THIS has been a difficult week, and I fear that, at least until Cheltenham is over, there will be extra challenges to be faced.

Major race meetings, such as Cheltenham and Aintree, draw added attention on racing from people unconnected with the sport, and especially so in Britain. They find this time opportune to raise their voices and lend support to calls for better animal welfare. Their opinions are expressed on social media and will be picked up by the press, seeking to appease their readers.

It would be simplistic to suggest that we, as a sport and industry, just keep our heads down, and hope that it will pass. While there might be short-term merit in such a position, we have to acknowledge that we are facing these types of dilemma more and more often.

This week we have seen how such a strategy can backfire, and the emergence of details of neglect, and the failure of authorities to put it in the public domain, will be seen in a negative light by outsiders, as well as by many industry personnel.

There will almost certainly be glaring headlines about whip use, and abuse, as we step into the cauldron that is Cheltenham, where winning has such prestige, bringing with it additional pressures on riders. Try too hard to win and you face a ban and public outrage; be thought to have not done so and you face abuse from disgruntled punters.

There are no winners in situations such as these, and yet we should not always find ourselves under pressure from those who simply shout loudest, but so often do not understand racing. We must also be ready to admit when we have not got it right. I worry that between two extreme views, the voice and opinion of reasonable people gets lost.

March 1st

We must always be working to improve the lot of the equines in our care, and even more importantly the people who work with them, and love them. That includes all of us. The ITBA, in association with Equuip, are hosting an online mental fitness seminar on Wednesday, March 1st.

Drs Jennifer Pugh and Cíara Losty, along with Lisa O’Neill, will lead the panel discussion, the title of which is Mental Fitness and Resilience in the Thoroughbred Industry.

Even if you have no connection to the industry, this could still be something for you or a loved on. All you have to do is to register with the ITBA on 045-877543 or email hmarks@itba.ie