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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2015; 5(4); 1072-1091; doi: 10.3390/ani5040399

Jump Horse Safety: Reconciling Public Debate and Australian Thoroughbred Jump Racing Data, 2012-2014.

Abstract: Thoroughbred jump racing sits in the spotlight of contemporary welfare and ethical debates about horse racing. In Australia, jump racing comprises hurdle and steeplechase races and has ceased in all but two states, Victoria and South Australia. This paper documents the size, geography, composition, and dynamics of Australian jump racing for the 2012, 2013, and 2014 seasons with a focus on debate about risks to horses. We found that the majority of Australian jump racing is regional, based in Victoria, and involves a small group of experienced trainers and jockeys. Australian jump horses are on average 6.4 years of age. The jump career of the majority of horses involves participating in three or less hurdle races and over one season. Almost one quarter of Australian jump horses race only once. There were ten horse fatalities in races over the study period, with an overall fatality rate of 5.1 fatalities per 1000 horses starting in a jump race (0.51%). There was significant disparity between the fatality rate for hurdles, 0.75 fatalities per 1000 starts (0.075%) and steeplechases, 14 fatalities per 1000 starts (1.4%). Safety initiatives introduced by regulators in 2010 appear to have significantly decreased risks to horses in hurdles but have had little or no effect in steeplechases. Our discussion considers these Animals 2015, 5 1073 data in light of public controversy, political debate, and industry regulation related to jump horse safety.
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Publication Date: 2015-10-22 PubMed ID: 26506396PubMed Central: PMC4693203DOI: 10.3390/ani5040399Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research explores the state of thoroughbred jump racing in Australia between 2012 and 2014, an area under considerable scrutiny due to concerns about horse welfare. It reports that most of this racing is regional, located in Victoria, involves experienced trainers and riders, and details the typical age and career of Australian jump horses. The research also presents data on horse fatalities, identifying significant differences between hurdle and steeplechase races. The effectiveness of safety initiatives introduced in 2010 is also examined and found to have helped reduce risks in hurdle races, but not in steeplechases.

Jump Horse Racing: Landscape and Composition

  • The study reveals that the majority of thoroughbred jump racing in Australia takes place in Victoria, and a small group consisting of experienced trainers and jockeys dominates the sport.
  • The average age of jump horses in the country is approximately 6.4 years old with the majority of these horses participating in three or fewer hurdle races within a single season.
  • The research showed that almost one in four Australian jump horses only race once, reflecting a short career span for these animals.

Horse Fatalities

  • Detailed analysis was made between 2012 and 2014 where a total of ten horse fatalities occurred in races. The overall fatality rate stood at 5.1 fatalities per 1000 horses beginning a jump race, equating to 0.51%.
  • However, a significant variation was observed between the fatality rates of hurdle races and steeplechases. Hurdle races had a rate of 0.75 fatalities per 1000 starts (0.075%), as compared to 14 fatalities per 1000 starts (1.4%) in steeplechases.

Safety Initiatives and their Impact

  • The research evaluated safety measures that were introduced in 2010 to safeguard the welfare of the horses. These initiatives seemed to have positively contributed to a reduction in risks to the horse involved in hurdle races.
  • Contrastingly, these measures had little or no effect on the safety in steeplechases. This discrepancy highlights the greater inherent risks associated with steeplechasing and perhaps the need for more specialized or aggressive safety initiatives in this area.

Reflections on Public and Industry Perspectives

  • The paper discusses how the observed data and findings interplay with the ongoing public controversy and political debate surrounding jump horse safety.
  • The research can be seen as contributing to a larger dialogue on the ethical and welfare considerations within the horse racing industry, enabling a more evidence-based debate.

Cite This Article

APA
Ruse K, Davison A, Bridle K. (2015). Jump Horse Safety: Reconciling Public Debate and Australian Thoroughbred Jump Racing Data, 2012-2014. Animals (Basel), 5(4), 1072-1091. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani5040399

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
Pages: 1072-1091

Researcher Affiliations

Ruse, Karen
  • School of Land and Food, Discipline of Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, PB 78, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia. Karen.Ruse@utas.edu.au.
Davison, Aidan
  • School of Land and Food, Discipline of Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, PB 78, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia. Aidan.Davison@utas.edu.au.
Bridle, Kerry
  • School of Land and Food, Discipline of Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, PB 78, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia. Kerry.Bridle@utas.edu.au.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Jeppesen A, Eyers R, Evans D, Ward MP, Quain A. Comparison of Reported Fatalities, Falls and Injuries in Thoroughbred Horse Jumps and Flat Races in the 2022 and 2023 Jumps Race Seasons in Victoria, Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 5;14(5).
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  2. Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
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  3. Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Mortality in Ontario Standardbred Racing: 2003-2015. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 5;11(4).
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  4. Legg KA, Breheny M, Gee EK, Rogers CW. Responding to Risk: Regulation or Prohibition? New Zealand Media Reporting of Thoroughbred Jumps Racing 2016-2018. Animals (Basel) 2019 May 24;9(5).
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  5. O'Brien D. Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing?. Animals (Basel) 2016 Feb 16;6(2).
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