The equine industry is the economic sector associated with the horses that are any agribusiness activities or leisure activity associated with the use or possession of the horse and contributes significantly to the economy (Mihók 2016, p.23). The horse has existed throughout the man’s history. The human needs have shaped the role of the horses the role of the horses has changed over time. Horses have been used for travelling, raiding for pleasure and sports. Since the last century, the horse's role has been changing in human civilisation (Authority 2013, p.23). The role changes have been encouraged by the changes in customer preferences that purchase horses to satisfy their expectations relating to their wellbeing and self-realisation. In the process of fulfilling their expectation, they end up creating opportunities ranging from athletes in equestrian disciplines or jockeys or drivers in horseracing (Albrecht et al. 2012, p.3). Horses also came handy in leisure riding and equestrian tourism. Thus, horses contribute significantly to the human emotional, physical and mental wellbeing as well as economic growth (“British Horse Society” 2012, p.14).
The recent growth in horse’s activities has led to increased horse demand. The production of horses has attracted more focus on both the equestrian point of view and the economic point of view, which has led to the development of a dressage industry sector (“British Horse Society” 2012, p.13). There are some businesses related directly or indirectly to the horses, such as veterinary care of the horses, riding education, equine nutrition sports clothing among others. Some environments throughout England have horses McCrory and Turner 2005, p.8). Although most horses activities such as horse breeding and riding schools are found in rural areas, some are also found in the urban area. Horse’s industry covers a large area in the UK economy since it contributes directly or indirectly to the economy (Mihók 2016, p.23). The direct interaction with the horses is through riding, racing competitions, and riding schools. While indirect can be trough horse related product and services supply by the employed individuals while taking care of the horses.
Individuals or families privately own horses. Horse racing activities are watching on the televisions or by attending racing events including local events and big annual competitions such as the London international horse show (Albrecht et al. 2012, p.3). Horses are also used as a form of exercises and therapy to disabled people as well as in addressing criminal rehabilitation and social exclusion. The activities that are associated professional riders include commercial breeders, training, affiliated sports and racing. The horse industry is associated with a wide range of activities, but here we focus on the national hunt racing and the impact.
National hunt races involve activities such as jumping over fences, water ditches as well as hurdles. Races are held in the mid-October to end April season the when the weather is more suitable making the ground softer and better for horse jumping. Most horses in the national hunt races are bred and trained in Ireland where the races originated (Crossman 2010, p.10). National Hunt races are grouped in four levels, which are; chase races, hurdle races, national hunt flat races, and hunter chase races. Chase races have fixed fences at of about four and a half feet high. Hurdle races have smaller and less rigid hurdles that easily collapse (Albrecht et al. 2012, p.7). The national hunt flat races are designed for the inexperienced horses. Hunters chase races are held for horses involved in hunting and for the amateur. Major national hunt festivals include Cheltenham and entree Grand National. The nationwide hunt races contribute significantly to the UK economy.it also plays a vital role in the emotional physical and mental health, not only to the riders but also to the people watching the competitions (Mihók 2016, p.24).
National Equine Health Plan
The national equine health plan body (NEHP) plays a vital role in the horse industry. The primary role of NEHP is to recommend approaches to diseases outbreak associated with the horses to the industry, state government and the federal authorities (Crossman 2010, p.9). The national equine health plan has different sectors, which have varied roles and responsibilities. Example of the industries and stakeholders include; state animal health officials (SAHO), equine industry organization as well as individual stakeholders (Horseman 2016, p.34). The role and responsibilities are divided into different components such as disease prevention, diagnostics, and organisations, finding needs, response, containment and outbreak control among others.
State animal health official’s roles (SAHO) and responsibilities include developing updated state disease report according to the industry needs which help in monitoring equine diseases at the state level. They also provide a detailed oversight to the state laboratories to enable early diagnosis of the equine disease and report the results to the state's authorities for actions to be taken when necessary (“British Horse Society” 2012, p.13). They also ensure availability of adequately trained diagnosticians who diagnose foreign animal disease. Establish and maintain the appropriate staff that is responsible for sample collection and disease risk assessment. The sector is also responsible for ensuring that there is interagency and a good relationship between the public and private sectors that is essential in monitoring and detecting the equine diseases as early as possible and the infective agent involved so as the control measures are taken before significant losses occur (McCrory and Turner 2005, p.10). SAHO also ensures that a science equine regulations and recommendations are developed and are secure, cost-effective and practical. They also promote communication and interaction between industry stakeholders such as breeding organisations, veterinary community, livestock youth organisations among others. Lastly, they evaluate the economic influence of the horse industry to any restrictions and recommendations associated with the horse diseases control and eradication (Crossman 2010, p.9).
Impact of the Legislation Associated With the Horse Industry
The British horseracing authority ensures the welfare and safety of the sports equine participants and the horses (Authority 2013, p.24). They assure that there are integrity and compliance in the horseracing and there is no misuse of the whip or any potential interference during the race by the stewards. They also ensure that the participants are licensed and well trained before the races. Licensing of the racecourse is very important since the British horseracing authority sets standards for the racing surface and everything used by the competitors, both the horse and the human (Authority 2013, p.25). The standards ensured by the British horseracing authority that the participants are supposed to be licensed are stronger than those put forward by the welfare legislation are.
