Animal welfare is always on our minds

Skipton races is only a week away and any spare time seems dominated by trying to finalise the sponsorship, check advertisements, organise marquees and tickets in order to ensure a great day's entertainment for the 6,000-strong crowd expected. Gargrave hotelier Tom Bannister organises, inspires and pushes the committee to produce a thorough job and he never disappoints.

Our main contributor, Sovereign Health Care, have sponsored us for six years. They donate generously to pointing in Yorkshire providing a series of Restricted qualifying races within the area culminating in a 500 final held next Sunday at Skipton. I am aiming Wherethat, my High Peak winner for the race. He should be suited to the stamina-sapping course.

Tomorrow we head to Whittington, near Kirby Lonsdale with four runners. It means missing Easingwold which I enjoy, but unfortunately there are too many meeting clashes in the calendar. Everyone wants to draw the Sunday crowds.

I need to choose what runs in the Hunt race next week. A decision I don't enjoy making, the race is always packed with incident. Last year Sam Drake and I were the only runners, hers was the favourite. After her horse blundered a fence she did a wonderfully spectacular dismount going out on the second circuit leaving me to coax my "crowd shy" mount round the remaining two circuits alone. It was my most exhausting ride of the season.

Luckily the day ended with a few celebratory drinks in the car park, lasting into the wee hours. There was probably more money on the car park floor next morning than in the pockets of the jovial race goers, who staggered from the party singing their delight at fleecing the bookies.

Every year the Grand National meeting will conclude with a detailed breakdown on safety by the organisers and governing bodies. Invaluable and detailed data on everything from fence design to grass length are scrutinised.

This year the race was as adrenalin packed as ever, without a single fatality or injury to the runners. A tribute to the endless work done by the Horse Racing Authority and their expert team of veterinary researchers who work on improving safety on the track. Every meeting has four veterinary officers in attendance, and RSPCA representatives are present at many to work alongside the HRA. As animal lovers, there are always questions we ask about the course. What if we make the National fences smaller? If the race was shorter, would this help reduce falls and accidents? Research proves the opposite is true. Speed is the main contributor to falls and injury. Large, well-built fences require respect and long races decrease the animals' speed. Every year 3,000 horses are injured in road accidents, but does this mean horses should not be ridden out?

The number of injuries to horses while racing has decreased by 21 per cent in the last ten years, while the number of horses in training has increased by 19 per cent totalling 100,000 runners in 2009. Every entry I make, horse I register, or prize money I win contributes to the rehabilitation of racehorses to aid a healthy retirement for a large number leaving racing. These animals regularly prove to be talented in other disciplines.

Accomplished event rider Nicola Wilson, from Northallerton, has produced ex-racehorses to Advanced level. Mr Bumble completed Badminton four times. He previously ran on the flat. Philco, David Broome's well known grey show jumper, ran in America initially. The majority find their niche hunting or point-to-pointing, a valuable safety net for those who don't make the grade.

CW 24/4/10