Safeguarding horse welfare and exploring horse racing’s social licence to operate will be the focus of the 57th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), which will take place on the 2nd of October, in Paris, France.
The IFHA is among many organisations who have integrated the Five Domains Model for Welfare Assessment into their horse welfare standards and guidelines.
This year’s Conference will focus on safeguarding equine welfare and exploring shifts in societal expectations as well as the racing industry’s response around the world. The Conference will examine both immediate concerns and forward-looking initiatives to protect and promote equine welfare.
Learn to Apply the Five Domains Model to Assess the Welfare of Sport and Recreation Horses.
“The wellbeing of the equine athlete must always be at the forefront of the decisions we make,” said IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who will deliver the Conference’s opening and closing remarks.
“I look forward to sharing with the membership and key stakeholders the ways in which industry standards and practices are continuously enhanced, particularly through scientific advances in improving existing safeguards.
“The importance of our sport embracing an even more active role in public discourse on the issue and ensuring that our sport remains as a fully engaged and integral part of our communities cannot be understated.”
Acclaimed broadcaster Nick Luck will serve as the moderator for the Conference, which will begin with a discussion on horse racing in an evolving society.
The opening keynote address will be delivered by Professor Natalie Waran, Chair of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission for the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).
Prof. Waran will highlight key strategies for equine sport to proactively respond to changing societal expectations, and ways the sport can continue to support its equine athletes.
Following her keynote, a panel will bring together senior racing administrators to share their approaches and strategies to shape the narratives surrounding equine welfare and racing.
Scheduled panelists include Lisa-Jane Graffard, General Secretary, Au-Delà des Pistes; Julie Harrington, Chief Executive, British Horseracing Authority (BHA); and Najja Thompson, Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc. (NYTB).
After the panel discussion, an update on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) in the United States will be given by its Chair, Charles Scheeler. He is expected to speak on HISA’s implementation of the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program, current events in racing in America, and future developments for the organization.
The next session of the Conference will focus on protecting the sport’s equine athletes.
Leaders from racing administration and veterinary science will share their perspectives and insights on this critical topic.
Expected speakers for this panel include James Given, Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, BHA; Josh Rubinstein, President, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club; Brian Stewart, Head of Veterinary Clinical Services, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC); and Sonia Wittreck, Stud Book & Doping Control, Head of Department, France-Galop.
Following that discussion, the final session of the Conference will focus on effective public engagement and response, particularly in relation to the issue of equine welfare.
It will begin with a presentation from Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive Officer, The Jockey Club (UK), who will share insights from his organization’s perspective, shedding light on its experiences with effective resolution and communication management. He will then be joined by Robert Green of Pierrepont Consulting and Analytics LLC on how racing can leverage data-based insights to develop more proactive policies.
A live video stream of the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities will be available on the IFHA’s website.
Related link:
Learn to Apply the Five Domains Model to Assess the Welfare of Sport and Recreation Horses.
