Why Horse Welfare Advocates Clash and How We Can Move Forward
- MNH
- Feb 13
- 4 min read
Our Assumption: A Shared Mission
When we established MNH, our natural horsemanship centre in India in 2016, we set out to promote non-violent, horse-centred training methods. While we didn’t initially plan to become advocates for horse welfare, our work naturally led us into that space.
From the outside, we assumed the world of horse welfare would be one of collaboration, shared passion, and mutual support—people and organisations working together towards the common goal of improving equine lives.
But once inside, we quickly realised that the reality was far more complex.
The Reality: Conflict, Criticism, and Division
Instead of a united front, we encountered harsh disagreements, personal attacks, and factions within the community. It wasn’t just isolated incidents—strong criticism, sometimes verging on hostility, was commonplace.
We, too, became targets. People accused us of not really caring about horses, dismissed our methods, and, in one particularly bizarre instance, even claimed our centre didn’t exist! (A Facebook thread circulated saying that an article about our centre was fabricated, despite none of the commenters having ever met us.)
As we became involved in dog welfare—adopting over a dozen rescued dogs—we saw similar patterns there too. Even among organisations working tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals, internal conflicts and public attacks were rampant.
At first, this seemed counterproductive and deeply confusing. Why would people who care so much about the same cause undermine each other?
But as we looked deeper, we realised that there were psychological and social factors driving this behaviour.
Why Do Horse Welfare Advocates Turn on Each Other?
1. Values vs Beliefs: When Beliefs Become Identity
In Think Again, psychologist Adam Grant explains that people often conflate their values with their beliefs.
For example, let’s say two organisations—one we’ll call X, and our own, MNH—both hold the value that horses should not suffer. However, their beliefs about how to achieve that may differ:
• X believes that horses should never experience stress—mental or physical.
• MNH believes that some controlled pressure is necessary to develop a resilient, well-adjusted horse.
Though the core value is the same, the differing beliefs can lead to intense disagreements.
If our beliefs are deeply tied to our identity, we see any challenge to them as a personal attack—making us more defensive and less open to dialogue.
2. It’s Easier to Attack Someone Who Cares
People who don’t care about horse welfare aren’t usually the ones receiving criticism. Instead, those of us who do care become the easiest targets. Why? Because if we criticise someone within the movement, we expect them to listen and take it seriously—unlike someone indifferent to the cause.
3. The Problem of Virtue Signalling
“Virtue signalling” is defined as expressing opinions to showcase one’s moral superiority. Animal welfare work, by its nature, involves promoting ethical treatment, which can sometimes be perceived as moral posturing—whether intentional or not. This can attract resentment and hostility, even from within the community. At MNH, we’ve struggled with this ourselves. How do we share our work without coming across as saying, “We’re better than others”? It’s a fine line, and navigating it is not always easy.
4. Emotional Investment & High Standards
People in animal welfare tend to hold themselves to extremely high ethical standards—and expect the same of others. This means that when someone falls short (or appears to), judgment can be swift and harsh. The intensity of our emotions often fuels strong, impulsive reactions, leading to public criticism rather than private discussion.
5. The Actor-Observer Bias: Judging Without Full Context
One of the biggest problems in the horse welfare world—especially on social media—is the tendency to judge without knowing the full story.
This is known as the actor-observer bias:
• When we see someone else’s mistakes, we attribute them to their character or incompetence.
• When we make mistakes, we attribute them to circumstances or challenges beyond our control.
For example, when we see a photo or video of a trainer using a method we disagree with, we might immediately assume they are cruel. However, when we face a difficult training situation, we know that context matters—the horse’s history, temperament, and specific needs all play a role. This is why the worst attacks happen online, where context is often missing and assumptions run wild.
Moving Forward: How We Can Build Bridges Instead of Walls
1. Recognising the Difference Between Values and Beliefs
We need to understand that our values unite us, even when our beliefs differ. Instead of letting beliefs become rigid, we should focus on the shared goal: better welfare for horses. If we acknowledge that our way is not the only way, we create space for dialogue instead of division.
2. Being Open to Rethinking
Holding strong values doesn’t mean we should cling to our beliefs at all costs. True progress happens when we stay open to learning and evolving. Sometimes, we may meet someone who challenges our perspective and helps us find a better way. This also helps us avoid virtue signalling—when we admit we don’t know it all, we foster genuine conversations instead of competition.
3. Understanding Context Before Criticising
Instead of jumping to conclusions, we should ask:
• Do I have the full picture?
• What might be happening behind the scenes?
• Would I judge differently if I knew this person personally?
Taking a moment to pause and reflect before reacting can prevent unnecessary conflict.
4. Prioritising Community and Collaboration
When people come together, incredible things happen. We’ve seen multiple groups collaborate to rescue horses, dogs, and even camels—achievements that would have been impossible alone. The more we focus on what unites us rather than what divides us, the stronger we become.
Final Thoughts
Animal welfare is emotionally demanding work. Instead of tearing each other down, we need to lift each other up. The goal isn’t to agree on everything—healthy debate is important. But if we can disagree without hostility, remain open-minded, and focus on shared values, we can achieve far more for the animals we care so deeply about.
Together, we are stronger. 💛🐴
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