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.
