Social licence to operate
Horse SA provides project management and facilitation for community education and related activities, including conference management. This feature project looks at the sustainability of sport where humans partner with horses.
The term ‘Social licence to operate’ has now well and truly entered the domain of the global horse industry. In a nutshell, social licence is the public acceptance of the sport (or business) to undertake its activity (operations). World Horse Welfare CEO Dr Roly Owners addressed the November 2017 Federation Equestre’ International (FEI) General Assembly on the topic ‘Equestrian Sport and the Concept of Social Licence’, as has the CEO of British Horse Racing Authority Nick Rust, who spoke about social licence and racing at the 2018 National Equine Forum (UK). Australia is also active, with social licence listed as Pillar 7 in the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Research, Development & Extension Plan, as one example.
Social licence is listed as an action in The Horse SA Strategic Plan (item under Goal 3).
Disclosure statement: Horse SA Executive Officer Julie Fiedler is part-time with Horse SA, with the balance of time undertaking a Masters of Communication (by research) with Central Queensland University. The thesis title is ‘Sports horse welfare and social licence to operate: Informing communication strategies’.
Feature event:
Sport Horse Welfare and Social Licence to Operate
Professional Development Event 13/14 Feb 2019
Conference presentations (YouTube):
Welcome message by Dr Roly Owers CEO World Horse Welfare (and info about WHW) 2 mins.
Development of understanding leading to state-of-the-art welfare assessment Prof. Emeritus Mellor
NZ Thoroughbred Welfare Martin Burns
The winds of change: Reflection on international adoption of evidence-based training Dr Andrew McLean
Digital hoofprints: Striding out on horse welfare in a social media world Julie Fiedler
Equine welfare during exercise: Do we have a 'bit' of a problem? Prof. Emeritus Mellor
PowerPoints:
Development of understanding leading to state of the art animal welfare Professor Emeritus Mellor
New Zealand Thoroughbred Welfare Martin Burns
The Winds of Change: Reflections on the international adoption of evidenced-based training Dr Andrew McLean
Digital Hoofprints: Striding out on horse welfare in a social media world Julie Fiedler
Equine welfare during exercise: Do we have a 'bit' of a problem? Professor Emeritus Mellor
Media and resources:
'A paradigm shift from care to welfare'- interview with Professor Emeritus David Mellor with Horses and People Magazine.
Media Release: Racing and Equestrian Meet on the Common Ground of Horse Welfare 19 Feb 2019
Download a) workshop notes b) Simplified c) Five Domains Model d) Welfare Circle
General Presentations
Informing a social licence to operate communication framework: Attitudes to sport horse welfare. (PowerPoint)
The University of Guelph, Canada.
World Arabian Horse Organization Congress, Australia, 8 Feb 2019 Speaker notes link to the presentation
Social licence to operate presentation at the 24 May, 2018 People.Horses.Culture Conference, Adelaide.
Sport Horse Welfare & Social Licence to Operate Equine Cultures in Transition Conference, 19-21 June 2018 Leeds UK
Far left: Professor Emeritus David Mellor. Left (L) Martin Burns, (R) Dr Andrew McLean. Photos by Cristina Wilkins for Horse SA
