RACING VICTORIA’S
EQUINE WELFARE
STRATEGY
Published October 2016
Racing Victoria’s vision is to be a leader in equine
welfare and build a racing culture in which the
safety and welfare of the racehorse is paramount
to all participants and owners.
Racing Victoria has developed an Equine Welfare Strategic Plan following an extensive
consultation process with industry stakeholders and external experts to best understand and
address the key issues relating to equine welfare.
Equine welfare best practice is an evolving journey, and this strategy builds on the work of
those in racing over the past decade and beyond. The strategy will serve to guide us into the
future, setting clear priorities and objectives.
KEY INITIATIVES
INDUSTRY-WIDE
1. A Welfare Advisory Panel will be created by Racing Victoria consisting of key
leaders and experts from all facets of the equine industry to advise on improved
welfare outcomes for thoroughbreds before, during and after racing. This Panel will
be appointed by December 2016.
2. Racing Victoria is developing a Code of Practice, outlining its expectations for the
care of thoroughbred racehorses by all industry participants. The Code of Practice
will be launched in December 2016 and will be a mandatory component of the next
licensing renewal period in 2017.
3. A compulsory online education module in equine welfare will be introduced for
all industry participants. It will be a mandatory component of the next licensing
renewal period in 2017.
4. Racing Victoria is finalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work
collaboratively with RSPCA Victoria on initiatives that benefit the welfare of
thoroughbred racehorses and ensure an appropriate exchange of information.
BEFORE RACING
5. Following the introduction of a compulsory registration rule in August 2016,
Racing Victoria is working with Racing Australia to achieve national reforms
that enable greater traceability of all thoroughbreds from birth to gain a better
understanding of their lifecycle. Racing Victoria is committed to knowing what
happens to 100% of the foals born in any year in Victoria. To support this,
Racing Victoria will audit a minimum of 25 per cent of the foals born in Victoria
to ensure compliance with all rules relating to traceability, ownership and
welfare.
6. Having recently completed a study on the life cycle of foals born in Victoria in
2005, Racing Victoria has now commissioned further studies on the life cycle
of foals born in 2010 and 2015. These projects provide valuable information on
the life cycle of thoroughbred foals to benchmark against future data.
KEY INITIATIVES
(CONTINUED)
DURING RACING
7. Racing Victoria is partnering with the Victorian Government, Racing Australia
and the University of Melbourne in a newly launched $5.25 million research
project aimed at the early detection and prevention of bone injuries in
thoroughbred racehorses. The research project – the biggest investment of its
kind into equine welfare research in Australia – will conclude in 2019 with the
findings to help inform trainers of best practice for catastrophic limb injury
prevention. Through the research, Racing Victoria aims to reduce the rate of
raceday fatalities in flat racing from an average 0.051 per cent of starters per
season towards 0.00 per cent.
8. A compulsory online veterinary medical record system will be introduced for
trainers and their veterinary teams which will allow Racing Victoria to monitor
all veterinary records for integrity and welfare purposes to ensure that all
treatments are recorded transparently. A launch target of July 2017 has been set.
AFTER RACING
9. Expand Racing Victoria’s successful Off the Track program, which promotes
the adaptability and versatility of the thoroughbred to the equestrian and
pleasure industry and helps facilitate the placement of retired racehorses
into post-racing careers. Racing Victoria believes there’s a home for every
healthy thoroughbred and over the next 12 months, aims to grow its network
of acknowledged retrainers in Victoria from 40 to 60 expanding the range of
disciplines available for retired racehorses.
10. Develop strategic partnerships with key equine and equestrian bodies in
Victoria, including Equestrian Victoria, that assist with post-racing careers for
healthy retired racehorses.
AIM 1
Consolidate and advance knowledge,
policies, guidelines and practices where
there is scope to improve outcomes
for horses.
1. Conduct research to trace the lifecycle
of 2010 and 2015 Victorian thoroughbred
foals, in line with the completed
2005 study.
2. Collaborate with the Victorian State
Government and the University of
Melbourne in a $5.25 million Equine Limb
Injury Prevention Research Program.
3. Continue ancillary research projects.
4. Develop an online veterinary medical
record system to ensure greater
transparency of treatment and
procedures for horses.
5. Ongoing review of the existing integrity
resources to monitor welfare related
initiatives.
6. Implement an annual equine welfare
policy audit.
7. Develop a Code of Practice for the Care of
Horses that outlines the basic expectations
for all industry participants.
8. Develop a mandatory trainer equine
welfare declaration as part of the annual
licensing requirements.
9. Revise the Racing Victoria Constitution to
incorporate reference to equine welfare.
10. Develop a Code of Practice for vets
working in the Victorian thoroughbred
racing industry.
11. Develop an industry stakeholder charter
that acknowledges the Racing Victoria
Code of Practice for the Care of Horses.
12. Understand and quantify current
perceptions of customers and the broader
public around equine welfare in the racing
industry via research.
AIM 2
Work with other organisations within
racing and beyond, to share knowledge
and improve practices in other jurisdictions
or equine pursuits.
1. Establish a formal Memorandum of
Understanding with the RSPCA.
2. Work in a collaborative manner with
organisations and groups who seek to
improve equine welfare in Victoria.
3. Maintain an active role within relevant
Racing Australia and International
Federation of Horse Racing Authorities
(IFHA) committees.
4. Continue to develop relationships
with equestrian industry bodies,
including Equestrian Victoria and
Equestrian Australia.
5. Ensure strong engagement with the
Victorian State Government on equine
welfare-related issues.
AIM 3
Develop and implement programs
and initiatives that advance welfare
outcomes for racehorses before,
during and after racing.
1. Continue to work with Racing Australia
to achieve national reforms that enable
greater visibility of thoroughbreds from
birth.
2. Continue to ensure horse welfare is
serviced on raceday via an extensive
network of full-time and contracted vets
to conduct inspections and treatments as
required.
3. Continue to conduct pre-race veterinary
inspections ahead of feature races,
including the Melbourne Cup and the Blue
Diamond Stakes.
4. Establish a veterinary residency program
at Racing Victoria for university graduates.
5. Expand the successful Off the Track
program.
6. Engage and educate jockeys via a training
package on equine welfare.
7. Continue to assess existing rules and
introduce new rules that safeguard the
welfare of the horse.
8. Explore the feasibility of a regular Racing
Victoria-endorsed sale of Off the Track
horses.
9. Develop an online equine welfare training
module for licensed trainers, stable staff
and other industry employees.
10. Formalise a welfare advisory team within
Racing Victoria that is responsible for
working with licensed trainers and their
staff.
11. Formalise an industry training program for
participants.
12. Create a dedicated online portal for
industry participants that contains all news
and information on equine welfare.
13. Publish a resource for owners with
information about responsible racehorse
retirement, including options for transition
into a post-racing career.
14. Establish an integrity and welfare hotline
for complaints and public feedback.
15. Formalise and document an equine
welfare complaints process.
16. Expand Racing Victoria Integrity team
functions to increase equine welfare
responsibilities.
AIM 4
Position the victorian thoroughbred
racing industry as a leader in equine
welfare in australia.
1. Deliver an informatitive communications
strategy to support the industry’s equine
welfare plan.
2. Engage with the community and
continue to educate the public about
welfare in racing.
CONTACT
Racing Victoria
400 Epsom Rd, Flemington, VIC 3031
03 9258 4258
[email protected]
rv.racing.com
400 Epsom Road, Flemington, VIC 3031
03 9258 4258
[email protected]
rv.racing.com/OffTheTrack