“Horses are powerful but fragile and they tell us how they are feeling by their body language,” she said. “By watching their gait, we can see, for example, if they are offloading pain.

The FEI has acknowledged the need to “explore a more balanced and comprehensive view of the sport”, after evidence was provided of “potential welfare issues hiding in plain sight”.

Palmer said a horse can quickly go from just having a broken leg to having a broken leg and another that cannot be stood on due to the pain. "The hoof is attached to the bone by organic fasteners ...