Horse First is not a slogan. It is a statement of responsibility and a clear position on the relationship between horse welfare and horse performance in modern equestrian sport.
In a discipline where performance is measured in seconds and centimeters, putting the horse first requires more than intention. Without scientific research, modern technologies, and a deep understanding of equine physiology, true horse welfare cannot be guaranteed, and sustainable horse performance cannot exist.
This is the foundation of the approach adopted by Scuderia 1918.
Horse Welfare as the Basis of Performance
Horse welfare and horse performance are not opposing concepts. They are interdependent. A horse that is respected, monitored, and developed according to its physiological needs is a horse that can perform at the highest level over time.
Scuderia 1918 invests in:
>Scientific research applied to equestrian sport
>Advanced monitoring technologies
>Data-driven training and load management systems
By working closely with experts in equine nutrition, veterinary science, biomechanics, and performance development, horse welfare becomes measurable, trackable, and actionable—rather than subjective.
Technology plays a central role in listening to the horse: assessing recovery, adaptation to workload, physical stress, and long-term athletic sustainability. This evidence-based approach allows performance to be built without compromising health.
A Code of Conduct for Horse Welfare and Performance
To define and guide best practices, Scuderia 1918 has developed a Code of Conduct for sport horses.
Based on the latest scientific research, the Code provides concrete guidelines for aligning horse welfare with horse performance, covering:
>Daily care and stable management
>Training principles rooted in equine physiology
>Progressive workload and long-term athletic development
>Health monitoring, injury prevention, and recovery
>Ethical responsibility toward the sport horse as both athlete and living being
>The Code is designed to be practical, structured, and applicable—setting clear standards rather than abstract ideals.
Where Science Meets Responsibility
Putting the horse first means combining empathy with evidence, ambition with accountability. Horse welfare is not a limitation to performance; it is its prerequisite.
A system that respects the horse’s physical and mental balance is the only system capable of producing consistent, ethical, and long-lasting results in sport.
Horse First is not a claim.
It is a framework.
It is a scientific method.
It is a cultural statement on horse welfare and horse performance.
The Code of Conduct is available here on the Scuderia 1918 website, with a printed edition available for those who wish to explore this approach in depth and actively support a more informed and responsible future for equestrian sport.