Our Top PriorityOur top priority is the safety and welfare of horse and rider. People join the racing industry because they share a genuine love of horses. Like most sports, racing carries risks. We work to make sure that no death or injury takes place which could have been prevented. In the last five years, despite a substantial increase in the number of runners, the average number of fatalities in a year has decreased. We hope to see that number reduced still further. Our objective is that there should be none.
We agree with animal welfare organisations that horses have the right to a decent and fulfilling life, both during their racing careers and afterwards. This note sets out how we are minimising risks, dealing quickly and humanely with injuries, and maintaining the highest possible quality of life for the animals in our care.ReseachRigorous research is the starting-point for all our efforts to safeguard the health and safety of horses. At the moment, the British racing industry is funding almost fifty veterinary research projects. These include investigations into the effects of ground conditions on the likelihood of injury, analysis of risk-factors associated with lower limb fractures and research into equine bone-structure, vitality and repair.
For the last four years the results of veterinary research projects have been presented to trainers and breeders at seminars hosted by Cheltenham Racecourse. The aim of the seminar is to enable the racing industry to profit from the latest research and to further reduce the risk of serious injury both in training and on the racecourse. For example, following the 2001 seminar, a new type of race was introduced, drawing on the results of this in-depth veterinary research, which enables younger horses to race over shorter distances in National Hunt Flat.
In addition, the Veterinary Officers manage a database which contains details of every fall or injury on British racecourses, making it possible to identify problems at a particular fence or racecourse and to take urgent action to solve them. The lameness and injury data collection scheme improves racehorse safety because it monitors the return to racing by horses who have been off course through injury. The database also allows structured analysis of all injury data to help identify possible factors increasing the risk of injury. Making Racecourses saferFence designOver recent years major changes have been made to fence and hurdle design to minimise the risks of accidents. Since 2001 all hurdles have had padded bars and rails which reduce the chances of injury. Water-jumps have also been redesigned to reduce the chances of falls or injury.
All obstacles on racecourses are now constructed within strict national guidelines set by the The British Horseracing Authority. The construction and siting of obstacles are constantly under review to make them safer. Ground preparationGround condition is the most important single factor determining whether injuries occur. That’s why the top investment priority at major racecourses like Cheltenham and Aintree has been the introduction of irrigation and drainage systems. These help to produce consistent racing surfaces and reduce the number of meetings held on firm or heavy ground.
The use of moveable running rails in a two or three-day fixture allows racecourses to set out fresh ground for each day’s racing.
The Racecourse Association Turf Management Group runs an ambitious programme of research and training to establish best practice in this area.Horse FacilitiesOver the last five years, initiatives have been introduced for the safety and welfare of horses, and the standards required will be raised still further in the next five years. These initiatives include:
Fence and Hurdle design: All hurdles now have a standard design and all top and support bars are padded; all guard rails on steeplechase fences are padded. In addition the procedures and equipment used for bypassing obstacles have been improved and upgraded;
Saddling boxes / stable yards: All saddling boxes have shock-absorbent (e.g. rubberised) back walls and all new stableyards must have dedicated washdown facilities built to a specific criteria;
On Course Equine Treatment: The specification for horse ambulances has been enhanced and an improved design of green screens introduced;
Security: The CCTV provision in racecourse stable yards has been significantly upgraded and CCTV introduced in all Weighing Rooms;
Artificial Surfaces: A new second-generation all weather surface (Polytrack) has been developed, approved and successfully installed on two courses.
Running Rail / Parade Rings: All new running rail installations are positioned at least 2m in front of crowd barriers, and all new parade rings must have shock-absorbent (e.g. rubberised) walkways. Veterinary CareOur policy was outlined most simply by Director of Veterinary Welfare and Science at the time, Dr Peter Webbon, when speaking to The Times newspaper in March 2000: “I felt that (previously) the veterinary team was employed simply in a regulatory capacity and that was wrong. The main thing was to expand our role so that we could truly say we were the guardians of the horse. I would love to see racecourses competing with each other to provide the best facilities for horses. It’s in their own interests and I feel they should all be aiming for excellence, rather than settling for the bare minimum”.
At least three qualified vets are present at every race meeting. This includes an British Horseracing Authority veterinary official whose job is to ensure consistent standards of care across the country’s 59 racecourses.
British Horseracing Authority vets make sure that all injured horses are treated before leaving the racecourse. They record details of injuries on a national database, enabling them to identify which horses require inspection by a vet on their next racecourse appearance. It is also their job to enforce the rules of racing and investigate complaints about the way horses are treated both in training and after retirement.
