Articles

Employing stable staff from outside the EU

Successful racing yards are not just about having talented, winning horses looking over the stable doors. Behind the scenes there is a whole team of dedicated staff who work all hours to care for them.

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The outdoor life - should racehorses be turned out?

Three million years ago, various species of the genus Equus existed across North America, Europe and Asia. These horses evolved to exploit large volumes of high-fibre and low-protein food, typically grasses.

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The Long Road to Freedom - transport regulations, and why racehorses should be treated differently

This season’s province-dominated first semester of French flat racing, along with an ultra-international Royal Ascot, serves as proof that travel is no obstacle to top-level success.

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Drugs in American racing and the role the vet has to play

This article, originally published in North American Trainer, inspired debate amongst our readers overseas. Only too recently, the Americans have realised that the escalating problem of drugs in U.S. racing has spiraled out of their control.

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Contaminants from Stable Staff - are racehorses at risk?

Racehorse trainers are responsible for the actions of all members of their teams, and mistakes made by staff can cost the trainer dearly. We are not just talking about a slipping saddle or bad handling of a runner in the paddock that may contribute to certain defeat where victory should have been within grasp.

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Stress and the Thoroughbred - a closer look at the loosely-used term

There can be few terms used as loosely by both practical horse people and animal scientists as the term ‘stress’. It can be used to mean the physical force an object is subjected to, for example the stress applied to the pasterns of a thoroughbred on the gallops. It can be used to mean the feeling we experience waiting at the winning post for our horse to romp home.

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The Challenge of Transport - the practical considerations for transporting horses

The after-effects of travel on racehorses has vexed trainers for decades. Short-distance transport of racehorses is, as every trainer knows, almost always of very little consequence. The only significant exception are the “bad travellers” that may or may not respond to repeated exposure to transport and a patient approach. Longer distance transport presents a much greater challenge and months of work and planning can be undone in the course of a few hours.

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Stabling and Health specifically for racehorses

In looking at this subject, it is important to see the needs of the racehorse as being different from horses kept for any other sporting purpose. Its management, feeding, training and stabling are all critical and unique. For racing, all body organs must function efficiently and, in so much as these can be affected by stabling conditions, it might pay to take a critical look at the elements involved.
Our discussion is particularly about the way stabling and stable management influence lowgrade or ‘sub-clinical’ disease. It is not about major diseases like flu or strangles, although aspects of stabling can affect the degree of illness as well as recovery times in these conditions too.

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Pre-Race Deterrents - how its surroundings can affect a horse's race

It is an ordinary raceday at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse. I am taking my notes by the pre-parade ring. This pre-parade ring is much better than the one over at the July Course, I say to myself. It is a relaxing place for the horses, not least for the young horses. Quite spacious, it is an inviting place. At the July Course, on the other hand, the pre-parade ring is charmingly embraced by tall trees. That, however, makes it a tight and enclosed place, not one for the claustrophobics among us, be it on two or four legs. Trees on all sides and a fence on the one side also mean that the horses cannot see what is making that odd sound, when a trolley is being pushed along on metal wheels on the tarmac just a couple of yards away. Or glass is being smashed into a bottle bank behind the fence. No, the Rowley Mile is a much nicer place to stretch one’s legs before a race. It must be. Then, as a ten-year-old gelding walks calmly past me, something odd happens. And it makes me think.

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Horse Behavioural Problems: Common causes and welfare-sensitive approaches to solutions.

The term ‘behaviour problem’ or even ‘abnormal behaviour’ is applied to many behaviours horses perform without any great thought to the appropriateness of the term. The simplest (and probably most appropriate) definition of an equine behaviour problem is a behaviour that presents a difficulty of some kind to the horse, other horses, or to its owners and managers. Sometimes we consider behaviours as problems because they make us feel uncomfortable, e.g. crib-biting, weaving, coprophagy (faeces-eating) or masturbation in stallions.

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What is animal welfare, and how does it apply to racing?

On the 6th of April 2007 the new Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into effect in England and Wales, being preceded by the similar Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

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Stabling horses is a necessary part of racing life - developments in box design help reduce the risk

Duncan Moir looks at a number of potential problems which can manifest as a result of this and explores recent developments in box design and modification with regard to their potential in reducing the incidence of these problems.

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Understanding Horse Behaviour - how it can help the trainer

It cannot be denied that there is art as well as science in the successful training of racehorses. No matter how good one’s understanding of the principles involved, an essential component is good horsemanship- a ‘feel’ for the horse, and an easy communication between horse and trainer which would appear to defy scientific explanation.

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Tack Hygiene - the relative benefits of different types of tack

Traditionally the horse racing world has smelt of leather, clean leather with its associated oils and hours of rubbing, trimming and cleaning. From boots to saddle, tradition has always been the hallmark of the sport in terms of both fashion and practicality. Since its very early days, bridles and saddles were made from the only available material; leather and so it has remained; until recently.

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Rising riding weights - adapting to the growing population

Logic decrees that Flat racing is ready for another increase in the minimum weight. Somewhere along the way logic is not being applied.
A recent study emanating from the University of Nottingham has concluded that compared to 30 years ago boys aged 16 are, on average, 11lb’s heavier.

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Racecourse stabling - a complete overhaul

IT is costing millions of pounds, but Britain’s racecourse stables are being dramatically overhauled. Stables are being spruced up, entire yards are being refurbished or rebuilt, improved walkways are being introduced, closed circuit television cameras with colour pictures are being installed, and ‘hot boxing’ – in which, on the day of a meeting, one runner exits a stable and another moves in – is about to become history.

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Welfare Articles

Employing stable staff from outside the EU

The outdoor life - should racehorses be turned out?

The Long Road to Freedom - transport regulations, and why racehorses should be treated differently

Drugs in American racing and the role the vet has to play

Contaminants from Stable Staff - are racehorses at risk?

Stress and the Thoroughbred - a closer look at the loosely-used term

The Challenge of Transport - the practical considerations for transporting horses

Stabling and Health specifically for racehorses

Pre-Race Deterrents - how its surroundings can affect a horse's race

Horse Behavioural Problems: Common causes and welfare-sensitive approaches to solutions.

What is animal welfare, and how does it apply to racing?

Stabling horses is a necessary part of racing life - developments in box design help reduce the risk

Understanding Horse Behaviour - how it can help the trainer

Tack Hygiene - the relative benefits of different types of tack

Rising riding weights - adapting to the growing population

Racecourse stabling - a complete overhaul