Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have recommended that all birch hurdles be replaced with padded hurdles by October 2026 in order to reduce the risk of equine fatalities and improve racehorse welfare.
The research found that the risk of a horse falling was lower over padded style hurdles and detailed analysis of video footage of all races in which a horse falls is being conducted to better understand how conditions within a race also influence fall risk.
Several other risk factors for fatality in racehorses were identified, including the increased risk when falling during a race and horse-related factors, which prompted the introduction of enhanced pre-race veterinary inspections.
Ground conditions were also found to influence fatality risk, and research is ongoing to better understand how weather factors and racecourse maintenance, including watering, has an impact.
These findings were drawn from new risk factor models developed by the RVC, in collaboration with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), to improve understanding of the reasons for horse fatalities and injuries in jump racing.
“Reduction of risk and injury is one of the core pillars of our welfare strategy and informed evidence-based decision making is integral to this,” said James Given, Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare at the BHA and member of the Horse Welfare Board.
“The Royal Veterinary College Epidemiological Team have academic expertise and independence that delivers scientifically rigorous evidence that enables recommendations and actions to be based on indisputable data.”
Maidens and older horses more likely to die
Using the new Racing Risk Models (RRMs), researchers analysed data from all jump racing starts on British racecourses over the last 14 years, which amounted to nearly 400,000 horse performances.
Data included horse age, their racing history and the conditions of the race, along with trainer and jockey experience. This was then combined with data on any race-related fatalities over the same study period.
A fatality was defined as any post-start veterinary event that resulted in the sudden death or euthanasia of a horse within 48 hours of racing.
The overall fatality rate was 5.9 per 1,000 steeplechase starts and 4.5 per 1,000 hurdle starts. In both race types, horses who fell and those who were older had higher odds of dying.
Over hurdles, maiden horses (ie those who have not previously won a race) had higher odds of fatality while softer going lowered the risk both over hurdles and steeplechase fences. Approximately half of the unexplained variation in fatality odds was attributable to the horse.
Scientifically-backed decisions to benefit horse welfare
Led by Kristien Verheyen, Professor of Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology, and Dr Sarah Allen, lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology, the research team was able to use the data to identify areas of increased risk.
These findings were shared with British racing’s Equine Safety Group (ESG).
“This research will greatly help the industry in making scientifically-backed decisions that will benefit the welfare of the sport’s equine participants, which must be the number one priority of all involved in racing,” said Kristien.
The full research paper can be viewed here
Main image of racehorse Constitution Hill over a birch hurdle supplied by the RVC
