Hitchens says that, by bringing the various players together to collaborate on this one common goal—safety of rider and horse—the industry can hope for more efficient and reliable ways to bring the risks of catastrophic injuries and death as close to zero as possible. | Photo: iStock

Racehorse falls can be catastrophic for both horse and jockey. But collaborative efforts among researchers, the racing industry, and governments could lead to effective measures that will improve the safety of both athletes.

“When a jockey dies during a horserace, there is a profound effect—socially and financially—and the same is true when a horse dies,” said Peta Hitchens, PhD, epidemiologist at the Melbourne Veterinary School Equine Centre at the University of Melbourne, in Australia. Hitchens spoke on the power of collaboration in improving racing safety and welfare during her plenary session at the 2017 International Society for Equine Science Conference, held Nov. 22-26 at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

“By bringing the various players together to collaborate on this one common goal—safety of rider and horse—we can hope for more efficient and reliable ways to bring the risks of catastrophic injuries and death as close to zero as possible,” she said