RACING in Britain was cleared yesterday of charges of widespread abuse and ill treatment of former racehorses. A report presented by the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) to the British Horseracing Board and the Jockey Club concluded there was no substance in allegations of large scale mistreatment which came to prominence in the television programme They shoot Horses, Don't They?
However, the ILPH working group found that the few isolated and well documented cases showed a problem does exist. They called for an effective identification system for all horses and advised that Weatherbys be given support and funding for planned trials of a microchip implant for horses.
Other conclusions included the recommendation that inherently unsound horses, or those unlikely to lead a productive life, should be put down "to avoid possible future suffering".
The group asked racing to consider establishing a "modest" fund to arrange for the rehabilitation of abused ex racehorses, to help fund monitoring procedures and to cover the costs of a welfare briefing programme.
They also advised making it mandatory for trainers to inform Weatherbys where horses go when they leave their yards.