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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Stakeholder Perceptions of the Challenges to Racehorse Welfa...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2019; 9(6); 363; doi: 10.3390/ani9060363

Stakeholder Perceptions of the Challenges to Racehorse Welfare.

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the key challenges to racehorse welfare as perceived by racing industry stakeholders. The paper draws upon statements and transcripts from 10 focus group discussions with 42 participants who were taking part in a larger study investigating stakeholders' perceptions of racehorse welfare, which participants recognised as maintaining the physical and mental well-being of a performance animal. Analysis of the 68 statements participants identified as challenges produced nine themes. Among these, 26% (18 statements) of the challenges were health related, whilst 41% (28 statements) focused on the effect staff shortages were having on the racing industry. Staff shortages were perceived as affecting standards of racehorse care and the opportunity to develop a human-horse relationship. Poor employee relations due to a lack of recognition, communication and respect were perceived as having a detrimental effect on employee attitudes, behaviour and staff retention which, in turn, can have a sequential effect on the welfare and health of horses in training. Although the number of challenges produced is small (68), they emphasise the perceptions of stakeholders closely associated with the racing industry.
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Publication Date: 2019-06-17 PubMed ID: 31212903PubMed Central: PMC6616883DOI: 10.3390/ani9060363Google 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.

The research paper discusses the main concerns related to the welfare of racehorses as perceived by stakeholders in the racing industry. The most notable issues highlighted were health-related challenges and an apparent lack of sufficient staff, which was seen to affect horse care and relations between humans and horses.

Research Methodology

  • The study is based on statements and transcripts gathered from 10 focus group discussions.
  • The discussions involved a total of 42 participants who were taking part in a larger study investigating stakeholders’ perceptions of racehorse welfare.
  • Participants in this study recognized racehorse welfare as maintaining the physical and mental well-being of a performance animal.

Key Findings

  • A total of 68 statements were identified as challenges to racehorse welfare.
  • The researchers identified nine key themes from the analysis of these statements.
  • Health-related challenges represented 26% (18 statements) of the challenges noted by participants.
  • A significant portion – 41% (28 statements) – pointed towards the issue of staff shortages in the racing industry.
  • The participants believed the staff shortages were affecting the standards of racehorse care and hampering the development of a human-horse relationship.

Effects on Employee Attitudes and Staff Retention

  • The research also touched upon poor employee relations within the racing industry, caused by factors such as lack of recognition, ineffective communication, and insufficient respect.
  • These negative relations were perceived as contributing to a detrimental effect on employee attitudes, behaviour and staff retention.
  • These issues, in turn, are seen to have a sequential effect on the welfare and health of horses in training.

Significance of Findings

  • Despite the small number of challenges produced (68), the research highlights the perceptions of stakeholders who are closely associated with the racing industry.
  • The identified challenges reveal significant areas of concern within the industry, particularly relating to racehorse health and industry staffing.

Cite This Article

APA
Butler D, Valenchon M, Annan R, Whay HR, Mullan S. (2019). Stakeholder Perceptions of the Challenges to Racehorse Welfare. Animals (Basel), 9(6), 363. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9060363

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
PII: 363

Researcher Affiliations

Butler, Deborah
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK. deborah.butler@bristol.ac.uk.
Valenchon, Mathilde
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK. mathilde.valenchon@bristol.ac.uk.
Annan, Rachel
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK. rachel.annan@bristol.ac.uk.
Whay, Helen R
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK. Bec.Whay@bristol.ac.uk.
Mullan, Siobhan
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK. siobhan.mullan@bristol.ac.uk.

Grant Funding

  • R-113851-101 / The Racing Foundation

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Annan R, Trigg LE, Hockenhull J, Allen K, Butler D, Valenchon M, Mullan S. Racehorse welfare across a training season.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1208744.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1208744pubmed: 37448582google scholar: lookup
  2. Wilkinson LM, O'Malley CI, Moreau E, Bryant T, Hutchinson B, Turner PV. Using Stakeholder Focus Groups to Refine the Care of Pigs Used in Research.. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2023 Mar 1;62(2):123-130.
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  3. Douglas J, Owers R, Campbell MLH. Social Licence to Operate: What Can Equestrian Sports Learn from Other Industries?. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 5;12(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12151987pubmed: 35953977google scholar: lookup
  4. Bergmann IM. Naturalness and the Legitimacy of Thoroughbred Racing: A Photo-Elicitation Study with Industry and Animal Advocacy Informants.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 26;10(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10091513pubmed: 32859112google scholar: lookup
  5. Rioja-Lang FC, Connor M, Bacon H, Dwyer CM. Determining a Welfare Prioritization for Horses Using a Delphi Method.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 9;10(4).
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  6. Manteca Vilanova X, De Briyne N, Beaver B, Turner PV. Horse Welfare During Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) Production.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 1;9(12).
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