Horse racing

The issues

Oversupply and wastage

Thousands of horses are bred by the racing industry every year, with many never even making it to the racetrack. Horses may leave the industry at any stage of their lives, from foal right through to post career (which typically only lasts 2-3 short years) and these horses are labelled as ‘wastage’ as they are considered excess to industry requirements. The fate of thousands of horses leaving the industry every year raises serious concerns for their welfare, with many sold on again and again or some being sent to slaughter to be used for pet food. Once they leave the industry, except for those relatively small numbers who are taken into industry rehoming programs, there is virtually no tracking of how they are cared for or what happens to them. Information of the exact destination and number of horses leaving the racing industry is unknown due to a lack of publicly available data.

Painful devices

Whips are routinely used in horse racing, and they inflict pain, localised trauma and tissue damage. In the last 100 metres of a race there is no limit to how many times a horse can be whipped, despite the fact that this is when they are most fatigued and have the least capacity to respond. There’s no evidence that whipping a horse has any effect on how they perform, which makes the use of these devices and the suffering they cause completely unjustifiable.

Tongue ties and spurs are another two common types of equipment used on racehorses which cause discomfort and pain. Tongue ties are large leather/rubber or lycra/neoprene bands wrapped tightly around the horse's tongue and tied to their lower jaw to keep their tongue from moving during a race, and can lead to permanent damage to this sensitive muscle. Spurs are small, spiked metal wheels attached to the jockey’s boots and exert a sharp pressure when the jockey squeezes or kicks their horse. Just like whips, there is no compelling evidence that the use of either of these are effective in anyway except to cause discomfort and possible injury to racehorses.

Increased risk of injury and death

Racehorses run an increased and unacceptable risk of injury and death during training, trials and races they’re forced to run throughout the year. Racing spans both the calendar and continent: over 19,000 Thoroughbred races with horses being placed at risk of injuries such as torn ligaments, muscle tears, fractured bones, or internal bleeding in the lungs. These injuries can cause pain and suffering with many leading to euthanasia due to poor chance of recovery. The exact number of injury and deaths of racehorses each year is not known as the industry does not provide collated statistics.

What needs to change

The RSPCA holds serious concerns about animal welfare in horse racing.

The RSPCA would like to see measures put in place to resolve the welfare issues inherent to the industry.

While horse racing continues, first and foremost, there is no justification for whips, tongue ties or spurs in racing, and as they cause pain and stress to horses their use should stop.

The RSPCA advocates strongly for the racing industry to adopt responsible breeding practices by reducing the number of racehorses bred, minimising the risk of injury, for every horse to be provided a suitable role or home on retirement and methods in place to allow every racehorse to be traceable from birth to death. Whilst horse racing continues, the racing industry has a responsibility to care and provide for the horses they breed, and ensure their welfare for their lifetime, not just during their racing career.

Media centre

RSPCA Australia 29 November 2021

Landmark thoroughbred welfare report on the right track

horses thoroughbreds horse racing Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group

Media centre

RSPCA Australia 12 November 2020

Landmark study shows that if whips hurt us, they hurt horses

horse racing whips in racing

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There are serious animal welfare issues with horse racing, spanning the entire lifecycle of the horses involved.

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The issues

What needs to change

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