"Homelife of the racehorse" comes under focus in new five-year plan for horse welfare

By Kate Mandley

The Horse Welfare Board and Retraining of Racehorses have launched new five-year strategies to further improve welfare in British horseracing.

The HWB's new scheme places heightened focus upon welfare away from the racecourse, with improved efforts to identify aspects of a racehorse’s training and day-to-day life that may lead to an increased risk of injury when racing.

With previous welfare strategies focusing on injuries and deaths on-course, a move is now being made to shine a spotlight on the home life of a racehorse, which makes up the vast majority of their life.

James Given, BHA Director of Equine Health and Welfare, stated his belief at a media briefing on Tuesday that 50% of the risk to a horse on the racecourse is brought with them, either genetically or through training, with the effects of these weaknesses then only being exposed under the strain of racing.

Through improving data around training surfaces, workloads and injuries acquired in the yard, it is hoped practices that might put a horse at higher risk can be identified and rectified, therefore reducing the potential for racecourse injuries and deaths.

This part of the scheme will see the digitalisation of medication and vaccination records, allowing for BHA inspections of records to be completed remotely, rather than with the current process of sending an inspector to each yard.

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The HWB’s 2027-2031 strategy also outlines traceability as a major focus, with the long-term aim of achieving 100% traceability on all Thoroughbreds bred for racing in Britain.

The implementation of digital vaccination records and the use of modern data sharing systems will drive the pursuit of lifetime traceability.

Traceability improvements highlight the sport’s commitment to Lifetime Responsibility, allowing for the welfare of former racehorses to be monitored and stronger biosecurity and disease preparedness.

The new strategy looks to build on the first industry-wide welfare strategy of ‘A Life Well Lived’, launched in 2020.

This new phase of welfare action centres the four pillars of Quality of Life, Safety, Lifetime Responsibility and Trust, with 20 priorities falling under these categories.

Development will cover a multitude of areas, including veterinary research, injury prevention, the training environment, aftercare, data and technology, governance, transparency and public confidence.

Baroness Minette Batters, Chair of the Horse Welfare Board, said:

"Our launch of A Life Well Lived sets out an ambition to lead the world on Horse Welfare. We have made important progress in recent years, but welfare can never be an area where we stand still.

"Our responsibility is not simply to establish good welfare standards and maintain them. But to be able to continue to optimise and measure tangible benefits for our racehorses.

"One of the clearest examples of that lifetime responsibility is traceability. If we are serious about taking responsibility for our horses throughout their lives, we need to know where they are. That is why our ambition is 100% lifetime traceability for Thoroughbreds bred for racing in Great Britain.

"But our ambition doesn’t stop there, because there is an opportunity for all horses and ponies beyond racing.

"I believe racing can help develop a traceability blueprint which will aim to transform the horse welfare requirements of every horse and pony in this country – starting by simply knowing where they are.

"And traceability is one part of a much wider programme. Across quality of life, safety, lifetime responsibility and trust, this strategy sets out where we need to keep learning, use evidence and technology more effectively, be transparent and accountable, and work together as a sport to deliver meaningful and measurable improvement."

Brant Dunshea, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said:

"Horseracing is the second most popular sport in the country, contributing £4.1 billion every year to our economy and employing over 85,000 people across the industry. But horseracing is also about the unique relationship between horses and people.

"This strategy is important because it reflects a simple principle – we are accountable for every horse that is bred for racing and that accountability extends throughout our horses’ lives.

"That responsibility is central to our sport's future and to maintaining the trust and confidence of the public. 

"This strategy sets out how we will continue to improve through better evidence, stronger collaboration, greater transparency and a relentless focus on outcomes for horses.

"Most importantly, this is a strategy for the whole sport. Its success depends on collective engagement and a willingness from all of us to play our part in delivering it.

"By working together behind a shared vision, we can continue to strengthen welfare standards, improve public confidence and ensure a bright future for our sport and the horses who take part in it.'

Rupert Arnold, RoR’s Interim Chief Executive, said:

"Every horse bred to race deserves a future in which they are visible, valued and cared for beyond racing. That is the ambition at the heart of our new strategy.

"We have made significant progress in recent years, but there is more to do. We need to strengthen our connections with former racehorses and their owners, make it easier to access trusted guidance and support, and do more to prevent welfare problems before they arise.

"Aftercare is a shared responsibility, and the launch of our strategy alongside A Life Well Lived reflects the importance of working together across British racing and the wider equestrian and welfare sectors.

"This is about building a sustainable system of aftercare that gives every former racehorse the best possible opportunity for a good life beyond racing."

RoR’s new five-year strategy looks to target areas of strengthening welfare, education and lifelong support, increasing demand for retired racehorses and securing the funding and organisation required to make lasting change.

RoR will work in conjunction with HWB in efforts to improve visibility and traceability to meet the target of 100% traceability and ensure every British-bred racehorse is valued and cared for beyond racing.

This ambition also aims to set out a cross-industry blueprint, with hopes of 100% traceability being implemented across all British horses and ponies in the wider equine sector.

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