A Survey of Trainers on the Health and Welfare of Standardbred Racehorses in Prince Edward Island.
Authors: J. Burns, K. MacMillan
Journal: Journal of applied animal welfare science : JAAWS
Summary
Burns and MacMillan surveyed Standardbred trainers in Prince Edward Island to establish baseline data on health and welfare practices within the racing population, addressing a notable gap in scientific literature despite growing public concern about the industry's standards. The research gathered detailed responses on stereotypic behaviour prevalence, exercise management during racing seasons, and the incidence of career- and life-ending injuries or illnesses. Over 25% of respondents reported horses displaying stereotypic behaviours—a recognised indicator of poor welfare and psychological distress—whilst free-exercise provision showed striking variation, ranging from no pasture or paddock access to daily turnout during active racing. The majority of trainers (94%) reported no life-ending incidents in the preceding year, though 68% experienced career-ending injuries or illnesses, suggesting a meaningful proportion of the population sustains significant health setbacks that curtail racing longevity. For farriers, veterinarians and allied equine professionals, these findings highlight both welfare concerns requiring targeted intervention and opportunities to establish evidence-based best practices that could strengthen animal welfare outcomes whilst simultaneously enhancing industry reputation and public confidence.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Stereotypic behaviours are common among Standardbreds (affecting >25% of horses) — review your turnout and exercise protocols to provide more daily movement opportunities, which may reduce stress-related behaviours
- •Career-ending injuries remain a concern with 32% of trainers reporting at least one incident — implement systematic injury prevention and early detection practices, particularly for young or intensively raced horses
- •Current free-exercise practices vary widely — consider adopting consistent pasture or paddock access during racing season as a welfare best practice that may also improve performance and reduce behavioural issues
Key Findings
- •Over 25% of surveyed trainers reported at least one horse displaying stereotypic behaviours during racing careers
- •Substantial variation exists in free-exercise practices, with pasture/paddock access during racing season ranging from none to daily
- •94% of respondents reported no life-ending injuries or illnesses in the past year, but only 68% reported no career-ending injuries or illnesses
- •Limited research exists on Standardbred racehorse welfare despite public concern about industry practices