Which part of sustainability gets the most attention in Norwegian riding schools?

Details

Sport plays a significant role in promoting sustainable development locally and globally, but many sports struggle to meet sustainability demands. To make sport more sustainable, the study argues that it is essential to understand what promotes or hinders sustainability within specific activities.

The researchers explored how different stakeholders in Norwegian equestrian sports perceive and interpret sustainable development, considering its social, ecological and economic dimensions. Their qualitative study included 18 in-depth interviews with representatives from 10 riding schools in Norway. They also observed three riding schools and analyzed steering documents from the Norwegian Equestrian Federation. Institutional theory provided the analytical framework for interpreting how established practices and norms influence sustainability efforts.

The social dimension was strongly emphasized in steering documents, interviews and everyday practices at Norwegian riding schools. Economic and ecological elements were present but less prominent. Ecological sustainability was not prioritized on the sector’s agenda. The results suggest that resilient social structures and the pursuit of legitimacy within the equestrian sector create friction that hinders sustainability-related change. The researchers conclude that advancing sustainability in equestrian sports requires attention to institutional change, including examining how entrenched practices can be challenged and transformed over time.