A move in the right direction: Tracking the traceability of British Thoroughbreds outside of racing.

ABSTRACT: Horse welfare within/after racing is often questioned by the public. British Racing's Horse Welfare Board's "A life well-lived" strategy provides a blueprint for Thoroughbred welfare, advocating accurate lifetime traceability of horses as essential to achieve this. The Census aimed to establish a population density model for British Thoroughbreds, not actively engaged in racing. Equestrians who owned/kept a Thoroughbred were asked to complete the Census between May and December 2023. Frequency analysis identified patterns in passport compliance, knowledge and understanding of current systems, and profiled Thoroughbred demographics: age, use, and history. Records for 8,256 horses were analysed (margin of error: ± 1%, 99% CI); 98% of horses had a passport, but only 64% were in their current

SUBMITTER: Williams JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12448335 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature