Five commitments every equine organisation can make this month

A practical, evidence‑informed checklist for yards, events, teams and sponsors. Five commitments to protect people and raise standards across equestrian sport.

Awareness without action rings hollow. The evidence outlined in our companion article shows elevated suicide risk among veterinarians, grooms britishequestrian.org.uk, jockeys and rural workers. With World Suicide Prevention Day upon us, Equitas urges every equine organisation — from racing stables and show venues to livery yards and breeder associations — to adopt five clear commitments. These are not aspirational; they are practical steps grounded in existing models and tailored to our industry.

1. Policy & reporting

A written anti‑bullying and harassment policy should sit alongside a suicide‑prevention policy. Both must guarantee:

• Anonymous reporting routes: Provide multiple ways (online form, helpline, physical “concern boxes”) for staff and riders to report concerns without fear of retaliation.
• Zero tolerance: Make clear that bullying, harassment and discrimination are grounds for removal from shows and termination of contracts.
• Clear escalation: Define who reviews reports, how quickly responses must occur and what support will be offered.
• Transparency: Publish quarterly summaries of incident numbers and actions taken (without breaching confidentiality).

2. Gatekeepers & training

Every yard, stable and event should have at least one mental‑health first aider (MHFA) present per shift. Commit to:

• Training coverage: Ensure at least 20 % of staff receive MHFA training, including grooms, stewards, senior vets and event officials.
• Suicide‑awareness briefings: Incorporate short suicide‑prevention sessions into annual continuing professional development for all roles.
• Concussion protocols: Use return‑to‑ride/return‑to‑work guidelines; after injury, implement mandatory mental‑health check‑ins.
• Domestic abuse awareness: Train staff to spot signs and signpost support; nearly half of suicide attempts are linked to domestic abuse.

3. Work design & recovery

Organisations must protect workers from harmful schedules:

• Rota rules: Legally, equestrians are entitled to two 24hr rest periods if they haven't been given a full 24hr rest period the previous week. That is the law.
• Driving and travel: Cap daily driving to nine hours; require a minimum 11‑hour recovery period before return to work after long journeys. This is the law.
• Daily rest: 11 consecutive hours per 24-hour period, or split into 3 h + 9 h (total 12 h).
• Injury & return to work: Provide paid time off after injuries and include mental‑health assessment before returning to duties.
• Facilities: Provide quiet rooms at events and on large yards; ensure staff have access to clean rest areas and scheduled breaks.

4. Access to support

Proactive support saves lives:

• Helpline visibility: Place helpline posters (Samaritans 116 123, Vetlife, Riders Minds) in staff rooms, tack rooms, vet trucks and event stables.
• Funded counselling pool: Allocate a percentage of prize money or sponsorship to a welfare fund that offers confidential counselling or therapy sessions for staff, riders and contractors.
• Partnerships: Formalise relationships with established mental‑health organisations; embed them in induction packs and staff handbooks.
• Postpartum and parental support: Provide signposting and flexible work arrangements for pregnant and postnatal staff, recognising that suicide is the leading cause of direct maternal death in the year after birth.

5. Measurement & funding

What gets measured gets managed:

• Annual survey: Run anonymous surveys to gauge anxiety, depression, bullying and harassment prevalence; track improvements over time.
• Public reporting: Publish aggregated results and your organisation’s response plan.
• Funding ring‑fence: Dedicate 0.5–1 % of all prize money, sponsorship or membership fees to mental‑health initiatives (e.g., helpline partnerships, training and counselling).
• Independent audit: Commission periodic reviews by an external body to audit welfare measures and compliance.

Sponsor & federation checklist

Sponsors and governing bodies must require recipients to meet minimum standards:

• Evidence of policies: Contracts should stipulate the existence of an anti‑bullying and mental‑health policy with transparent reporting.
• Training thresholds: Require that a minimum proportion of staff are MHFA‑trained.
• Facilities: Specify that quiet rooms and helpline signposting are mandatory at all sponsored events.
• Welfare reporting: Ask for annual welfare reports with anonymised survey data and incident logs.
• Co‑funded initiatives: Encourage sponsoring companies to co‑invest in helpline partnerships and mobile support hubs that rotate around events.

By embedding these requirements into sponsorship deals and federation licences, good practice becomes non‑negotiable.

Mini‑case notes

• Some British racecourses have already introduced quiet rooms staffed by trained volunteers at major meetings. Early feedback suggests increased help‑seeking among grooms and stable staff.
• Veterinary charities such as Vetlife and Riders Minds offer free, confidential helplines and have reported spikes in calls following awareness campaigns britishequestrian.org.uk.
• A growing number of equine colleges now include suicide‑awareness modules in their curricula, ensuring that students learn how to support peers and seek help early.

These examples show that proactive measures are possible and already happening at small scale. The challenge is to make them universal.

Call to action

Equitas invites all federations, sponsors, training establishments and event organisers to sign the Five Commitments. Organisations that adopt the commitments will be highlighted on our platforms. Let’s ensure that by World Suicide Prevention Day 2026, the equine industry can demonstrate meaningful progress.

Help resources panel

Women's Aid - ‭1800 34 19 00‬ (Ireland). In an emergency, call 999 or 112.
US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14.
Support varies by country — check local services.