• The Horse Welfare Board and BHA have launched a new five-year strategy titled A Life Well Lived: British racing's commitment to the horse.
• The 2027–2031 strategy focuses on four key outcomes: Quality of Life, Safety, Lifetime Responsibility, and Trust.
• A primary ambition of the plan is to achieve full lifetime traceability for all horses bred for racing in Great Britain.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the independent Horse Welfare Board have officially unveiled a comprehensive new welfare strategy at an event in the Houses of Parliament. Running from 2027 to 2031, the initiative, titled A Life Well Lived, aims to build upon the progress made over the previous five years by placing the horse at the centre of every decision within the sport. Addressing parliamentarians and industry figures, independent Chair of the Horse Welfare Board, Baroness Minette Batters, emphasised that while the industry has made strides in research, science, and safety, welfare remains a continuous process of optimisation.

The strategy outlines 20 specific priorities supported by funding from the Racing Foundation and the Horseracing Betting Levy Board. A cornerstone of this commitment is the concept of Lifetime Responsibility. The board aims to implement full traceability for all horses bred for racing, creating a digital record that follows the animal from birth through its racing career and into retirement. Baroness Batters suggested that this model could serve as a national blueprint for all equines, potentially integrating digital passports to improve disease prevention, biosecurity, and general welfare monitoring across the country. By fostering partnerships with organisations like Retraining of Racehorses and government bodies such as Defra, the industry intends to improve data sharing and accountability throughout the equine's life. The strategy is underscored by a commitment to transparency, evidence-based interventions, and maintaining the highest standards for the thoroughbred.

Source: BHA press release