Key Facts About Horseracing Welfare

There are many misconceptions regarding the treatment of racehorses in the UK. In actuality, there have been numerous protective measures put in place by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) which monitors the condition of horses and performs investigations and inspections to ensure that each animal is safe, healthy, and receiving the highest level of care from its racehorse trainer, jockey, owner, and others involved in the sport.As part of the BHA Rules of Racing, the racehorse trainer is subject to the Animal Welfare Act which serves to protect the horse from circumstances that may result in injury, disease, pain and/or suffering. This includes both the trainer and veterinary surgeon being required to ensure a horse is fit to participate before entering it in a race. Everyone involved in the sport stands to benefit when a racehorse is well cared for and thus in better condition to compete, and the racehorse trainer in particular knows well that there is no incentive to run a horse that is sick, weak, or injured, and that taking such a risk would only jeopardize its health and hinder future performance. The BHA also inspects course surfaces to minimize injuries, reviews obstacles such as hurdles for safety, requires all courses to provide horse ambulances and equine veterinary surgeons for rapid treatment, and has the horses tested prior to racing for the presence of any drugs that might enhance performance or mask injuries or illness. When it comes to the use of a whip in horseracing, it is the policy of the BHA that veterinary officers inspect the horses following each race, and if any abuse or misuse involving a whip is identified, disciplinary action is to be taken against the rider.Horses in training are typically exercised no more vigorously than they might naturally run, gallop, or jump amongst the herd and, although it is beneficial to start conditioning when young, horses are never subjected to more demanding races such as jump races until they are at least three years old.The horse racing industry additionally has the support of animal welfare organizations including the SSPCA, RSPCA, and WHW, and makes every effort to prevent injuries, repair fractures when possible, and reduce hazards that can result in fatalities. Although there is still inherent risk involved, as with any sport, there are only about two deaths occurring for every thousand horses.Despite rumours to the contrary, horseracing is not a cruel sport. The horse trainer, owner, breeder, jockey, veterinary doctors, and administrative staff are all invested, motivated, and committed to providing excellent care that produces stronger and healthier horses more capable of performing at their best with a reduced risk of unnecessary injuries or illnesses.