Roly Owers

NEWMARKET, UK -- The two-year-old racing and sales sector has become an increasingly expanding element of the racing world in general, but the practice of training horses at the age of two has been put under the microscope in Germany.  A revision of German animal welfare laws means that it is now illegal to train or compete with horses younger than 30 months of age, though Thoroughbred racing is currently exempt from this law while a behavioural study is undertaken and eventually assessed by parliament. Around 60 delegates from Europe...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has assembled a 15-strong Whip Consultation Steering Group ahead of the forthcoming consultation regarding the use of the foam-padded whip in British racing. The group, which is chaired by BHA independent regulatory non-executive director David Jones, is comprised of a range of industry participants, vets and politicians, including champion trainer John Gosden and jockey PJ McDonald, as well as Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare. As part of the independent Horse Welfare Board's strategic plan, A life well lived - a new strategic plan...