On-course vets are the front-line of care if an accident occurs. They usually reach the scene of an accident within seconds. Their first priority is to treat the horse and prevent suffering, but if an injury cannot be treated, they have the responsibility to put the horse down quickly and humanely.
Our V eterinary team see themselves as guardians of the horse. They have been proactive in introducing a range of welfare measures, for example, introducing new specifications for horse ambulances to provide better facilities for treatment at race meetings.
Examples of how the Veterinary Officers safeguard horse welfare are as follows:
ensuring that all injured horses are examined, and treated if necessary, before leaving the racecourse;
setting up and running an efficient lameness and injury monitoring scheme to ensure that horses do not return to racing prematurely;
recording all fatal and non-fatal racecourse injures for subsequent statistical analysis;
arranging targeted, mandatory autopsies (initially of lower limb fractures) with a view to understanding and minimising the risk factors which contribute to fatal injuries;
investigating complaints regarding the standard of management of horses in training;
investigating any complaints regarding the welfare of retired racehorses;
monitoring high standards of racecourse stable hygiene;
participating in the enforcement of the Rules and Instructions with welfare implications, for example, those related to misuse of the whip;
involvement in licensing applications and education for new trainers. Working with Animal Welfare GroupsWe share with animal welfare groups the belief that horses have a right to a decent life. We work alongside groups like the RSPCA and the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) to establish the highest possible standards of safety and welfare.
The RSPCA’s concerns had an impact on our decision to change the design of water jumps and to restructure Grand National fences at Aintree.
David Muir, equine consultant for the RSPCA, speaking after modifications were made at Becher’s Brook for the 2005 Grand National, welcomed the modifications saying:
These changes have significantly improved the welfare of racehorses and show that the RSPCA's way of working with the racing industry is worthwhile and can bring about significant improvements to the welfare of racehorses.’
The ILPH, the only animal charity concerned entirely with horses, says:
The ILPH supports the correct and compassionate use of the horse in equine sport. The racing authorities in general are extremely aware of the welfare issues involved in the industry and are taking positive steps to ensure high welfare and safety standards both on and off course.
The industry has also shown itself willing to put its money where its mouth is recently with the Retraining of Racehorses Trust, the modifications to hurdles and the increased specifications for equine ambulances.”
We agree with animal welfare organisations that horses have the right to a decent and fulfilling life, both during their racing careers and afterwards. This note sets out how we are minimising risks, dealing quickly and humanely with injuries, and maintaining the highest possible quality of life for the animals in our care.ReseachRigorous research is the starting-point for all our efforts to safeguard the health and safety of horses. At the moment, the British racing industry is funding almost fifty veterinary research projects. These include investigations into the effects of ground conditions on the likelihood of injury, analysis of risk-factors associated with lower limb fractures and research into equine bone-structure, vitality and repair.
For the last four years the results of veterinary research projects have been presented to trainers and breeders at seminars hosted by Cheltenham Racecourse. The aim of the seminar is to enable the racing industry to profit from the latest research and to further reduce the risk of serious injury both in training and on the racecourse. For example, following the 2001 seminar, a new type of race was introduced, drawing on the results of this in-depth veterinary research, which enables younger horses to race over shorter distances in National Hunt Flat.
In addition, the Veterinary Officers manage a database which contains details of every fall or injury on British racecourses, making it possible to identify problems at a particular fence or racecourse and to take urgent action to solve them. The lameness and injury data collection scheme improves racehorse safety because it monitors the return to racing by horses who have been off course through injury. The database also allows structured analysis of all injury data to help identify possible factors increasing the risk of injury. Making Racecourses saferFence designOver recent years major changes have been made to fence and hurdle design to minimise the risks of accidents. Since 2001 all hurdles have had padded bars and rails which reduce the chances of injury. Water-jumps have also been redesigned to reduce the chances of falls or injury.
All obstacles on racecourses are now constructed within strict national guidelines set by the The British Horseracing Authority. The construction and siting of obstacles are constantly under review to make them safer. Ground preparationGround condition is the most important single factor determining whether injuries occur. That’s why the top investment priority at major racecourses like Cheltenham and Aintree has been the introduction of irrigation and drainage systems. These help to produce consistent racing surfaces and reduce the number of meetings held on firm or heavy ground.
