Thoroughbred Welfare. by 🧘🏻‍♀️ Divya Gurnay 🐎

Thoroughbred Welfare, is not some kind of charity work. It is a 'Legal Duty', and an 'Ethical Imperative'. It is the foundation of a sustainable Industry.

The welfare of the Thoroughbred is no longer a peripheral concern, addressed only in moments of public scrutiny or crisis. It is now — rightly — recognised as a central legal, ethical, and commercial pillar of the breeding and racing industry.

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s Equine Welfare Guidelines 2025 reflect this shift with clarity and maturity. They do not simply describe good horsemanship; they articulate a framework of responsibility, accountability, and foresight that aligns closely with UK animal welfare law and modern expectations of governance.

Welfare as a Legal Obligation, Not a Lifestyle Choice

Equine welfare concerns remain the number one reason cited as a barrier to deepening interest in the sport.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, any person responsible for a horse owes a statutory duty of care to meet that animal’s welfare needs. This duty applies irrespective of commercial pressures, tradition, or perceived industry norms.

The TBA Guidelines reinforce this reality. They make it clear that welfare is continuous, extending from conception and foaling, through training and racing, and well beyond a horse’s commercial usefulness. Importantly, they acknowledge that welfare failures are not always dramatic acts of cruelty; they are often the result of systemic neglect, poor planning, or misplaced priorities.

From a legal perspective, this matters. Courts and regulators increasingly look to industry standards when assessing whether reasonable care has been exercised. Ignoring such guidelines is not a neutral act — it may actively undermine a defence.

Breeding for Soundness, Not Just Success

Nowhere is this more evident than in breeding. Decisions made at the covering shed echo for decades, influencing not only individual horses but the genetic health of the breed.

The Guidelines emphasise responsible breeding practices that prioritise soundness, longevity, and welfare, rather than short-term commercial appeal. This is not anti-industry sentiment; it is pro-industry realism. Horses bred without regard for durability place strain on trainers, veterinarians, rehoming charities, and ultimately public confidence.

From both a legal and ethical standpoint, knowingly perpetuating practices that compromise welfare invites scrutiny — and rightly so.

It is increasingly acknowledged within the industry itself that equine welfare concerns represent the single greatest barrier to attracting new participants, employees, and supporters to racing. This is not a marginal issue raised only by critics; it is recognised at the highest levels of governance as central to the sport’s future.

The continued social acceptance of using horses for sport depends on more than tradition or spectacle. It depends on demonstrable, transparent commitment to the horse’s welfare throughout its life. Without this, racing risks losing not only public confidence, but its social licence to operate.

The Thoroughbred is an extraordinary athlete, but athleticism does not negate vulnerability. The Guidelines’ insistence on age-appropriate training, veterinary transparency, and individualised management reflects an understanding that performance pressure must never override welfare judgment.

When horses are raced while unfit, overtrained, or psychologically distressed, the consequences extend beyond the individual animal. Such practices expose trainers and owners to regulatory sanctions, potential negligence claims, and reputational damage that affects the entire sport.

Perhaps the most significant — and morally important — aspect of the Guidelines is their treatment of retirement and end-of-life care.

The notion that welfare obligations cease once a horse leaves the track or breeding shed is no longer defensible, legally or socially. The Guidelines make clear that responsible ownership includes planning for life after racing, whether through retraining, rehoming, or, where necessary, humane euthanasia.

This is not sentimentality; it is stewardship.

Why Thoroughbred Welfare Matters to the Industry’s Future

The breeding and racing industry depends on public trust. Without it, funding, participation, and political support erode.

Welfare failures — even isolated ones — are magnified in the modern media environment. Conversely, demonstrable commitment to welfare, grounded in law and best practice, strengthens the industry’s social licence to operate.

Good welfare is not the enemy of success. It is its foundation.

A Final Reflection

As someone trained in law and working closely with Thoroughbreds, I see welfare not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a measure of integrity. The TBA Equine Welfare Guidelines 2025 provide the industry with a clear, intelligent, and legally coherent roadmap.

Following them is not only the right thing to do for the horse — it is the responsible course for anyone who cares about the future of Thoroughbred breeding and racing.

If the Thoroughbred is to continue inspiring future generations — as it has inspired so many of us — welfare cannot be treated as a defensive response to criticism. It must be embedded at the heart of decision-making, governance, and communication. This is not simply about doing better; it is about remaining viable

©️@🖋️DG🐎

Advocate at Indian High Courts. 

Academics:- LL.M, LL.B., PG Human Rights, MA. Mass Communication and Journalism, B.A. Honours Psychology.

Special Skills Certifications :-

1. Film-direction and audio-visual story-telling certification from FTII, Pune, 

2. MOI. Qualified Mountaineering instructor from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, India.

Equine Education and Skill sets:-

- 'Stud Management and Sales Consignment Graduate with honours' from National Stud England.

Certifications from the online campus of International Federation for Equestrian Sports, Switzerland (FEI): -

1. Handling Horses.

2. Handling horses in challenging situations. 

3. Equine Behaviour.

4. How Horses Learn.

5. General Conformation.

Certifications from the online campus of Michigan State University (USA): -

1. Normal Horse Behaviour.

2. Horse Handling.

3. Horse Manners.

4. Horse Hygiene/ Grooming.

5. Basic Horse Keeping.

6. Training and Exercising horses.

7. Machinery and Chemical Safety

8. Traveling with Horses.

9. Biosecurity for Horse Farms.

10. Healthy Horses.

11. Employer/ Employee Relations.      

        (in Equine Industry)