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PloS one2025; 20(9); e0331968; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331968

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 owner's name despite 90% being aware that they should have changed the horse's registration details. Horses were predominately owned (91%), were geldings (74%), and aged between 5-14 years (63%); Leisure riding, hacking, and unaffiliated competition were the most common activities participated in; no significant differences in registration compliance occurred between activities. The Census provides an accurate representation of British Thoroughbreds not actively involved in racing totalling 33,600 horses, with 80% traceable. The results offer an insight into owner/keeper decision-making with respect to horse registration and Thoroughbred usage after racing. A need to improve current equine traceability systems through digitalisation and simplification was voiced, alongside enhanced communication strategies to showcase why compliance is important. Ongoing accurate records are essential to support education, research, and strategy to safeguard Thoroughbred welfare across their racing and second careers.
Copyright: © 2025 Williams et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2025-09-19 PubMed ID: 40971368PubMed Central: PMC12448335DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331968Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study surveyed owners and keepers of British Thoroughbred horses not currently racing to understand their demographics, usage, and how accurately the horses’ registrations are maintained.
  • The research highlights challenges in traceability and registration compliance and suggests improvements to ensure better lifelong welfare for retired racehorses.

Background and Purpose

  • Public concern exists around welfare of Thoroughbred horses both during and after their racing careers.
  • British Racing’s Horse Welfare Board has developed a strategy called “A life well-lived,” emphasizing the importance of accurately tracking horses throughout their lives to maintain welfare standards.
  • The Census was conducted to establish a population density model of British Thoroughbreds who are no longer actively racing.
  • The goal was to gather data about these horses’ registration status, demographics, activities, and owners’ understanding of registration systems.

Methodology

  • Data were collected via a Census survey conducted from May to December 2023.
  • Participants were owners and keepers of Thoroughbreds outside of active racing.
  • Information gathered included horse passports, registration status, age, sex, use, and history.
  • A total of 8,256 horse records were analyzed, representing approximately 33,600 Thoroughbreds not currently racing (with a margin of error ±1% at 99% confidence).
  • Frequency analysis was used to identify trends in registration compliance and horse usage.

Key Findings

  • Passport Ownership and Compliance
    • 98% of horses possessed a passport, which is a high level of basic registration compliance.
    • Only 64% of these horses were registered in their current owner’s name, even though 90% of owners knew they were supposed to update ownership details.
  • Horse Demographics and Usage
    • Most horses were owned outright (91%) rather than leased or loaned.
    • 74% were geldings, indicating a high proportion of castrated males.
    • The majority (63%) were aged between 5 and 14 years, representing prime post-racing years.
    • Common activities included leisure riding, hacking (casual riding), and unaffiliated competitions.
    • No notable differences in registration compliance were observed depending on the type of activity.
  • Traceability and Population Estimate
    • The Census estimated approximately 33,600 British Thoroughbreds not actively racing.
    • Approximately 80% of this population was traceable through current records.

Implications

  • The study highlights a gap between owner awareness and actual compliance in updating horse registration details.
  • Maintaining up-to-date and accurate traceability records is essential for ensuring Thoroughbreds’ welfare after their racing careers.
  • The research suggests the need for better digital and simplified registration systems to improve compliance rates.
  • Improved communication strategies are required to help owners understand why keeping registrations current matters for horse welfare and traceability.
  • Ongoing accurate record-keeping supports education, research, and strategic decisions to safeguard welfare throughout a Thoroughbred’s lifetime.

Conclusion

  • This Census provides valuable, representative data on the post-racing Thoroughbred population in Britain.
  • Findings emphasize a need for modernization and better owner support to strengthen lifetime traceability and welfare.
  • By addressing these challenges, the horse racing and equestrian community can help ensure a “life well-lived” for Thoroughbreds beyond their racing careers.

Cite This Article

APA
Williams JM, Jordan S, Friend L, Kay E, Edmunds M, Flynn H, Wensley S. (2025). A move in the right direction: Tracking the traceability of British Thoroughbreds outside of racing. PLoS One, 20(9), e0331968. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0331968

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 9
Pages: e0331968
PII: e0331968

Researcher Affiliations

Williams, Jane Michelle
  • Equine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
Jordan, Saranna
  • Equine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
Friend, Laura
  • Equine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
Kay, Emily
  • Equine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
Edmunds, Matilda
  • Equine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
Flynn, Helena
  • Horse Welfare Board, London, United Kingdom.
Wensley, Stephen
  • Horse Welfare Board, London, United Kingdom.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • United Kingdom
  • Animal Welfare
  • Sports
  • Male
  • Female
  • Humans

Conflict of Interest Statement

I have read the journal’s policy, and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests, SJ, LF, EK, and MP declare no conflicts of interest. SW and HF were employed by The Horse Welfare Board. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. The data underlying this study are not publicly available due to ethical and privacy restrictions. The dataset contains information that could compromise the privacy of research participants, and access is further restricted by third-party ownership. Specifically, the data are owned by the Horse Welfare Board, which imposes limitations on public sharing. Interested researchers may request access to the data by contacting the Horse Welfare Board (info@horsewelfareboard.org) and the corresponding author. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with ethical guidelines and institutional data sharing policies.

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