title: Number, causes and destinations of horses leaving the Australian Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing industries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Significant proportions of horses leave the Australian Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing industries, which has ramifications for both the economic sustainability and the public perception of racing. The aim of this study was to quantify potential horse wastage, describe the destinations of exiting horses and identify risk factors for horses going to these destinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were sent to 1258 selected Thoroughbred and 981 Standardbred trainers, with response rates of 30% and 32%, respectively. The survey investigated the role of various risk factors for wastage, including horse age, sex and number of years in training. The destination of departing horses was also examined in relation to these risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total horse exit rates for the 2002-03 official race year were 39.7% and 38.7% for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing industries, respectively. Reasons for leaving included 'poor performance/slow' (36.5% Thoroughbreds, 35.2% Standardbreds), 'illness/injury' (31.0%, 27.1%), 'to breed' (9.4%, 10.1%), 'unsuitable temperament/behaviour' (6.4%, 6.4%) and 'other' (16.8%, 21.2%). Statistically significant (P < 0.001) risk factors influencing the destinations of both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing horses included whether the trainer owned the horses, sex, age and reasons for leaving. In addition, some factors were specific to one breed or the other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved behaviour training and early identification of the causes of poor performance could assist in reducing wastage.
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006.
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: Thomson
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Hayek
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Jones
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Evans
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: McGreevy
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Standardbreds; Thoroughbreds; animal welfare; racing; wastage