Mr. Darragh O'Loughlin:

Equine welfare is at the core of everything the IHRB does in relation to integrity. We have a team of vets on our staff and no racing event, point-to-point, flat jump race, flat race or jump race occurs without IHRB vets being on site. Our vets are there to check the welfare of the horses before the race starts. They watch the race and they check the horses again after the race. Horses are trotted up and down to ensure they are not running lame. Even our equine anti-doping regime is designed with the welfare of the horse in mind. We are looking for prohibited substances at all times but we are also looking for the inappropriate use of other medication because no horse should be medicated, other than entirely appropriately and by a veterinary surgeon who is involved in the care and treatment of that horse.

When we receive concerns, as we sometimes do, about the condition of a particular horse or group of horses in a location, such as on a premises or in a field, if that information comes into us, as it frequently does, our veterinary officers treat that as the highest priority on the day. They drop what they are doing and go out and check on the horses. If the concerns prove to be justified, and unfortunately they sometimes are, we make immediate contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We have officers who are authorised under the Animal Remedies Act 1993 and under animal welfare legislation. The Department then comes in and assists and participates closely if there are prosecutions to be brought in respect of the treatment of animals and it takes care of same. If there are rule breaches in the treatment or medication of animals or breaches under the rules of racing, we send those to referrals committees and impose sanctions.