Euthanasia policy
The health and wellbeing of ex racehorses is of paramount importance to Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
RoR and the BHA endeavour to ensure that welfare is maintained and that appropriate veterinary care is provided to Thoroughbred horses throughout their lives. However, it is recognised that few simply die peacefully due to old age. In many cases their health and quality of life have seriously deteriorated before they reach this point and human intervention is needed to prevent unnecessary suffering. Irreparable injury may also necessitate euthanasia in a horse of any age.
Euthanasia is considered the appropriate course of action when:
- A horse is suffering continuous or unmanageable pain from a condition that is chronic or incurable.
- A horse is suffering an unmanageable medical condition that renders it a hazard to itself or its handlers.
- A horse needs to receive continuous high levels of analgesic medication for the relief of pain for the rest of its life.
- A horse has to ensure a lifetime of continuous individual confinement or restricted movement for the
- prevention or relief of unmanageable pain or suffering.
- A horse is temperamentally unsuitable to handle or ride as human safety must remain paramount.
Euthanasia must be carried out in a humane manner and the horse treated with care and respect. It must be performed by suitably qualified and experienced individuals such as a veterinary surgeon, licensed slaughter man or a registered collector of fallen stock such as a knackerman or hunt kennelman.
RoR recognised retraining centres are required to have and abide by a written euthanasia policy based on the above principles.