The use of moveable running rails in a two or three-day fixture allows racecourses to set out fresh ground for each day’s racing.
The Racecourse Association Turf Management Group runs an ambitious programme of research and training to establish best practice in this area.Horse FacilitiesOver the last five years, initiatives have been introduced for the safety and welfare of horses, and the standards required will be raised still further in the next five years. These initiatives include:
Fence and Hurdle design: All hurdles now have a standard design and all top and support bars are padded; all guard rails on steeplechase fences are padded. In addition the procedures and equipment used for bypassing obstacles have been improved and upgraded;
Saddling boxes / stable yards: All saddling boxes have shock-absorbent (e.g. rubberised) back walls and all new stableyards must have dedicated washdown facilities built to a specific criteria;
On Course Equine Treatment: The specification for horse ambulances has been enhanced and an improved design of green screens introduced;
Security: The CCTV provision in racecourse stable yards has been significantly upgraded and CCTV introduced in all Weighing Rooms;
Artificial Surfaces: A new second-generation all weather surface (Polytrack) has been developed, approved and successfully installed on two courses.
Running Rail / Parade Rings: All new running rail installations are positioned at least 2m in front of crowd barriers, and all new parade rings must have shock-absorbent (e.g. rubberised) walkways. Veterinary CareOur policy was outlined most simply by Director of Veterinary Welfare and Science at the time, Dr Peter Webbon, when speaking to The Times newspaper in March 2000: “I felt that (previously) the veterinary team was employed simply in a regulatory capacity and that was wrong. The main thing was to expand our role so that we could truly say we were the guardians of the horse. I would love to see racecourses competing with each other to provide the best facilities for horses. It’s in their own interests and I feel they should all be aiming for excellence, rather than settling for the bare minimum”.
At least three qualified vets are present at every race meeting. This includes an British Horseracing Authority veterinary official whose job is to ensure consistent standards of care across the country’s 59 racecourses.
British Horseracing Authority vets make sure that all injured horses are treated before leaving the racecourse. They record details of injuries on a national database, enabling them to identify which horses require inspection by a vet on their next racecourse appearance. It is also their job to enforce the rules of racing and investigate complaints about the way horses are treated both in training and after retirement.
On-course vets are the front-line of care if an accident occurs. They usually reach the scene of an accident within seconds. Their first priority is to treat the horse and prevent suffering, but if an injury cannot be treated, they have the responsibility to put the horse down quickly and humanely.
Our V eterinary team see themselves as guardians of the horse. They have been proactive in introducing a range of welfare measures, for example, introducing new specifications for horse ambulances to provide better facilities for treatment at race meetings.
Examples of how the Veterinary Officers safeguard horse welfare are as follows:
ensuring that all injured horses are examined, and treated if necessary, before leaving the racecourse;
setting up and running an efficient lameness and injury monitoring scheme to ensure that horses do not return to racing prematurely;
recording all fatal and non-fatal racecourse injures for subsequent statistical analysis;
arranging targeted, mandatory autopsies (initially of lower limb fractures) with a view to understanding and minimising the risk factors which contribute to fatal injuries;
investigating complaints regarding the standard of management of horses in training;
investigating any complaints regarding the welfare of retired racehorses;
monitoring high standards of racecourse stable hygiene;
participating in the enforcement of the Rules and Instructions with welfare implications, for example, those related to misuse of the whip;
involvement in licensing applications and education for new trainers. Working with Animal Welfare GroupsWe share with animal welfare groups the belief that horses have a right to a decent life. We work alongside groups like the RSPCA and the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) to establish the highest possible standards of safety and welfare.
The RSPCA’s concerns had an impact on our decision to change the design of water jumps and to restructure Grand National fences at Aintree.
David Muir, equine consultant for the RSPCA, speaking after modifications were made at Becher’s Brook for the 2005 Grand National, welcomed the modifications saying:
These changes have significantly improved the welfare of racehorses and show that the RSPCA's way of working with the racing industry is worthwhile and can bring about significant improvements to the welfare of racehorses.’
The ILPH, the only animal charity concerned entirely with horses, says:
The ILPH supports the correct and compassionate use of the horse in equine sport. The racing authorities in general are extremely aware of the welfare issues involved in the industry and are taking positive steps to ensure high welfare and safety standards both on and off course.
The industry has also shown itself willing to put its money where its mouth is recently with the Retraining of Racehorses Trust, the modifications to hurdles and the increased specifications for equine ambulances.”
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