19/11/2025
Форма на признание ли е това? 🤔
Last night I watched a presentation at the Equine Industry Symposium: Patching the Holes in Our Bucket, Inspiring Change in Equestrian Culture that really stood out in how it explored equestrian culture and welfare.
It was called “Discernment of Equestrian Practices Through the Lens,” presented by Crispin Parelius Johannessen, and this reflection is based on the ideas he shared as well as his published work.
Crispin examined how photography shapes the stories we believe about horses, and it was eye-opening.
One point that stayed with me is how carefully curated equestrian imagery really is. Photographers are often restricted to specific angles and positions, and only certain types of photos are encouraged or approved. This creates a filtered picture of what the horse world looks like.
Crispin writes that “perhaps equestrian fans believe too much in moments in time. Perhaps the strict policing of the moments in time published in the popular, equestrian press has given people the wrong idea about what riding really looks like.”
That line hits hard, because it reflects a truth many people never see.
He also notes that “riding is not always beautiful. In fact, it is usually ugly. And nowadays, every spectator carries in their pocket the power to expose it.”
Those two ideas together raise an important point.
So it made me think… if even the curated photos can look uncomfortable at times, what does that say about the moments we never see?
Crispin’s work highlights how equestrian culture has long depended on curated imagery. When an industry decides which moments are suitable to show, it shapes public belief.
This is also why the rise of social media is bringing these concerns forward. For the first time, people are not limited to approved angles or polished photos. ANYONE can capture what a horse is actually experiencing in real time.
The unfiltered moments that once stayed hidden are now visible to everyone.
When thousands of people begin sharing the moments that were never meant to be seen, the truth becomes much harder to curate. The gap between the trophy shot and the lived experience becomes impossible to ignore.
Seeing the bigger picture matters. Because behind every photo is a real horse with real experiences, and their welfare does not begin or end with a well-timed frame.
