The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has announced that Barrie Grant, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, has joined its National Horse Racing Advisory Council.

The council is composed of industry professionals and specialists who actively promote higher animal welfare standards within the scope of their involvement in horse racing.

Since its formation in June of 2016, the council has been directing most if its time and resources in advancing federal medication reform legislation that would put an independent, non-financially-conflicted third-party player in charge of setting the rules regarding the medicating of horses. The HSUS said Grant’s extensive experience as a veterinarian with racetrack experience will assist the council in making decisions to best protect the welfare of equine athletes.

Grant has been an equine veterinarian for more than 50 years and has been an official California Horse Racing Board veterinarian since 2009. He is board certified in surgery, was a surgeon and partner at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital, and is the author or co-author on more than 100 review papers mainly on surgical procedures and exercise physiology. He was part of the team that developed the surgical technique for treating cervical spinal cord compression. Grant is a lifelong member of both the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association