I am a great supporter of Horse Racing Welfare and a fan of flat racing, I go to my local Newmarket around 12 times in a season and find the level of Welfare in the Suffolk area extremely high having visited both the National Stud and the Daleham Hall Stud and quite a few trainers yards in the area.
However there is a grey area surrounding the amount of 2yo’s that never see a racetrack and those that are over raced in their early and later years for the sake of a Cooperate day out for the owners.

It is here where the BHA should be stepping in to look into the Welfare of horses who are unsuited to racing and stop greedy owners and trainers exploiting them for very small gain, these horses need a voice and the BHA’s database is inadequate.

I find your question 8 almost impossible to answer without another category:-
I would perceive horse racing to be
a sport where horses race against each other because racing is in their blood being a pack animal, if they are made to jump obstacles then they will fall and injure themselves, sometimes fatally. Some racecourses such as Cheltenham,Wincanton,Sedgefield have a higher mortality rate than others and BHA should investigate these courses, also some NH jockeys have an unacceptable high fatality record with horses they have ridden - AP McCoy for one has had 15 horses die under him since 2007 this again should be monitored and looked into on a yearly basis.
The horse’s welfare is upmost and a retirement age of 12 years should be made compulsory for NH horses, also a horse that has made the transition from flat to Hurdles/Jumps should first be monitored for his/her suitability to make the change in career.
I do believe that most racehorses are well cared for, in general they are the lucky ones if we look at the figures of the Brooke Foundation that provides help for horses in 3rd World countries subjected to being sent underground and carrying bricks for their living, running free is not an option for these poor creatures.

I don’t believe that the media should replay horse falls and injuries only where the horse and jockey have survived injury, nobody wants to see an animal suffer and thankfully a horse ambulance is always close at hand at all racecourses.

There is an interesting, if somewhat disturbing report that Animal Aid have recently published. They actually monitor all racehorse fatalities in the UK and keep records of horses that have been poorly treated by their owners and trainers.
It also gives a chilling insight into the fate that awaits almost half of the horses that race and will race in the UK over the coming year and although I found it hard to read, as a horse lover and racegoer I felt it necessary to do this.

Here is the report and if this along with Horse Racing Welfare, those charities such as Thoroughbred Rehab Centre and Greatwood can make their voices heard perhaps the BHA will direct more energy into the Welfare of horses and their ‘Racing for Change’ could take on a new meaning…racing to change an ailing industry and make a better and more secure future for those horses who are born into an industry that is overstocked and underfunded….Jac x

never saw racing in the uk sorry

You have picked only one venue in the horse industry….many other exist and should also be held responsible for their actions. You are in the UK…I am in the US. Our Equine interests are the same. I wish you all the best in your endeavors to keep improving the health & well being to all Equines…

Wow! I didn’t have to answer that many question to get my owners license…lol. Sorry guy, if you are referring these towards UK racing, I can’t help ya.. I happen to be established right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Perhaps you should look at posting this question on the UK sight instead……

*** If I answer all the above questions right, will I receive my Bachelor’s Degree? :- )

….Billy Ray “Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni”