Horse Welfare
Horse PWR
Safety and welfare in Horse Racing
Nothing matters more to British racing than the health and wellbeing of our horses. 300 years of careful breeding has developed the Thoroughbred to the elite sporting specimen we see today.
Large hearts, a highly efficient circulatory system, supercharged lung power, spring-like muscle tendons which propel them to high speeds…the Thoroughbred has been selected for its attributes which enable it to run and jump at speeds and over long distances.
Racing gives these athletes a purpose. It’s in their DNA and what they were born to do. From tailored nutrition to state-of-the-art training, every aspect of their development and care is curated to safeguard their health and realise their athletic potential.
There are around 14,000 horses in training at any one time, receiving dedicated care from a team of more than 8,000 racing staff, and the quality of life they lead can be seen in their physical condition on the racecourse. Horse PWR is brought to you by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Great British Racing (GBR) and racing’s Horse Welfare Board (HWB). The platform is supported by the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).
For more information on Horse PWR please visit their website
Horse Welfare
Responsibility For The Care Of Our Animals
Horseracing in Britain is one of the world’s best regulated animal sports.
Responsibility for the care of our animals rests with everyone in our sport and something we take very seriously at Thirsk.
From the people who independently govern and regulate racing, through to racecourses, the sport’s participants and the 6,000 stable staff whose role it is to care for the 20,000 + horses who race over the course of a year, British horseracing is run by people with a deep love and care for horses.
We have a common objective when it comes to welfare. We want The British Racing Industry with transparent, world-leading standards of equine care for the whole life of our horses.
Horse Welfare
Who is British Horseracing Authority (BHA)
The British Horseracing Authority is the Government-recognised body responsible for the independent regulation of horseracing and welfare of all participants. None of the fixtures held annually in Britain could take place unless key BHA welfare criteria have been satisfied.
You can find out more about British Racing’s commitment to horse welfare by visiting their website: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/ .