Age Old Puzzle: Difficulties Inherent In Assessing Equine Quality Of Life 

The inability to accurately assess quality of life can be harmful to horses, as owners may potentially sacrifice equine welfare due to a lack of understanding of the factors that influence that quality of life. Though multiple quality of life models exist, most don't consider a horse's mental health and are difficult to apply in real-world situations.

Quality of life is often only considered when horse owners are faced with the decision of when to euthanize a horse. A recent report, however, suggests that quality of life should be assessed multiple times in a horse's life.

The report, which was published by the Advancing Equine Scientific Excellence (AESE) project, involved students from several institutions throughout England. This team used surveys, interviews and literature reviews to understand how equine quality of life was perceived, as well as how it could be measured.

Using existing quality of life models, the research team found a marked disparity between what researchers considered feasible and what horse owners considered feasible, with regard to ease of incorporation into a daily routine.

Any tool used to measure equine quality of life would have to be practical and effective; the tool should assist owners and caretakers in the assessment of management and training, as well as the horse's response to treatment if he is injured or ill.

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Any successful assessment tool will need to be developed by both researchers and real-life horse owners and caretakers so that its use is feasible. Supported by World Horse Welfare and The Horse Trust, this project is the first step in the development of a usable quality of life tool, which will help to improve equine welfare.

Read more at HorseTalk.

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‘Let’s Talk’ Delves Into Jockeys’ Mental Health

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   The TDN's 'Let's Talk'–a podcast series featuring TDN's Christina Bossinakis and TVG's on-air analyst Gabby Gaudet, offers candid discussion on personal, and sometimes difficult, topics that are often uncomfortable for many to speak about in an open forum.

   The latest edition presents a trio of successful jockeys–Journeyman John Velazquez and retired Ramon Dominguez–both in the Hall of Fame–in addition to retired rider Richie Migliore, currently serving as a NYRA and FOX Sports on-air analyst.

Few will dispute the fact that jockeys are the iron warriors of horse racing. Physical danger is a very real part of the every day existence of a rider, as is the continual adversity they are forced to endure and adapt (and react) to.

“You really don't know what is going to happen,” admitted Dominguez. “It's different, perhaps for a jockey or it is magnified compared to other athletes, mostly because the athletes prepare and train for a specific game or perhaps for a season. Jockeys have a never-ending season–year-round racing. Even if you have a great business, doing well and had an amazing day, you have to turn the page. Because tomorrow, you can fall into a slump and things change. That [concern] is always in the back of your mind.”

Having faced more than his share of adversity, Migliore retired from the saddle in 2010, and Dominguez followed suit three years later after also facing a career-ending injury. Velazquez, who continues to compete at the highest level at age 51, also faced serious injury at several junctures in his career, however found himself among those fortunate to return to the saddle, time and again.

 

 

“For every jockey, for every athlete, there's a last ride, there's a last at bat, there's a last play,” said Migliore. “And if you're fortunate, you get to choose when that last ride is like Chris McCarron, Jerry Bailey and Pat Day. They accomplished amazing things and they made a decision that it was time to step away. The vast majority of riders don't get that opportunity. So, I tell young riders there will be a last ride and, hopefully, you get to choose last. But that's why you owe it to yourself to make the most out of the time you are able to ride.”

While the physical stress and adversity that riders face are well documented, the emotional difficulties that jockeys often face can be as prevalent, although not as easily observed by the masses.

“Unlike Ramon who was in the midst of his prime, I was in the back nine, the twilight of my career,” added Migliore. “Physically, I wasn't what I once was. Mentally, I could still see a race well, still had a great judge and feel of horses, but I certainly wasn't in what I would call my prime. Even though it was, admittedly, towards the end, I was 44 when the accident happened, and it still sent me into a deep, dark place. I went into a deep depression. Not originally when I first got out of the hospital, but when I was home. I didn't feel good, and I didn't care. I didn't care about horse racing or riding. Three or four months later when I started to feel better, and the reality was 'you're never going to do that again,' I really got depressed.”

It is widely understood that the challenges facing riders can be great, however, unity in racing can be equally strong, a bond reinforced by the necessity of taking care of one's own.

“It's funny because I always felt I had support,” said Velazquez. “And you always have the doubters, though. But I always focus on the people who want to give me the opportunity and forget about those, those people who doubted me from the get-go.”

And that support extends to the next generation of riders, which Velazquez admits is an important factor in keeping the playing field safe and equitable for the entire jockey colony.

“The more you teach those kids, the safer it is for you to ride,” he said. “You want to ride with the more knowledgeable rider rather than the kids that are more reckless. The ones who don't want to listen or to learn are the ones that make it scary to ride with. They want to learn the hard way. So, you have to show them the right way.”

To listen to the audio only version of 'Let's Talk,' click here. For the video version, click here.

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Jockeys’ Guild Virtual Assembly Includes Presentations On Mental Health Awareness, Proposed HISA Regulations

The Jockeys' Guild held its Annual Meeting virtually again this year on Dec. 7, 2021. The virtual meeting was attended by active Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse jockeys from around the country.

