S6 E4 Under Pressure: Rein Contact, Blood Rules and Who's Really in Charge - a conversation with Cristina Wilkins

In this episode, we're joined by Cristina Wilkins to explore some fascinating - and important - questions emerging from elite equestrian sport. Drawing on her recent article in Horses and People magazine, Cristina walks us through the revised FEI blood rule in show jumping and what it signals about the direction of welfare policy at the top level. From there, we get curious about what new photographic evidence is revealing: that some elite riders may not be releasing rein pressure the way classical training principles suggest they should. So what does that mean for the horse? And could it help explain why we're seeing signs of hypersensitisation in the mouth and flanks? Cristina helps us connect the dots between training technique, sensory experience, and competitive performance - and asks the kind of questions that can help all of us become more thoughtful horsemen and women.

Cristina Wilkins

Cristina Wilkins is a PhD candidate at the University of New England (UNE), Australia, researching the One Welfare outcomes of human-horse interactions. Her work in exploring how equipment-related pressures affect equine welfare led to an invited presentation to the FEI Veterinary Committee earlier this year. Cristina collaborates with leading welfare scientists on practical tools for assessment, including the Mellorater app, and she developed UNE’s online course Applying the Five Domains Model to the Welfare Assessment of Sport and Recreation Horses. A former international eventing competitor, coach, official, and long-time editor of Horses and People magazine, Cristina combines academic research with deep industry experience. Her science communication and advocacy have supported welfare initiatives across equestrian and racing organisations. She served on the ISES Council (2011–2019) and is a co-author of The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human–Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare. Cristina lives in Queensland, Australia.