Zara Tindall delivered a powerful warning about the post-Brexit
pressures facing Britain’s equine industry as she joined her
mother, Princess Anne, at the World Horse Welfare Annual Conference
in London on Friday.
Appearing together at the Royal Geographical Society, Princess
Anne – the charity’s long-serving President – and her daughter were
among more than 800 delegates gathered to discuss the latest
scientific understanding of horse behaviour and wellbeing. While
the Princess Royal opened the event and reaffirmed her
long-standing commitment to improving equine welfare, it was Zara
who offered one of the day’s most candid assessments.
Speaking during the conference’s closing panel session, the
Olympic medallist and former world eventing champion said the sport
had “in many ways gone backwards” since Britain left the EU. She
revealed that transporting horses to and from the Continent had
become significantly more complex, stressful and
time-consuming.
She said: “Journey times have increased and the process has
become much more stressful for the horses.”
She continued: “People are travelling less simply because it has
become so difficult. Even with better technology, the actual time
on the road is so much longer, which has a real impact on
welfare.”
Tindall described travel preparation as now “incredibly
demanding”, involving layers of paperwork, veterinary checks and
logistics that riders did not have to contend with pre-Brexit. The
added strain, she warned, affects not only competitors and trainers
but the animals themselves.
Reflecting on the conference’s theme – seeing the world
through the horse’s eyes – she emphasised the need for daily
sensitivity and partnership. “It’s about feeling them every day,
recognising how differently they come out, being receptive to that
and working with it.”
Princess Anne, who has served as President of World Horse
Welfare since 2000, used the event to highlight her enduring
commitment to improving the lives of horses worldwide. Her presence
underscored the charity’s deep royal connection; in 2013, she
rehomed one of its horses, Annie, and has long supported
initiatives promoting responsible ownership and rehabilitation.
Founded in 1920, World Horse Welfare now works internationally,
combining rescue, research, education and policy development. This
year’s conference showcased the scientific advances reshaping
understanding of equine behaviour, while also confronting the
growing practical challenges created by new regulatory
landscapes.