Horses for courses? They deserve better care

‘Wild horses would simply run less, whereas those expected to play human sports go under the knife.’ Photograph: Maureen McLean/REX/Shutterstock

I am a vet, and I read Elle Hunt’s article with great interest (‘The horses don’t choose to take part’: should equestrian sports be removed from the Olympics?, 31 July). Hunt notes that at the Olympics, routine vet checks exist, but they are not necessarily failsafe.

Veterinary schools producing equine and farm vets of the future inculcate their students with sympathy for existing practices in these industries. The No 1 way you will be considered a troublemaker on your equine and farm placements as a student is if you question standards that would be considered completely unacceptable in dogs and cats. Only the most egregious cases of neglect or direct abuse would inspire action from a visiting vet.