Hello,

I am not an equestrian but I've occasionally taken looks at the sport and I have a question. Hopefully I am not asking it in an overly confrontational manner because that is absolutely not my intent.

From what I've seen, many equestrians seem to hold that horseback riding is a partnership between horse and rider.

But horses are not humans. I do not understand how horseback riding is a partnership of equals when one party owns the other as property and controls them via reins and bit. The horse cannot give consent.

I am not attacking horseback riding, please do not take it personally. I'm a complete outsider and I'm just confused about this aspect of the sport, the "partnership narrative" as I like to call it.

Can somebody help answer this question I've had for a long time regarding the sport?