Thoroughbred Horses Research & Development Program

Thoroughbred Horses Research, Development & Extension Program

• Formed in 1995 as RIRDC (Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation), managed by AgriFutures Australia from 2017
• Funds received through breeding levy rate, matched dollar-for-dollar by the Australian Government, approximately $850,000 per year
• 1% of racing prize money
• Science-based research made available

AgriFutures Australia Research Development & Extension Strategy

• 2023 – Equine Genetics Research Centre to include pathogen testing – respiratory and genetic disorders

The Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC)

• Represents the interests of horse people, biosecurity, and the health and welfare of all horses in the industry
• Made up of breed societies, sports and performance associations, and service providers
• Brings together the recreation and professional sectors with a common goal of providing information to both Government and the horse community
• Financial support is from horse registrations, membership subscriptions, and donations

National Horse Traceability System (NHTS)

• Only 10-50% of the Australian horse population is registered
• Lack of information on horse population and geographic distribution
• Benefits of a national register: manage natural disasters, disease management, health, welfare, and integrity of horse trade and document movement
• 2022: State Agriculture Ministers endorsed a ‘working group’ to begin 2024
• Horses to be traceable within 24 hours to the PIC (Property Identification Code) on which they have resided or visited
• Horses co-residing that have been in contact with horses of interest to be located within 24 hours
• Traceability system delayed due to being financially prohibitive despite investments

Horse Industry

• Learning objectives: object of the industry, organisations/breed societies, stakeholders, economic importance, thoroughbred racing, and thoroughbred wastage
• Horse registration operated by groups, breed, discipline, or organisation specific
• Estimated 1.2 to 1.8 million horses in Australia, with 10-50% registered
• Feral horses: 400,000, most in NT, complex management problem, damaging vegetation, competing with native animals, spreading weeds
• Estimated population increase at 20% per year

Horse Industry Objectives

• Ensure health and welfare
• Reduce disease and injury
• Reduce wastage
• Improve productivity in breeding
• Encourage export potential
• Promote sustainable use of land and water

Thoroughbred Racing

• Victoria is considered the horse racing capital of Australia
• Economic significance and social significance
• 36,039 registered racehorses in Australia (2022/23), each horse participates in approximately 5.2 races a year
• 5% have one race start
• 52% of these are 3 and 4 years old
• Average career length: 21 months
• Main welfare focus in 2023: “end of racing career life”

Thoroughbred Wastage

• Industry term referring to when horses leave racing prematurely
• 1/3 of the foal crop will not enter racing
• 1/3 will retire or withdraw voluntarily – no ability or withdraw involuntarily from musculoskeletal injury, catastrophic limb fracture, fatalities
• 1/3 will remain in training
• 149 horse fatalities in 2020/21, one every 2.5 days
• Vertical integration, breeding for replacement, 30% of population, associated losses of $22 million

Quiz about the Thoroughbred Horses Research, Development & Extension Program, funded by the breeding levy rate and the Australian Government, and managed by AgriFutures Australia.