{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T05:26:12Z","timestamp":1784697972485,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":67,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,14]],"date-time":"2021-01-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1610582400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This article describes the virtue of bravery in British equestrian culture and suggests that riders\u2019 tactics for bolstering bravery may have negative implications on equine welfare. These observations are based on 14 months of ethnographic research among amateur riders and the professionals who support them (n = 35), utilising participant observation and Dictaphone recordings. Riders suffering from \u2018confidence issues\u2019 could be belittled and excluded. Instructors\u2019 approaches towards bolstering bravery involved encouraging riders to \u2018get tough\u2019\u2014on both themselves and on their horses. Narrative theory is employed in this article to show that riders could demonstrate their own bravery through describing the horse as defiant. Alternate narrative possibilities existed, including describing the horse as needy patient and the rider as care provider. Riders were critically aware that veterinary diagnoses could be sought or avoided in line with riders\u2019 own dispositions. \u2018Diagnoses-seeking\u2019 behaviours could be judged negatively by others and seen as evidence of unresolved fearfulness. In conclusion, the British equestrian cultural orientation towards bravery can be associated with stressful or painful training techniques, delayed or missed diagnoses of physiological pathologies, and poor training outcomes. Programs that aim to help riders to develop confidence without instilling a sense of \u2018battle\u2019 with the horse, and without ridiculing the rider, are likely to have positive implications on equine welfare and human safety.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11010188","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,14]],"date-time":"2021-01-14T11:39:14Z","timestamp":1610624354000},"page":"188","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["An Ethnographic Account of the British Equestrian Virtue of Bravery, and Its Implications for Equine Welfare"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2313-4258","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rosalie","family":"Jones McVey","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Social Anthropology Department, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05154.x","article-title":"Perceptions and attitudes towards horses in European societies","volume":"31","author":"Endenburg","year":"1999","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2016.1152190","article-title":"Show Horse Welfare: Horse Show Competitors\u2019 Understanding, Awareness, and Perceptions of Equine Welfare","volume":"19","author":"Voigt","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2010.04.002","article-title":"Horse-training techniques that may defy the principles of learning theory and compromise welfare","volume":"5","author":"McLean","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Vet. Behav."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"479","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2042-3292.2011.00296.x","article-title":"Undesired behaviour in horses: A review of their development, prevention, management and association with welfare","volume":"24","author":"Hothersall","year":"2012","journal-title":"Equine Vet. Educ."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2007.04.015","article-title":"A review of the human\u2013horse relationship","volume":"109","author":"Hausberger","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2011.10.007","article-title":"Diversity in horse enthusiasts with respect to horse welfare: An explorative study","volume":"7","author":"Visser","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Vet. Behav."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.2746\/042516409X471458","article-title":"Evaluation of current equine welfare issues in Ireland: Causes, desirability, feasibility and means of raising standards","volume":"42","author":"Collins","year":"2010","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"(2020, November 20). The Brooke. Available online: https:\/\/www.thebrooke.org\/about-us\/theory-change."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2018.00093","article-title":"Better Lives for Dogs: Incorporating Human Behaviour change into a theory of change to improve canine Welfare Worldwide","volume":"5","author":"Reed","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2016.1197776","article-title":"Equine welfare in England and Wales: Exploration of stakeholders\u2019 understanding","volume":"20","author":"Horseman","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2017.1283226","article-title":"Equine welfare assessment: Exploration of British stakeholder attitudes using focus-group discussions","volume":"20","author":"Horseman","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2011.05.019","article-title":"Animal welfare: At the interface between science and society","volume":"192","author":"Ohl","year":"2012","journal-title":"Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Denenberg, S. (2017, January 14\u201316). Keynote Presentation: Making Animal Welfare Sustainable\u2013Human Behaviour Change for Animal Behaviour: The Human Element. Proceedings of the 11th International Veterinary Behaviour Meeting, Samorin, Slovakia.","DOI":"10.1079\/9781786394583.0000"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/1748-5908-6-42","article-title":"The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions","volume":"6","author":"Michie","year":"2011","journal-title":"Implement. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Michie, S., Atkins, L., and West, R. (2014). The Behaviour Change Wheel. A Guide to Designing Interventions, Silverback Publishing. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Birke, L., and Thompson, K. (2017). (Un)Stable Relations: Horses, Humans and Social Agency, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Miriam, A., and Thompson, K. (2017). Equestrian Cultures in Global and Local Contexts, Springer."