Video series promoting optimum equine health and well-being standards launched by the TBA on Breeders' Day
A series of educational videos promoting the high standards of equine health and well-being in the thoroughbred breeding sector has been launched by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) on Breeders’ Day at Sandown Park racecourse.
The series, which consists of five episodes, covers a range of topics including; transportation of the mare and foal, vital signs of health and well-being in horses on stud farms, daily checks for horses at grass, management of older horses on stud farms and body condition scoring.
Each episode, produced in collaboration with leading industry and veterinary professionals, provides an overview of the key principles within the respective topics and demonstrates techniques and benchmarks that optimise equine health and well-being.
The videos, which are free to view, can be accessed via the TBA’s online learning platform TB-Ed (tb-ed.co.uk). TB-Ed website visitors must register as a user to access the educational resources which also includes sample webinars on other thoroughbred breeding industry topics.
Forming part of the TBA’s commitment to continually improving thoroughbred health and well-being standards, the video series will be supported by the publication of comprehensive equine welfare guidelines later this month. The document will be available in both print and digital formats.
TBA Chief Executive Claire Sheppard said: “As our members will be aware, equine welfare runs through the heart of the TBA's objectives and workstreams, with support of veterinary research projects, distribution of guidance materials and provision of educational courses for industry participants.
“We are delighted to be launching them on Breeders’ Day at Sandown Park racecourse which celebrates the thoroughbred breeding industry as part of National Racehorse Week.
“Although the videos have been produced with the thoroughbred breeding sector in mind, the principles for good equine care and management are very much transferable. We hope that horseracing fans, those who are considering a career in stud farming and newer industry entrants find the video clips both helpful and informative. Raising awareness of the high standard of equine care and continuing to promote best practice within the industry is very much a key priority for us. These overview videos will support the TBA's Equine Welfare Guidelines for the Thoroughbred Breeding Sector, which will be published soon. I would like to express my thanks to all of the contributors who helped deliver this important project.”
Register on tb-ed.co.uk to access the links on the below video listings:
Video 1 - The Vital Signs of Health and Wellbeing in Horses on the Stud Farm
https://tb-ed.co.uk/video/vital-signs-health-and-wellbeing-horses-stud-farm
Watch this video hosted by Kate Sigsworth and Charles Cooke (MRCVS) to learn more about the vital signs and normal equine parameters that indicate good health and wellbeing.
Video 2 - Daily Checks for Horses Living Out at Grass on the Stud Farm
https://tb-ed.co.uk/video/daily-checks-horses-living-out-stud-farm
Watch this video hosted by Kate Sigsworth to learn more about how to manage bloodstock turned out at grass.
Video 3 - Management of Older Horses on the Stud Farm
https://tb-ed.co.uk/video/management-older-horses-stud-farm
Watch this video hosted by Kate Sigsworth and Charles Cooke (MRCVS) to learn more about the management requirements of older horses on the stud farm.
Video 4 - Transportation of the Mare and Foal
https://tb-ed.co.uk/video/transportation-mare-and-foal
Watch this video hosted by Kevin Needham and Oliver Pynn (MRCVS) to learn more about how to prepare mares and foals for travel and the considerations for optimising their wellbeing during transportation.
Video 5 - Body Condition Scoring
https://tb-ed.co.uk/video/body-condition-scoring
Watch this video hosted by James Crowhurst (MRCVS) and Hayley Chidlow (MRCVS) to learn how to assess the body condition of mares and stallions of varying ages on the stud farm.