The British Horse Society has advised members to avoid gendered terms such as "mother" and "father" in favour of neutral language, saying alternatives such as "parents" or "caregivers" are more inclusive.
The guidance appears in an "inclusive language" document circulated by the society, which described itself as the "largest and most influential equestrian charity" in the UK and said it has more than 110,000 members. The document also suggests other neutral or person-centred alternatives, including "people from overseas" instead of "foreigners" and "humankind" instead of "mankind".
The guidance urges staff and members to use "person-centred language" in place of expressions that presume gender, for example avoiding phrases such as "man the desk." The society said the language choices aim to reduce assumptions about individuals and to recognise diverse family formations.
The British Horse Society's move follows similar guidance issued by local councils, higher education institutions and publicly funded organisations in recent years. Merton Council in south London previously advised staff to use "caregivers" when referring to parents so as not to assume a child's biological family structure. In 2022, St Luke's Primary School in Brighton published equality and diversity advice recommending the use of the term "grown-ups" rather than "mums and dads" to reflect a range of family arrangements.
A taxpayer-funded aid organisation, Scotland's International Development Alliance, published a language guide last year that listed words such as "girls," "guys," "mother" and "father" as potentially problematic and recommended neutral alternatives including "parent" or "guardian." Manchester Metropolitan University has also advised staff to avoid automatically using "mother" or "father" when addressing matters involving students and families.
The guidance has drawn criticism from some commentators who say it diverts attention from other priorities. Toby Young, executive director of the Free Speech Union, said the production of such guides was an example of institutions focusing on language rather than educational standards. "Instead of focusing on educational standards, or supporting those students who've been short-changed during the pandemic, Manchester has wasted time and money on producing a guide to how to speak woke-ish," he said in a statement criticising earlier university guidance.
Public debate around inclusive language has also intersected with scrutiny of government spending on diversity initiatives. A Freedom of Information response revealed the Welsh Government had spent more than £3 million on diversity-related initiatives for its own staff and colleges, including £284,500 on trans guidance for schools. Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said the expenditure was indefensible given pressures on public services and called for funding priorities to be reassessed. The Welsh Government responded that it is "committed to building a more equal Wales — a country where everyone can access the services they need, where we tackle inequality and discrimination, and where we create a fairer society for all."
Advocates of inclusive language say changes are intended to avoid making assumptions that can marginalise people with different family structures, gender identities or cultural backgrounds. Organisations issuing guidance have framed the changes as tools to reduce bias and increase respect in interactions with the public and among staff.
The British Horse Society was contacted for comment on the guidance and its rollout. The society's document and the responses from other organisations underscore an ongoing conversation in the UK about language, inclusion and institutional policy that has continued to evolve over the past several years.