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BHA Supports Investigation Into Abattoir Images Displayed in Panorama Programme

Following the broadcasting of the BBC's programme Panorama: The Dark Side of Horse Racing on Monday evening, the British Horseracing Authority announced its support to investigate the images of horses being euthanized in situations which may have harmed their welfare. In addition, several leaders from the British racing industry including the BHA, as well as the Horse Welfare Board will be meeting to discuss further issues raised by the Panorama programme on Tuesday. The BHA will also be in contact with Horse Racing Ireland over the contents of the programme. which, it suggests, show horses, including former racehorses, being euthanised in circumstances which may have harmed their welfare. They also reported that some of the horses had been transported from Ireland to a British abattoir.

The BHA said in a statement, “No one in racing, and no one who loves horses, wants to see them caused distress or suffering at the end of their lives. If there has been a departure from approved abattoir practices and the welfare of the horses involved has been compromised, it is important this is addressed as a matter of urgency. This includes transporting horses over long distances to an abattoir, especially if these have injuries, which is not acceptable under the British racing industry's guidelines for euthanasia.

“The Food Standards Agency, which regulates abattoirs, is responsible for maintaining standards of animal welfare. We would support them if they decide there is evidence of mistreatment of animals which requires investigation, given the public concern that may arise from this programme

“The British racing industry, and the 7000 and more staff who look after our horses day-in, day-out, across Britain, are proud of the unparalleled standards of love, care, attention, and respect our horses receive. Where end-of life decisions are being considered, we want these to take place in accordance with the euthanasia guidelines developed by the industry's Horse Welfare Board over the last 12 months. These aim to ensure that horses' welfare is protected and that all available options for rehoming are examined.

“Our sport has set out its wider approach to equine welfare in a strategy published in 2020, which the programme chose not to highlight. One of the core aspects of this strategy is collective lifetime responsibility, and the report identified the need to further enhance our record in the fields of aftercare and traceability.”

The BHA has already taken significant steps since publishing the above strategy, including:

A review and recommendations for the funding of the aftercare sector;
The introduction of euthanasia guidelines for the industry;
Improving traceability of racehorses, including greater use of digital passports to assist in tracking cross-border horse movements
The development of a £2.5m emergency COVID relief fund for thoroughbreds that risk falling into neglect. So far, this fund has not needed to be used.

Later on Monday evening, the National Trainers Federation also released a statement condemning the practices show in the Panorama broadcast. The statement read: “The scenes at the abattoir shown in Panorama tonight were sickening and the National Trainers Federation (NTF) has no hesitation in condemning those practices. We note that the programme produced no examples of horses trained in Britain suffering a similar fate at this or any other abattoir.

Britain has a well-established and highly esteemed programme for rehoming racehorses trained in this country. Managed by the industry's charity Retraining of Racehorses, the programme has successfully expanded the market for racehorses to move on to new careers away from the racecourse. Such is the demand, our trainers tell us that they have no difficulty finding good new homes for retired racehorses.

Along with all other stakeholders and participants in British horseracing, the NTF fully supports the industry's Horse Welfare Strategy published in 2020 under the auspices of the independently chaired Horse Welfare Board. The strategy notes that “Euthanasia can…sometimes be effective in preventing unnecessary suffering and avoiding a welfare problem.” British trainers take a responsible and compassionate approach with racehorses that have long term injuries. If a vet recommends euthanasia, their aim would be to carry it out at the trainer's premises in a professional and humane way in accordance with the industry's euthanasia guidelines.”

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BHA Whip Consultation Opens

The British Horseracing Authority on Thursday opened a 10-week open, public consultation on British racing's whip rules and penalities. The consultation, a recommendation of the industry's independently chaired Horse Welfare Board, aims to gather and assess the views of industry participants, stakeholders and wider audiences regarding the rules, use, and penalties for rule breaches.

The first part of the consultation is an online questionnaire that will be available until Sept. 6 and is open to anyone. The second part of the consultation will involve detailed discussions with relevant parties and focus groups.

Upon conclusion of the full consultation process the data, views and suggestions gathered will be considered by the Whip Consultation Steering Group, which includes representation from across the racing industry and wider sectors including politics, horse welfare and the media. Recommendations will be presented to the BHA Board for consideration and approval in early 2022.

The BHA has published three explanatory videos on how the consultation will work: how the process will work, about the whip and how the whip is used. A Q&A document is also available.

Julie Harrington, chief executive of the BHA, said, “At a time when societal and political views are constantly changing, the future health of our sport will depend in part on the maintenance of social licence and the trust that the public and politicians have in us. The racing industry must be willing to listen to and understand a range of perspectives if it is to prosper and safeguard its long-term future. Moreover, we must have rules and a penalty structure which are viewed as fair to participants and the betting public, which encourage riding within the rules and which deter rule breaches. By carrying out this consultation we are looking to signal and facilitate a positive, open debate about this important issue for our sport from the viewpoint of perception and fairness. We encourage everyone with an interest in the subject to take part in the consultation. This is your opportunity to be heard.”