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Laidlaw, J. (2013). The Subject of Virtue: An Anthropology of Ethics and Freedom, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139236232"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-9655.12044","article-title":"Beyond the suffering subject: Toward an anthropology of the good","volume":"19","author":"Robbins","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. R. Anthropol. Inst."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Keane, W. (2017). Ethical Life: Its Natural and Social Histories, Princeton University Press.","DOI":"10.1515\/9781400873593"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-295X.84.2.191","article-title":"Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change","volume":"84","author":"Bandura","year":"1977","journal-title":"Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1080\/00346760410001684424","article-title":"Autonomy-respecting assistance: Toward an alternative theory of development assistance","volume":"62","author":"Ellerman","year":"2004","journal-title":"Rev. Soc. Econ."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2011.08.003","article-title":"Science alone is not always enough: The importance of ethical assessment for a more comprehensive view of equine welfare","volume":"7","author":"Heleski","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Vet. Behav."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Faubion, J.D. (2011). An Anthropology of Ethics, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511792557"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1177\/1463499612455284","article-title":"Two virtue ethics and the anthropology of morality","volume":"12","author":"Mattingly","year":"2012","journal-title":"Anthropol. Theory"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"545","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1548-1360.2010.01069.x","article-title":"The emergence of multispecies ethnography","volume":"25","author":"Kirksey","year":"2010","journal-title":"Cult. Anthropol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hamilton, L., and Taylor, N. (2017). Ethnography after Humanism: Power, Politics and Method in Multi-Species Research, Springer.","DOI":"10.1057\/978-1-137-53933-5"},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Jones McVey, R.A. (2018). Reasonable Creatures: British Equestrianism and Epistemological Responsibility in Late Modernity. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge]."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"(2018, April 10). The Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and Commonweath Ethical Guidelines for Good Research Practice. Available online: https:\/\/www.theasa.org\/downloads\/ASA%20ethics%20guidelines%202011.pdf."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2018, April 10). American Anthropological Association, Code of Ethics, Approved 1998. Available online: https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/rdcms-aaa\/files\/production\/public\/FileDownloads\/pdfs\/issues\/policy-advocacy\/upload\/ethicscode.pdf."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Hurn, S. (2012). Humans and Other Animals: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Human-Animal Interactions, Pluto Press."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1177\/1357034X04042938","article-title":"The body we care for: Figures of anthropo-zoo-genesis","volume":"10","author":"Despret","year":"2004","journal-title":"Body Soc."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.2746\/042516403776114108","article-title":"Responses of horses in behavioural tests correlate with temperament assessed by riders","volume":"35","author":"Visser","year":"2003","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Williams, J., Greening, L., Marlin, D., and Randle, H. (2019, January 19\u201321). Understanding whip use in riders in sports horse disciplines. Proceedings of the 15th International Conference of the International Society for Equitation Science 2019, Guelph, ON, Canada."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2017.1392301","article-title":"Preliminary study on current perceptions and usage of training equipment by horse enthusiasts in Canada","volume":"21","author":"Merkies","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"561","DOI":"10.3390\/ani5030372","article-title":"A critical review of horse-related risk: A research agenda for safer mounts, riders and equestrian cultures","volume":"5","author":"Thompson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wsif.2009.05.015","article-title":"Mutual corporeality: Gender and human\/horse relationships","volume":"32","author":"Birke","year":"2009","journal-title":"Women\u2019s Stud. Int. Forum"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"350","DOI":"10.1177\/1466138115609379","article-title":"Strong, active women: (Re)Doing rural femininity through equestrian sport and leisure","volume":"3","author":"Dashper","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ethnography"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1080\/11745398.2015.1095103","article-title":"Clothes make the rider? Equestrian competition dress and sporting identity","volume":"19","author":"Dashper","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann. Leis. Res."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Davis, D., and Maurstad, A. (2016). Learning to Communicate: The Triad of (Mis)Communication in Horse Riding Lessons. The Meaning of Horses: Biosocial Encounters, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315690728"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.18848\/2152-7857\/CGP\/v02i02\/54066","article-title":"The Changing Role of the Horse: From Beast of Burden to Partner in Sport and Recreation","volume":"2","author":"Crossman","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Sport Soc."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1163\/156853007X217177","article-title":"Learning to speak horse: The culture of Natural Horsemanship","volume":"15","author":"Birke","year":"2007","journal-title":"Soc. Anim."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"Roberts, M. (1997). The Man Who Listens To Horses, Random House."