The health and welfare of thoroughbred horse trainers and stable employees

The research described in this report aimed to provide a detailed and personalised account of the ways in which trainers and stable employees cope with the demands of their jobs, and of the influence of their involvement in the horse racing industry on their personal health and welfare. The research was commissioned by Racing Victoria Limited (RVL), in response to a need to identify ways in which the racing industry can better support trainers and stable employees, and enhance the overall quality of their day-to-day lives in the horse racing industry. The project was supported by the Victorian Government through funding from the Racing Industry Development Program.\ud The methodological framework used to gather information was similar to that used for 'The Welfare of Retired Jockeys' investigation (Speed, Seedsman & Morris, 2001), employing a quantitative survey approach to yield a broad range of data across a large sample of horse trainers and stable employees, and a qualitative approach to gain a more in-depth insight into key issues relating to their work and personal well-being. Formulation of the recommendations listed in this report was undertaken by members of the Victoria University research team, following an extensive analysis and synthesis of all the data and information obtained