Sustainability and the Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industries: An Enhanced One Welfare Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Animal Welfare Science
• Environmental Science
• Sociology of Sport

Background:

• Societal debate on animals in sport, entertainment, and leisure necessitates evaluating welfare, social, and ecological impacts.
• Existing frameworks often overlook the multifaceted effects on animals, humans, and the environment.
• Thoroughbred breeding and racing face scrutiny regarding sustainability and ethical practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and apply the "Enhanced One Welfare Framework" to Thoroughbred breeding and racing.
• To analyze the costs and benefits of global Thoroughbred racing.
• To propose a politically viable approach for renegotiating conditions of horse use in sport.

Main Methods:

• Critique of the traditional One Welfare framework's limitations regarding sport.
• Enhancement of the One Welfare framework by integrating sport, leisure, and entertainment.
• Framing the enhanced framework within the Five Domains model of animal welfare.
• Extension of the Five Domains model to include human welfare and environmental impacts.

Main Results:

• The "Enhanced One Welfare Framework" provides a comprehensive approach to assessing Thoroughbred racing.
• The framework reveals significant global costs and benefits associated with the industry.
• It offers a politically advantageous position for discussions on horse sport sustainability.
• The study highlights the need to consider human and environmental factors alongside animal welfare.

Conclusions:

• The "Enhanced One Welfare Framework" is crucial for guiding sustainable practices in horse sport.
• Innovations are proposed to ensure a sustainable future for Thoroughbred breeding and racing.
• This enhanced model moves beyond animal-centric views to encompass broader societal and ecological considerations.