Welfare action plan announced at British Dressage AGM [Video]

Dressage has been “in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons” – but this will act as a force for positive change.

This was the message from British Dressage (BD) CEO Jason Brautigam, as he announced a new equine welfare action plan, at the BD AGM on 18 October.

“This will feature at the core of our strategy for the next four-year cycle,” Mr Brautigam said.

“Dressage has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, but we want to use the events of this summer as a catalyst for change and a positive force for good.”

The plan will include a designated welfare and officials officer, appointed to the head office team, who will manage and increase awareness of the whistleblowing and escalation processes.

Currently, welfare report forms are available on the BD website, which can be submitted by members of the public to the sports operations team for further review and follow-up action by BD’s independent welfare panel.

Other than an initial acknowledgement …