Study Group Recommends Measuring Noseband Tightness at 2024 Paris Olympic Games

A study group from the French National Assembly has outlined recommendations to help improve equine welfare at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Published last month, the new report proposes 46 recommendations to improve the treatment of animals ranging from feeding them hay several times a day to less whipping in competition and lowered obstacles in modern pentathlon.

"It is essential that this planetary event be an opportunity to raise awareness among the general public and all professionals of equine well-being and it must be nothing other than a source of pleasure for horses, riders and spectators," notes the study group chaired by Loïc Dombreval.

Animal Welfare Priority

The report suggests that the horses need to be accommodated in large and well-ventilated boxes which align with International Equestrian Federation (FEI) regulations.

It also proposes to improve control of excessive tightening of nosebands and curb chains as well as to create a list of authorised bits and prohibit the "belly bands" - a wide band which surrounds the belly of the horse to protect and prevent injury and irritation from spurs, but it also allows the rider to mount the horse if he is injured.

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