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 information@racingvictoria.net.au rv.racing.com 400 Epsom Road, Flemington, VIC 3031 03 9258 4258 offthetrack@racingvictoria.net.au rv.racing.com/offthetrack