The role put forward by the British horseracing authority have a positive impact to the industry since only the qualified and licensed personnel are allowed to participate in the horseracing activities ensuring that the safety of the stewards and the horses are maintained (Silver and Parry 2015, p.105). Thus, there are less loses and industries associated with the racing activities recorded in the equine industry (Mihok 2016, p.28). The authority also ensures that quality veterinary care is given to the horses (Authority 2013, p.24). Due to this British racing is considered to be among the countries with best-regulated animal activities. Through the legislation and the laws put forward, the British have successfully developed a system that ensures the horses and the participants are well taken care off and race in a safe environment.
The United Kingdom versus America Equine Industry Sector
Horseracing is a favourite activity around the world. Although the US hosts most races, it is just as successful as other horse racing hubs such as the United Kingdom. American horseracing started in 1665 in New York and had advanced ever since. The most famous horseracing in the US is the thoroughbred flat horseracing (Pickering et al. 2012, p.553). The US Jockey Club manages some sections of the horse racing industry, but each state government has rules and regulations when it comes to licensing and racing. The US horse betting is all pari-mutuels, and all the money used in betting goes into pools, and all the bets are based on the amount in the pool at the time the racing takes place (Pickering et al. 2012, p.553).
The United Kingdom has the most established horse racing history. However, the rules and regulations were formally developed in the 17th century. The British horseracing authority has been governing the industry for the last 250 years (Authority 2013, p.24). The most common horse races are the flat racing and the national hunt racing. In the UK, the betting involves buying a ticket. After one buys a ticket, they receive the odds and the price placed on the horse that one bet on (Silver and Parry 2015, p.108). However, the number of funs in the United States is reducing gradually as compared to the horse races fun in the United Kingdom. The reason for the reduced number of funs in America is not yet clearly understood.
Issues Affecting the Horse Industry Sector
The problem of the unwanted horses faces the horse's industrial sector (Horseman 2016, p.36). The unwanted horses are described as the horses that the owner cannot provide enough care to due to the emotional financial or any other reason. Too old horses, as well as the injured horses with reduced value, can also be termed as unwanted (McCrory and Turner 2005, p.8; Sandiford et al. 2013, p.3). When the owner is unable to take care of the horses, it affects the horses' welfare negatively resulting in health problems (Horseman 2016, p.37). The national equine health surveys are carried out every year around the UK to gather the health status of the horses, donkeys, ponies, and mules (Authority 2013, p.25). According to Crossman (2010, p.13), there exist a high prevalence of sarcoid and respiratory diseases in horses, which have significantly affected the horse industry (Crossman 2010, p.13). The UK equine population affected by the respiratory diseases is relatively 7.1% while that affected by the sarcoid is 5.6% (“British Horse Society” 2012, p.13). Eye problems, gastric ulcers and cardiac problems in the horses have also negatively influenced the equine industry (Horseman 2016, p.38).
The welfare and the health of the horses should be strictly managed. The horses feeding practices should be improved to ensure the horses are provided with a nutritious diet to boost their health. On the other hand, the injured horses should be well treated to avoid further infections and to increase their healing process (McCrory and Turner 2005, p.11). The horse caregivers should be provided with appropriate education on the best ways to take care of the horses.
The horse industry is also faced with doping during the races (Crossman 2010, p.9). The investigators revealed that the horses competing are venerable to be passed through some training practice, which is not allowed in the racing and sometimes receives unregulated substances, drugs or medications with illegal prescriptions. Sometimes the trainers or veterinarians with drugs inject the horses. The substances or drugs are sometimes intended to enhance the horse’s performance. However, by doing this, they put the equines at risks, and they may get injured or even die. Some veterinarians administer drugs to the racehorses within 24 hours to the racing period (McCrory and Turner 2005, p.12). Those involved in doping should be prosecuted since they endanger the health and the welfare of the horses and interfere with the integrity and honesty required in horseracing.
Conclusion
The world at large has created more awareness of the health benefits of riding. The information has easily been distributed through social media. Social media has also helped in connecting the fragmented horse industry. The advanced technology and social media have provided spaces in which the trainers and riders can connect ensuring that they are adequately supplied with the required information hence assuring a better future of the equine industry. The competition in the equine environment is also increasing in the UK, and in coming years the agribusiness competition will be in a very challenging environment concerning sports gaming and entertainment. Therefore, the students graduating recently in the UK equine program need high levels of skills and a positive attitude that will help them to participate and adapt to the rapidly changing international racing environment for both horses and horses’ related activities.
In future, the UK’s program should train students to help create demand for horses and horse sports to ensure a growing equine industry (Horseman 2016, p.35). The program should also provide an educational environment, which adequately qualifies the graduates on how to take care of the horses. This program would also increase the horse demand encouraging the growth of the industry (“British Horse Society” 2012, p.13). Animal welfare is also an important issue that the industry should focus on to promote the health of the horses.
References
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