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Adelman, M., and Knijnik, J. (2013). From glamour to drudgery\u2013changing gender patterns in the equine sector: A comparative study of Sweden and Great Britain in the twentieth century. Gender and Equestrian Sport, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-007-6824-6"},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"96","article-title":"Responsible Doubt and Embodied Conviction: The Infrastructure of British Equestrian Horse\/Human \u2018Partnership\u2019","volume":"35","year":"2017","journal-title":"Camb. J. Anthropol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2009.03.023","article-title":"How equitation science can elucidate and refine horsemanship techniques","volume":"181","author":"Deborah","year":"2009","journal-title":"Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mattingly, C. (1998). Healing Dramas and Clinical Plots: The Narrative Structure of Experience, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139167017"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1548-1352.2008.00008.x","article-title":"Reading minds and telling tales in a cultural borderland","volume":"36","author":"Mattingly","year":"2008","journal-title":"Ethos"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fivush, R., and Haden, C.A. (2003). Self-making narratives. Autobiographical memory and the construction of a narrative self. Autobiographical Memory and the Construction of a Narrative Self: Developmental and Cultural Perspectives, Psychology Press.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781410607478"},{"key":"ref_50","first-page":"11","article-title":"Life as narrative","volume":"1","author":"Bruner","year":"1987","journal-title":"Soc. Res."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Burke, K. (1969). A Grammar of Motives, University of California Press.","DOI":"10.1525\/9780520341715"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.2746\/042516405775314826","article-title":"Behavioural assessment of pain in horses and donkeys: Application to clinical practice and future studies","volume":"37","author":"Ashley","year":"2005","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_53","unstructured":"Palmer, S. (2016). Understanding Horse Performance: Brain, Pain or Training, J A Allen."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1177\/1463499608096644","article-title":"Reassembling individual subjects: Events and decisions in troubled times","volume":"8","author":"Humphrey","year":"2008","journal-title":"Anthropol. Theory"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1163\/15685306-12341343","article-title":"Tools of the trade or part of the family? Horses in competitive equestrian sport","volume":"22","author":"Dashper","year":"2014","journal-title":"Soc. Anim."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2010.04.003","article-title":"Ethical equitation: Capping the price horses pay for human glory","volume":"5","author":"McLean","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Vet. Behav."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"535","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2013.05.021","article-title":"The role of veterinarians in equestrian sport: A comparative review of ethical issues surrounding human and equine sports medicine","volume":"197","author":"Campbell","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.2752\/089279302786992423","article-title":"Horse reactions to human attitudes and behavior","volume":"15","author":"Chamove","year":"2002","journal-title":"Anthrozo\u00f6s"},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105072","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2020.105072","article-title":"Olfactory-based interspecific recognition of human emotions: Horses (Equus ferus caballus) can recognize fear and happiness body odour from humans (Homo sapiens)","volume":"230","author":"Sabiniewicz","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scopa, C., Contalbrigo, L., Greco, A., Lanat\u00e0, A., Scilingo, E.P., and Baragli, P. (2019). Emotional Transfer in Human\u2013Horse Interaction: New Perspectives on Equine Assisted Interventions. Animals, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani9121030"},{"key":"ref_61","unstructured":"McGreevy, P., McLean, A., Warren-Smith, A., Goodwin, D., and Waran, N. (2005, January 26\u201327). Equestrianism and horse welfare: The need for an \u2018equine-centred\u2019 approach to training. Proceedings of the 1st International Equitation Science Symposium 2005, Melbourne, Australia."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05152.x","article-title":"The development of equestrianism from the baroque period to the present day and its consequences for the welfare of horses","volume":"31","author":"Bouissou","year":"1999","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_63","unstructured":"Horseman, S., Whay, H., Mullan, S., Knowles, T., Barr, A., and Buller, H. (2021, January 03). Horses in our Hands. Available online: https:\/\/www.worldhorsewelfare.org\/what-we-do\/research\/horses-in-our-hands."},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rioja-Lang, F.C., Connor, M., Bacon, H., and Dwyer, C.M. (2020). Determining a Welfare Prioritization for Horses Using a Delphi Method. Animals, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10040647"},{"key":"ref_65","unstructured":"Marks, K. (2007). Perfect Confidence: Overcoming Fear, Gaining Confidence and Achieving Success with Horses, Ebury."},{"key":"ref_66","unstructured":"MacIntyre, A. (1981). After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory, University of Notre Dame."},{"key":"ref_67","first-page":"107","article-title":"Anthropomorphism and mechanomorphism","volume":"3","author":"Karlsson","year":"2012","journal-title":"Hum. J. Hum. Anim. Interface Stud."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/11\/1\/188\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T05:11:18Z","timestamp":1760159478000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/11\/1\/188"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,14]]},"references-count":67,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,1]]}},"alternative-id":["ani11010188"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani11010188","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,14]]}}}