Horse Welfare Board: who are the members?

The Horse Welfare Board was established by British racing with the remit of developing a new welfare strategy covering the whole industry, looking at the lifetime of racehorses from birth to after they leave the sport.

The board includes representatives from the BHA, racecourses and the Horsemen's Group but has an independent chair in Barry Johnson, a former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and chairman of World Horse Welfare, while former sports minister Tracey Crouch MP is the other independent member.

Horse Welfare Board members

Barry Johnson – Independent Member & Chair

The chair of the board, Barry Johnson, is the former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He was chairman of World Horse Welfare until 2016 and was appointed as a non-executive director of the British Equestrian Federation in 2018 on a four-year-term.

Tracey Crouch – Independent Member

Tracey Crouch is the MP for Chatham and Aylesford and former Minister for Sport and Civil Society. She is a keen sports enthusiast and an FA qualified football coach. At the time of her appointment to the board last year, she said: “I look forward to being able to combine both my passion in animal welfare with my interest in horseracing.”

Alison Enticknap – Programme Director

Alison Enticknap is a communications professional and is programme director for the Horse Welfare Board after becoming head of stakeholder engagement for the BHA in 2018. She has a lifelong passion for racing and has been involved in the sport as an owner. She has recently been elected as a trustee of the Universities Federation on Animal Welfare.

David Sykes, director of equine health and welfare for the BHA

David Sykes – BHA Director of Equine Health and Welfare

David Sykes joined the BHA in March 2017 as director of equine health and welfare and is responsible for the welfare strategy across a thoroughbred’s full lifespan. Before joining the BHA, Sykes held the position of head veterinary officer for the Emirates Racing Authority.

Caroline Davies – Racecourse representative

Caroline Davies is the racecourse services director of The Racecourse Association Ltd, the trade association for racecourses in Great Britain. She is responsible for providing advice, support and training to racecourses. She is an active member of the BHA Racecourse Committee and a director of The Pony Racing Authority.

Simon Knapp – Racecourse representative

Simon Knapp is a veterinary adviser for the Racecourse Association and has a long history of providing veterinary and welfare advice to racing. He was a co-ordinator of the veterinary team for the 2012 London Olympics and is clinical director at Berkshire Equine Veterinary surgeons.

Charlie Liverton – Horsemen representative

Charlie Liverton has been the chief executive of the Racehorse Owners Association since 2016. Liverton was previously pupil assistant trainer to Major Dick Hern and Richard Hannon, as well as working for one of the leading vets in Lambourn, Mike O’Gorman, and in the bloodstock department of Tattersalls.

James Given – Horsemen representative

James Given graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1990 and, after a spell working at the College and then in practice, joined Mark Johnston as his vet and assistant. He has held a trainer’s licence since 1998 and has won heritage handicaps and Group races in Britain and Europe. He chairs the BHA’s Ethics Committee and has been a trustee of the British Racing School for 15 years.

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