestrian stay organised, such as the horse and rider diagrams, monthly, weekly and daily prompts, and a horse health tracker. It also contains tips on improving riding performance and is suitable for all levels of equestrians. It can be used to record the good and the bad, but it is primarily a place to keep track of your successes.

As a society, we have seen an increase in the awareness of animal rights and welfare issues within the equestrian industry. The social acceptability of equestrian sport has declined, as demonstrated by the outcry that accompanied an episode of horse abuse in the Modern Pentathlon during the 2020 Olympics (Ingle Reference Ingle2021). There have also been calls for equestrian events to be banned entirely, including the Grand National steeplechase in the UK (2023) due to concerns about horse welfare.

While the majority of equestrians are ethical, many people do not share these values, which can create tensions between the human and equine communities. The conflicting interests can result in poor decisions being made for the sake of profit and lead to violations of animal welfare laws. A study by Ayala & Alderson (2010) examined the effect of different types of advertising on horse ownership and the perceived impact of these advertisements on an individual’s moral beliefs. They found that when ads were more positive, individuals were more likely to believe that buying a horse was ethical.

The journal contains useful articles on topics such as the importance of training to enhance mental and physical performance, the psychological impact of injuries on riders, and the effect of the environment on a rider’s performance. The journal also includes interviews with top trainers and an overview of the latest trends in equestrian sport, as well as tips on preparing a healthy diet for horses. It is available in both digital and print format, and is published biannually. The editors encourage contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including archaeology, anthropology, history, social sciences, interspecies communication, and art history. The journal is double-blind peer reviewed and open access. The editorial team consists of an international group of experts in the field. The journal has no subscription fee and is free to download. It is supported by the Foundation for the Advancement of Veterinary Sciences and the National Park Service. It is available through a variety of channels, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the iTunes store. It is also available at many public and private libraries. The journal’s archives are also freely accessible through HathiTrust.