Leah Foster

The life of a thoroughbred racehorse after their racing career is one of the key concerns of the general public about the racing industry. Thoroughbred racehorses usually begin their career at a very young age and can retire between the ages of 3 and 7 depending on their career trajectory and health status. A large number of racehorses progress on to a career within broader equestrian sports with the correct retraining. Horses can live well into their late 20's with the correct care and management. Understanding ways in which owners can support the wellbeing of their animals along with objective assessments of their welfare status is key to ensuring horses age in a healthy way. There is a large body of research in human geriatric medicine to suggest that the gut microbiome changes significantly with age and can have a range of influences on systemic health, including the progression of frailty and diseases that have detrimental impacts on overall quality of life. One way of measuring quality of life is The Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG), which is a validated tool for measuring welfare in a variety of animals. The AWAG provides a longitudinal view of the progression and changes that occur regarding the animal's welfare and quality of life using physical, psychological, procedural and environmental parameters.  The research outcomes of this study has the potential to improve the welfare of a wide range of horses, with particular focus on supporting retired racehorses. Recognising the influence that age has on the microbiome and therefore potentially welfare will aid in forming early intervention strategies to support a range of horses and explore the impact of changes in husbandry and exercise on the microbiota. Additionally, validating a welfare tool for assessing the quality of life in horses will provide a more objective approach for veterinarians, owners and caregivers when making decisions surrounding the horse's health.