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BHA issues reminder on administration of corticosteroids
Vets are being urged to draw their attention to published advice regarding the administration of corticosteroids.
Corticosteroids are prohibited substances on race day

Vets are being urged to draw their attention to published advice regarding the administration of corticosteroids.

In January 2015, The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) introduced a 14 day stand-down period following administration of any intra-articular corticosteroids.

The rules state: “The horse must not have been administered any intra-articular corticosteroid on the day of the race or on any of the fourteen days before the day of the race in which the horse is declared to run.”

The BHA advises that this mandatory stand-down period should not be confused with a Detection Time or with a Withdrawal Period.

“The difference between a Detection Time and a Withdrawal Period should be understood, as the two are different,” writes the BHA. “To decide a Withdrawal Period, an adequate safety margin should be added to a Detection Time. This safety margin should be chosen by the treating veterinary surgeon, using their professional judgement, and should take into account potential biological, pharmaceutical and pharmacological variation.

“This clearly makes a discussion between a Trainer and their veterinary surgeon essential when considering administration of any medication which is a Prohibited Substance on Raceday.”

Trainers who would like to establish that medication given for veterinary treatment has cleared from a horse’s system before a race are invited to contact the Equine Health and Welfare Department at equine@britishhorsracing.com or 020 7152 0010. 

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.