British racing begins search for new chair of Horse Welfare Board ahead of strategy update

The BHA has begun advertising for a new independent chair of the Horse Welfare Board, with Barry Johnson set to step down from the role in June.

Three new independent members are also being sought as part of a restructure of the board, with former sports minister Dame Tracey Crouch also leaving this summer.

The Horse Welfare Board was established in 2019 to drive the industry's focus on racehorse welfare and the following year it launched its five-year strategy, A Life Well Lived.

That comes to its conclusion at the end of 2025 and the BHA said changes to the board would allow its new members to help shape British racing's equine welfare strategy, which is due to be updated this year.

Brant Dunshea: equine welfare "at the heart of everything we do" Credit: Ifha

Acting BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea said: "The welfare of our horses is at the heart of everything we do in British racing. Over the last five years, the sport’s A Life Well Lived strategy has helped drive forward continuous improvements across safety, traceability, data and aftercare. Later this year we will deliver the next iteration of our equine welfare strategy, which will continue to be overseen by an independently chaired board.

"These key appointments to the Horse Welfare Board will ensure we continue to evolve, drive best practices and maintain the trust of the public and our stakeholders. We are seeking experienced and passionate individuals who can make a meaningful impact on the future of horse welfare."

The Horse Welfare Board will continue to have eight members, with the chair and three independents joined by representatives from the BHA, racecourses and Thoroughbred Group.

Barry Johnson: steps down as Horse Welfare Board chair in June

Johnson said it had been a privilege to chair the Horse Welfare Board during a period which had resulted in "significant progress in activity to enhance equine welfare".

He added: "However, there is always more to be done, and strong leadership is vital to ensure continuous improvement. This recruitment process presents an exciting opportunity for new voices to shape the future of welfare in our industry. I encourage individuals who are passionate about horse welfare to apply and contribute to this important work."

Applications for the positions are open, with a closing date of March 28.

The issue of equine welfare has been the subject of increased focus from British racing, especially around the spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Last month the BHA and Great British Racing (GBR) relaunched the HorsePWR campaign, described as "British racing’s most significant public-facing welfare-themed promotional campaign to date".

HorsePWR and the charity Retraining of Racehorses are also set to partner the Sky Bet Sunday Series, which is returning for a fifth year and will span six meetings between April and September.

Horse welfare initiatives will be a key focus throughout the series, which has delivered more than £4 million in additional prize-money since its launch in 2021.

GBR's head of welfare communications Gabi Whitfield said: "We want to show the public how British racing puts the welfare of the horse at the heart of all it does. It’s about bringing the stories and the facts to life and we’re looking forward to working with the team to do this across the six Sunday fixtures."

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