The term “welfare” is prominently featured in the mission statements of nearly every horse racing authority worldwide. For example, the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) emphasizes that its regulations aim to ensure the safety and well-being of both horses and riders. Similarly, many international horse racing bodies include welfare commitments in their policies.
Historically, welfare discussions have centered on rare but severe incidents such as catastrophic fractures, sudden death during exercise, and issues surrounding career-ending injuries and retirement. Evidence-based regulations, developed from years of experience, have significantly reduced fatal fractures. However, global racing authorities have largely overlooked everyday health challenges faced by racehorses, like Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), which affects nearly all racehorses in training but tends to be managed only with medication rather than broader welfare strategies.
Additionally, there is growing recognition that caring for racehorses goes beyond preventing illness, emphasizing the need to support their mental and emotional well-being. While the racing industry has made strides in addressing high-profile welfare concerns, it has yet to fully tackle overall horse health maintenance. This editorial advocates for an industry-wide code of conduct mandating consistent access to forage—the “feed” part of World Horse Welfare’s “three F’s” (Friends, Feed, Freedom)—for all stabled horses. Implementing such a change could happen quickly and would benefit virtually every racehorse globally.
So why hasn’t this been adopted widely? Tradition, resistance to change, and worries over potential performance impacts are the main reasons, with the latter being the most common. However, this concern is unfounded. Scientific studies, though limited, suggest that forage does not harm racehorse performance and may even enhance it. Beyond science, ethical considerations demand that performance should never outweigh basic welfare needs, similar to how whip restrictions prioritize horse welfare despite potential impacts on race outcomes. Plus, a level playing field is ensured if all horses adhere to the same forage requirements. Many successful trainers already follow this practice, combining welfare focus with top-level success, proving it is both feasible and beneficial.
Providing constant access to roughage offers several health benefits. Gastric ulcers, which affect nearly all racehorses, are typically treated with omeprazole, but prolonged use may cause harmful stomach cell changes leading to acid rebound and recurrent ulcers. A better approach is to prioritize forage in management, using medication only as needed. Hindgut disease, resulting from high-carbohydrate diets, impairs energy production and disrupts digestive health, adversely affecting horses on and off the track. This problem is often ignored because symptoms like loose stools are mistakenly considered normal. Rethinking feeding practices with a focus on roughage is essential to addressing this issue.
From a welfare perspective, current feeding practices neglect horses’ natural behaviors and social needs. Horses are evolved to graze for up to 16 hours daily, but racehorses typically spend much less time eating due to diets low in roughage and high in concentrates. This neglect harms their mental and physical health, causes behavioral issues, and undermines rest—key to peak performance and ease of rehoming. Providing continuous forage while stabled supports mental well-being and fulfills basic behavioral needs.
Lastly, horses accustomed to a hay-based diet are easier to rehome, losing less weight during transition, incurring lower feeding costs, and displaying more stable behavior. Preparing horses for life after racing from the start of their training benefits both the animals and their future caretakers.
In conclusion, for horse racing to thrive in the modern era, it must genuinely adopt a welfare-first philosophy. This commitment should go beyond rhetoric to tangible daily practices for every racehorse. While it demands challenging long-standing traditions, particularly around feeding, such changes are crucial for the future health of the horses and the sport. Mandating adequate forage for all stabled horses is a straightforward, impactful step that demonstrates the industry’s dedication to true welfare.
Fan Take: This shift to prioritize forage feeding could be a game-changer for racehorse health and happiness, fostering a culture that respects horses as living beings, not just competitors. For fans, it means supporting a sport that values its athletes’ long-term well-being, ensuring horse racing remains sustainable and ethically sound for generations to come.
