An animal welfare directive from Germany's federal parliament has sent ripples through the European horse racing community, raising questions about the future of 2-year-old racing.
As reported in The Telegraph UK, the German law forbids the breaking-in or competing of horses under 30 months from birth, with a three-year exemption period currently in place for thoroughbreds. .
The directive, originally intended for warmbloods, could spell the end of 2-year-old racing if fully applied to thoroughbreds.
However, this move contradicts a wealth of scientific evidence suggesting that early training and racing have substantial benefits for young horses, including increased bone density, improved musculoskeletal health, and greater overall resilience. All racing nations should be watching closely, as this law change could set an interesting global precedent.
Scientific insights on early racing
Prominent veterinarians and researchers have extensively studied the effects of early exercise on young horses. Leading New Zealand researcher, Massey University's Dr. Chris Rogers, has conducted numerous studies on the biomechanics of racehorses. He notes that horses are naturally equipped for early physical activity, with their rapid growth necessitating early exercise to ensure proper development.
"Horses are fundamentally mobile from birth," explained Rogers to The Thoroughbred Report in December. "By the time a horse is 24 months old, longitudinal bone growth has largely concluded. Early and appropriate exercise during this period is critical for the development of robust bones and tendons."
Massey University's Dr. Chris Rogers
This sentiment is echoed in the research of Dr. Larry Bramlage, who has found that horses starting their careers at two years old tend to have longer and more successful careers.
Focusing his research on the American Equine Injury Database, Bramlage drew the conclusion: "Horses that begin racing at two have more successful careers, both in terms of longevity and earnings, compared to those starting later."
Unique German welfare rules
Germany has always had unique rules that haven't always been adopted by the wider racing world.
An example is the stringent requirements for a thoroughbred stallion to be "approved" for breeding. In Germany, stallions must achieve high performance levels, have excellent conformation, be free from heritable congenital defects, and never have been administered artificial medication like bute or Lasix.
German racing regulations are also significantly advanced in terms of animal welfare compared to much of Europe. Jump racing has nearly ceased, and juvenile horses are limited to a maximum of six races, beginning no earlier than June.
2-year-old racing ban tabled for Germany | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The whip rules in Germany are stringent, allowing a maximum of three strikes thoughout the entire race, with any excess resulting in a 14-day suspension for the jockey. Five strikes incur a 42-day suspension. If horse is contacted by whip with jockey’s hands on the reins is still classed as a strike.
In comparison, Australia has some of the most relaxed whip rules across major racing nations, with jockeys permitted to use their whip at their discretion within the last 100 metres of a race.
Trainers in Germany also must adhere to strict guidelines regarding stable conditions, including stable size, lighting, windows for horses to see others, and ensure horses have at least two hours of daily turnout with another horse.
