The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced that it will be launching a survey to better understand the aftercare of thoroughbreds.
The voluntary survey, which asks for trainers to share their own experiences of aftercare for racehorses, forms part of ongoing work towards an overarching equine health and welfare strategy currently being developed by the BHA.
The focus will be on life after horses finish their racing career and follows on from news of 30 day foal notification which will help to form a more accurate picture of racehorses’ lives before they enter training.
The survey will be open for two weeks allowing trainers the opportunity to share the high standards of aftercare received by racehorses, but also will allow the BHA to gain greater clarity regarding the latter stages of racehorses’ lives.
Trainers have been sent the survey by e-mail and have been asked to complete it by Friday 2 March.
David Sykes, Director of Equine Health and Welfare at the BHA, said:
“British Racing’s duty of care to its racehorses extends beyond the end of their racing careers.
“As part of our work towards an equine welfare strategy which encompasses the post-racing life of a racehorse, we need to get a fuller picture of what happens to horses after they leave the track.
“Asking for trainers’ help to do this will allow us to understand the current landscape from those who experience it first hand, and we are looking forward to seeing the results.”
Notes to editors:
1. An increasing number of racehorses go on to successful second careers after retiring from the track in other equine disciplines outside of racing, including Polo, Showing, Dressage and Eventing with the help of Retraining of Racehorses , British Horseracing’s official charity for the rehoming and retraining racehorses.
2. In all, the industry invests over £750,000 each year facilitating the rehoming and retraining of racehorses. Racehorse owners are the largest contributors followed by racecourses, plus trainers, breeders, jockeys, auctioneers, legacies and fundraising activities and the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
