Horse Welfare

Welfare on the Racecourse

The Rules

Our rules are there to protect the welfare of the sport’s participants, ensure a level playing field and are regulated by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The rules include strict requirements on how horses should be ridden during a race to ensure their welfare.

Written into the rules of the sport are the responsibilities of everyone involved in the sport to ensure that they act in the best interests of horses at all times.

Pre and Post-Race Checks by Vets

All racing takes place under the careful supervision of a team of Racecourse and BHA vets to ensure each horses’ welfare and wellbeing and it’s suitable to race.

Physical examinations are routine before races, allowing vets and experienced horse people to detect any potential issues and provide immediate action and attention.

Horses are also assessed after their races, to ensure any issues can be identified and acted on.

A Team of Vets Always 60 Seconds Away

Vets follow races as they happen and must be able to attend to any horse within 60 seconds.

A minimum of four vets are required to be on hand at the Racecourse for all our meetings.

Regular Inspections to Uphold Standards

Stables and tracks must adhere to high standards, with regular inspections to ensure compliance.

The Whip

New, strict regulation around the whip was introduced in 2023, ensuring that the use of the padded ProCush whip for safety and encouragement is tightly controlled, with thresholds for use set at very low levels.

Since these rules were introduced they have been breached on only 0.75% of rides, or significantly less than one in every 100 rides.

Collective Welfare Responsibility of Officials

BHA and racecourses officials work closely together and are tasked with safeguarding the welfare of the horses and to ensure the highest horse welfare and safety standards across the whole racecourse.

For more information on horse welfare visit horsepwr.co.uk