Horse welfare charity welcomes ban for trainer Howard Johnson

Trainer Howard Johnson. Image: John Walton/EMPICS Sport

HOWARD JOHNSON BAN SENDS RIGHT MESSAGE SAID THE BRITISH HORSE RACING AUTHORITY

Johnson, who said he now planned to retire, admitted running Striking Article eight times after the horse had a palmar neurectomy.

The operation involves severing or removal of leg nerves running to the foot and leaves the horse numb to pain.

“This was a reprehensible act,” said Roly Owers, chief executive of the World Horse Welfare charity.

“It clearly crossed the line between the acceptable and unacceptable use of horses in sport.

“When we use horses in sport, that places a significant burden of responsibility on our shoulders for their welfare, and Howard Johnson simply did not live up to that responsibility.

“He showed a callous disregard for the well-being of the horse when he made the decision – not once but eight times – to run Striking Article without any feeling in one of his forefeet.”

Johnson, 58, claimed during a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) inquiry he was unaware of the rule stating he should not have run the horse.

The BHA disqualified the National Hunt trainer for three years with regard to the neurectomy charges, and one year for using anabolic steroids on three other horses.

Johnson indicated when contacted that he had no plans to appeal against the suspension and that he intended to retire from training. He plans to issue a full statement early next week.

Johnson’s principal racehorse owner, Sage computer magnate Graham Wylie, said he was “absolutely, totally shocked” by the ban.

“Howard has been treated like a criminal and he is not,” he said.

“I think it’s a disgusting decision and I’m disappointed for Howard.

“I just feel so sorry for him because that is not Howard and he looks after his horses incredibly well. He would never do anything to harm a horse.

“I think they (BHA) have come down too heavy handed for the charges that have been made against him.

“It is a very sad day for northern racing as it has lost a very good trainer and they have also lost a very good owner.

“Most of my horses will go the sales and the rest of those that I keep will either go down south to be trained or to Ireland. I shall spend the weekend thinking about it.

“It’s a very sad day.”

Johnson said the horse would not have pulled up on his final start [at Musselburgh in February 2010] if he had no feeling in his foot.

Striking Article was put down after that race. It was discovered in the post-mortem that the neurectomy had taken place.

Johnson said he was not aware of the rules and did not know that a horse that had been de-nerved was banned from racing on welfare grounds, and because it could affect the safety of the jockey.

But Rowers said: “We are also dismayed that a trainer of Johnson’s experience and stature is pleading ignorance of the rules. Ignorance is no excuse for not knowing the rules but more importantly it’s no excuse for cruelty.

“Looked at another way we just need to apply a little simple common sense: how could anyone think it was acceptable to race a horse that was in so much pain it needed a neurectomy in the first place?

“This case should send out a clear message to everyone involved in racing that the welfare of the horse has to come first, not the need to win at any cost.”

Howard, who has held his licence since 1984, was also charged under a separate investigation in relation to the administration of anabolic steroids to three other horses.

BBC Sport, video and report >>

RELATED READING

“Why was trainer Howard Johnson banned for four years“, by Joe Wilson, BBC Sport, 12 August 2011.

Charity spearheads expert meeting on transport to slaughter welfare issues (UK)

'The practices we see in commercial transport to slaughter are the worst possible combination for the horse,' says Dr David Marlin who will be attending the June 15th meeting in London spearheaded by World Horse Welfare to examine the issue.

World Horse Welfare is bringing together a group of distinguished scientific experts in a bid to develop recommendations that will help address key welfare concerns currently facing horses being transported long distances across Europe to slaughter.

The leading international horse charity has arranged the meeting of experts in London on Wednesday 15 June 2011, during which professionals from across Europe and the USA will share their knowledge and experience. Exhaustion, journey times, dehydration and water provision are the topics being examined: all serious concerns that World Horse Welfare has documented during field investigations along Europe’s routes to slaughter.

World Horse Welfare Campaigns Advisor Jo White said:

“Every time we undertake field investigations we see exhausted and dehydrated horses suffering needlessly. We’ve brought this team of experts together to aid in developing proposals that will end the current and totally unacceptable suffering these horses endure. It is clear that people at every level need to know what’s going wrong and see the compelling case for change if horse welfare across Europe is to be improved.”

The meeting will further develop the charity’s existing recommendations for changes to the current transport Regulation* by pulling together the latest information, scientific evidence, and expert opinion; ultimately reinforcing the call for improvements to horse welfare whilst identifying gaps in research where further work is needed. The findings of the meeting will be sent to key decision makers including the European Commission and EU Member State Governments.

Representatives from organisations and educational institutions including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Italian Equestrian Federation, University of Lincoln, Texas A & M University, International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Animal Health Trust, University of Glasgow, Donkey Sanctuary, University of Liverpool, Royal Veterinary College, and University of Bristol will be in attendance.

Attendee Dr David Marlin, Scientific and Equine Consultant, said: “The practices we see in commercial transport to slaughter are the worst possible combination for the horse. If you wanted to make a horse ill, you would dehydrate it and transport it until it was exhausted. This meeting will capture ideas from leaders in the field of equine veterinary science and transport to help direct research that can have an impact on the future lives of thousands of horses.”

World Horse Welfare continues to campaign for an end to the long-distance transportation of horses across Europe to slaughter. Visit www.worldhorsewelfare.org/you-help/take-action for more information about the charity’s campaign and how you can help bring an end to the suffering currently endured by around 80,000 horses every year.

Source: Press Release

Royal Marines help round up feral horses (UK)

Feral Horses Moray

The Royal Marines were involved in helping to round up almost 100 semi-feral horses on a remote farm at Dallas in Morayshire in a major operation co-ordinated by the charity World Horse Welfare.

It was the charity’s biggest and most unusual project and also involved vets from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the armed forces charity, Horseback UK.

The operation was organised after an elderly farmer contacted World Horse Welfare as he was concerned about his Highland-type horses and ponies and realised help was needed to rescue them.

The animals were in danger of becoming serious welfare cases.

The herd, made up of stallions, mares and foals had been increasing in size for many years due to uncontrolled breeding.

The 1,000 acres of grassland, forest and scrub land could not sustain them adequately. Continue reading >>

The horses are expected to be sold at auction to recoup part of the expenses.

World Horse Welfare do not work to eliminate horse slaughter in the UK, preferring instead to work on improving welfare standards in transport to slaughter.

See BBC News Scotland video report >>