HORSE welfare is an intrinsic element of all international conferences and Monday’s event was no different. Jim Gagliano, the IFHA’s vice-chairman, provided an update on the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR).

In May, IFAR held a number of workshops and presentations at the Pan American Conference, with the support of Godolphin. IFAR’s objectives are to raise awareness of the importance of welfare globally, to improve education on lifetime care, to develop a network between aftercare organisations and to promote the versatility, adaptability and potential of thoroughbreds for equestrian sport.

IFAR is a year into its three-year vision which it hopes will culminate in, among other things, being a world leader on aftercare strategy and having all racing jurisdictions sign up to an Aftercare Code of Practice.

Long term it seeks to see the global racing industry united and fully informed on aftercare issues, while having comprehensive programmes in place to advocate for and educate on lifetime care.

Gagliano quoted Di Arbuthnot’s words in Washington last May when she said: “We all have a shared responsibility for the welfare of racehorses, which extends beyond the track. The welfare of racehorses throughout their lifetime is one of the single greatest issues facing the racing industry.”

PERSONAL JOURNEY

Ray Paulick joined Gagliano and spoke of his own personal journey in the area of welfare. Highlighting some of the sad stories to emerge over the years, notably the tales of Exceller and Ferdinand, alongside the public reaction to the death of Eight Belles after she ran second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, he outlined scenarios where pressure groups had caused greyhound racing to be banned in certain states, Sea World having to cancel some of their popular attractions and world famous circuses forced to close as a consequence of being unable to include animal acts.

He called for dedicated funding for aftercare, while Andrew Harding outlined methods by which money in Hong Kong is collected and passed on to aftercare organisations.

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