Brant Dunshea, chief regulatory officer for the BHA, said, “The consultation process will be open and transparent, and the views of all parties are welcome and will be considered. The decisions that result from this process are then racing's to make, guided by the consultation responses and the significant expertise that exists within the Steering Group. We encourage all respondents to make use of the supporting information in the consultation, which explains the current design of the whip, and the rules and penalties relating to its use, to ensure that anyone responding to the consultation is informed by the facts.

“This is a complex issue and not a binary one. The consultation will cover a broad range of ground regarding the use of the whip for encouragement, the rules under which the padded whips are used for this specific purpose, and the penalties for breaches of those rules. We ask everyone involved to take part in this debate constructively and respectfully.”

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Horse Welfare Board Appoints New Trio

Mike Etherington-Smith, Helena Flynn and Stephen Wensley were all appointed to the Horse Welfare Board, the HWB announced on Wednesday. The trio, whose roles will be funded by the Racing Foundation, will work across racing to coordinate the implementation of the Horse Welfare Strategy and will be accountable to Barry Johnson, the HWB's independent chair. Racing Foundation CEO Rob Hezel was directly involved in the recruitment process.

Etherington-Smith, who has designed multiple Olympic event courses, will be the Equine Safety Advisor. Helena Flynn has been named Programme Director and Stephen Wensley is the new Welfare Data Projects Lead. They will work closely with Claire Cuff who began in February as the Head of Welfare Communications, whose post is funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

Barry Johnson, the HWB's Independent Chair, said, “We are enormously excited and encouraged by the formation of this impressive team. Not only are their skills and experience truly world class, they have also demonstrated a strong ability to work collaboratively. This was essential, as we wanted a team who would support racing and its people to fulfil our collective ambitions in relation to horse welfare.

“Helena Flynn has worked at a high level in some major global businesses and this experience, combined with her deep passion for horses and racing, gives us great confidence that she will be a real asset to racing and will help to drive the Horse Welfare Programme forward over the coming months.

“Mike Etherington-Smith is a world leader in the field of equine risk management and will not only share his formidable experience and knowledge with racing, but also to learn from the equine understanding and expertise that exists across the sport. We are delighted to have someone of Mike's calibre working with us.

“Stephen Wensley impressed us with his deep understanding of data projects and his strong project management experience. We felt he could help us ensure that racing has a clear programme of effective welfare data projects, which can be used by the whole industry to build understanding and drive improvements.”

More information on the appointees and their role with the HWB can be found here.

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Horse Welfare Board Releases Aftercare Funding Review

Britain's Horse Welfare Board, established to produce a strategy that unites the whole industry and drives continuous improvement in the realm of racehorse aftercare, on Thursday released its Aftercare Funding Review. The report's recommendations touch on funding, focus and integration, traceability and data, accreditation, community, education and communication and are designed to cover any horse bred for racing. The report makes recommendations that will reform the structure of aftercare provision and build trust in racing's equine welfare processes, including having Retraining of Racehorses take on a significant role as the face of the initiative on behalf of the industry.

Barry Johnson, chair of the Horse Welfare Board, said, “Racing has continued to put welfare at the forefront of the sport and this review's recommendations will continue to ensure we support that progress. We can see that there is much to do to ensure that British racing remains a world leader in equine welfare. From filling our data gaps to ensuring that we see and can monitor a horse prior to their racing life and during retirement will be a vital part of giving horses a good life beyond racing. I am looking forward to building on these recommendations and working with RoR and other stakeholders in the aftercare sector.”

Philip Freedman, chairman of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), said, “The Trustees of RoR welcome the publication of the Aftercare Funding Review. In particular we are pleased that the Horse Welfare Board recognises RoR as the organisation most suited to develop an expanded and broader aftercare role on behalf of British racing. We also welcome recognition for the important work RoR has done in generating an expanding market for former racehorses across a range of equestrian disciplines. Incorporating into the charity's remit “any horse bred for racing” will not only substantially increase the number of horses benefitting from our activities, it will require changes to our Charitable Objectives, and necessitate a review of our funding, structure and responsibilities. To that end we are looking to appoint an independent consultant, with experience in the field of equine welfare, to advise the Trustees on the implications of these changes and how they should best be addressed, in order that we can take the necessary measures.

“Integral to the success of implementing the Review's recommendations will be the support and collaboration of the whole industry, notably in addressing the funding and data gaps identified in the report. To that end, we look forward to working closely with the Horse Welfare Board so that going forward we continue to build the demand for Thoroughbreds outside of racing, a strategy which has served the sport well in minimising the number of the horses that subsequently require charitable support from RoR.”

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