After a successful opening on 5 April, the 2022 International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) conference series will host its second and final virtual session live on 19 April at 11 a.m. GMT (12 p.m. BST). IFAR partnered with the Japan Racing Association (Japanese Consultative Committee on Aftercare of Racehorses) to put on this year’s event.
“Our first webinar attracted viewers from nearly 20 countries and resulted in engaging discussions with our speakers about global aftercare issues,” said Di Arbuthnot, chair of IFAR. “With the diversity of speakers and panelists that we have assembled for next week, I am looking forward to continuing the dialogue around effective Thoroughbred aftercare programs, which, as mentioned in our first session, are critical for the sustainability of our industry.”
Tuesday’s session will be moderated by Australia-based racing broadcaster Caroline Searcy, and planned speakers are Michael Drapac, owner and breeder; Dr. Adrian Farrington, executive manager of Veterinary Clinical Services at The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Kirsten Green, executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project; and Jennifer Hughes, general manager of Equine Welfare for Racing Victoria.
The session will also feature a young professionals panel moderated by Searcy and composed of Godolphin Flying Start trainees George Broughton and Elinor Wolf; Caoimhe Doherty, co-founder of Treo Eile and stud manager at Forenaghts Stud; Natasha Rose, Equestrian Affairs project manager and Retired Racehorse Unit manager for The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Tom Ward, trainer.
The webinar held on 5 April was moderated by international broadcaster Rishi Persad, and speakers were Di Arbuthnot; Annamarie Phelps, chair of the British Horseracing Authority; Dr. Meredith Flash, lead researcher for the Australian Thoroughbred Wellbeing Project; Jock Hutchison, president and co-founder of Horseback UK; Dr. Jeff Berk, veterinarian for Equine Medical Associates PSC and past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners; and Angela Schuster, managing director of Schuster Consulting Group. Topics discussed included equine-assisted therapy, considerations for euthanasia, and traceability practices.
A recording of the first session can be viewed at internationalracehorseaftercare.com/help-resources/conference-resources/ifar-conference-2022/.
Additional information about the conference, including speakers, moderators, presentation topics, bios, and the link to register can be found at internationalracehorseaftercare.com/virtual-ifar/. All sessions are free, but registration is required. Those who attend the sessions live will be able to ask questions to presenters.
Prior to the virtual conference series in 2021, IFAR had previously been held in conjunction with the Asian Racing Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2020; the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation’s General Assembly in Oslo, Norway, in May 2019; the Asian Racing Conference in Seoul, South Korea, in May 2018; and the Pan American Conference in Washington, D.C., in May 2017. IFAR is an independent forum that recognizes geographical and industry differences among racing countries and is designed to enhance Thoroughbred aftercare worldwide. Working with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, IFAR will raise awareness of the importance of welfare for Thoroughbreds, improve education on lifetime care, and help increase demand for former racehorses in other equestrian sports. For more information on IFAR, visit internationalracehorseaftercare.com.