The highlights included a synopsis of the short film THE FALL by Equine Productions' Visual Director Nathan Horrocks, who co-directed the feature with Cold Feet star Robert Bathurst. Horrocks has been in racing most of his life and has witnessed firsthand the mental health challenges that jockeys face on a daily basis. His hope is to raise awareness of the mental health struggles within the sport of racing and let jockeys know they do not have to suffer in silence.

Racing advocate and long-time supporter of the jockeys Sen. Damon Thayer (KY-R) addressed the members on the compromise he was instrumental in accomplishing in Kentucky regarding the use of the riding crop, as well as the increase in losing mount fees at select tracks. His involvement, as well as his continued support, is invaluable.

Dr. David Lambert B.V.Sc. (Hons.), M.R.C.V.S, President and Founder of Equine Analysis, in Midway, Kentucky, presented “21st Century Solutions: Stopping Horses From Breaking Down.” The system, known as Stride Safe, employs sensors, which are placed in saddle towels, to track the movements of the horse and gather data which can be used to protect horses, and in turn, jockeys from life-threatening injuries. The system is currently being utilized at NYRA.

Ann McGovern, director of Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (“HISA”) Racetrack Safety standing committee, provided the jockeys with an update about the current status of the proposed racetrack safety rules, which have been formally submitted to the Federal Trade Commission. She also advised members about the intent of the Authority to provide regulations assuring for the safety of the horses, thereby, improving the safety of the jockeys. Jockeys voiced their concerns regarding changes that have occurred with racing, as well as their ongoing worry with regards to the safety issues created by the restrictive use of the riding crop and the penalties being proposed by HISA. The Jockeys' Guild will submit public comments to the FTC and encouraged others to do so as well.

Nancy LaSala, Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (“PDJF”) President, and PDJF Board Member and horse owner/breeder Paul Braverman gave an update on the PDJF. Mr. Braverman emphasized that the PDJF has made a commitment to the disabled jockeys for the rest of their lives, yet there is no committed source of funding from the industry. Like many other non-profit organizations, COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their customary fundraising efforts and was a stark reminder of the need for institutional funding. In response to horse owner's requests, the PDJF has created a new initiative called “Rider's Up” that has the full support of the PDJF Board and has been presented to many industry stakeholders. The PDJF is hopeful that contributions generated from the Rider's Up Initiative by horse owners will enable the PDJF to increase its monthly stipends to recipients who have suffered career-ending catastrophic injuries.

In support of this worthy cause, the Jockeys' Guild Senate members voted to adopt a new policy, whereby winning Jockeys' Guild members of races with purses over $70,000 will contribute 0.005 percent of their earnings, capped at $200. This would be a separate program from the “one dollar program” that is already in place and would continue to be offered at the tracks that do not offer purses of $70,000 or more. Like the horse owners program, the jockeys will have the ability to opt-out. The Guild Senate formally adopted this proposal to support the PDJF's Riders Up initiative with the intent of encouraging the horsemen organizations to follow suit, such that both the winning owner and winning jockey can help to make a critical impact on the welfare of these disabled riders. It should be noted that many active jockeys already contribute money and their time to the PDJF, as well as donations to other jockeys who are injured.

The riders in attendance re-elected John Velazquez and Mike Smith as Co-chairmen, Javier Castellano and Julien Leparoux, along with newly elected Quarter Horse jockey James Flores, as Vice-Chairs, Joel Campbell as Treasurer and Rodney Prescott as Secretary. In addition, Alex Birzer, Joe Bravo, and Drayden Van Dyke were re-elected to the Board of Directors.

In a closed session, the members reviewed 2021 financials and the 2022 budget.

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Can The Horseracing Integrity And Safety Act Entice More Vets To Regulatory Work?

The veterinary shortage in the United States has reached an almost critical juncture, but those behind the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act believe they may be able to entice more vets to regulatory work with the promise of a work-life balance.

As an increased veterinary presence at tracks in California is required, the lack of veterinarians in the state – and throughout the United States – is becoming more apparent, reports Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

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There are multiple reasons why fewer students are studying veterinary medicine and even fewer are interested in pursuing large animal practice, including debt, stress, mental health concerns, and work-life balance. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which is slated to launch in July of 2022, is hoping to entice more vets into the regulatory side of veterinary medicine.

In racing, veterinarians typically fall into two camps: vets employed by racetracks and vets employed by state racing commissions. In California, the veterinarian's scope of duties now extends well beyond that of a pre-race examiner: vets in the state now are asked to monitor training, help with entry review panels and sit on necropsy review programs.

Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for The Stronach Group (TSG), has a unique proposal to attract vets into regulatory work: The creation of a fellowship program aimed at vet school graduates who have completed an internship, but who would like to do something more before entering into full-time practice.

Benson suggests the fellowship be a two-year program split between academic studies and practical experiences, with the student graduating from the program with a master's degree in regulatory or sports medicine.

Proponents are hopeful the job of a regulatory vet may soon be streamlined through HISA's creation of a nationwide veterinarian database, which could better allow regulatory veterinarians to communicate about required tasks and prevent the role from being too overwhelming. Another potentially large draw for regulatory vet work is the standardized hours.

Read more at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

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