RSPCA Policy C05 Horse racing

The RSPCA recognises that there are clearly established, entrenched, and significant issues which compromise the welfare of horses bred and used for racing, and that the industry must take urgent and effective action to resolve these including: over-supply and wastage of horses; deficiencies in housing; unnatural feeding regimes; lack of socialisation; injuries; use of painful devices (e.g. whips, tongue ties, electric jigger); administration of banned or unregistered substances; physical overexertion and fatigue (training and racing); lack of transparency, accountability and whole of life traceability.

Where horse racing is conducted, the RSPCA advocates for the following:

• Comprehensive regulation of horse racing by an independent body with a formal and complete separation of the integrity and regulatory functions from the commercial functions.
• Lifetime traceability of all racehorses.
• Implementation of appropriate key performance indicators to assess the industry’s progress in achieving better welfare outcomes for horses.

Racing of physically immature horses

The RSPCA opposes the racing of immature horses (e.g. two-year-olds). Independent veterinary certification verifying that the animal has matured satisfactorily must be obtained before training for racing is permitted to commence.

Events

Jumps racing

The RSPCA opposes jumps races (steeplechasing and hurdling) because of the inherent risk of injury, pain, suffering, or distress.

Endurance and bush races

Endurance races must only be held under regulated circumstances where the horses are well trained and certified by an appropriately qualified veterinarian to be healthy, fit and suitable to participate. Competing horses must be regularly checked by a suitably qualified veterinarian and withdrawn at the first sign of distress.

Devices and equipment

Any device or equipment to control or modify behaviour or performance in horse racing or associated training which causes injury, pain, suffering, or distress to the animal must not be used (e.g. electric jigger/prodder, whips, tongue ties, spurs, head pole burrs).

Racing in hot weather

The RSPCA opposes the racing of horses in hot weather because of the risk of suffering, or distress.

The RSPCA advocates that a maximum wet bulb temperature (predicted temperature and humidity) is mandated (based on scientific evidence and local conditions) beyond which race meetings are cancelled to prevent racehorses experiencing heat stress.