The Jockey Club announces today a new partnership with leading Irish equine education provider Equi-Ed to fund 100 places for racing staff across Britain to receive enhanced racehorse welfare training for the athletes they look after, the first time such a scheme has supported by a British racecourse group.

The news comes following a successful pilot at Cheltenham earlier this month, when five staff from Fergal O’Brien Racing undertook a one-day course to help them boost their scientific and physiological understanding of the thoroughbred as well as specific processes to help them in the ongoing care of the horses they look after.

Topics included stride length analysis, palpation (physical examination) and skeletal instruction to equip the staff with specialist knowledge to help them monitor their horses’ physical condition and wellbeing on an ongoing basis.

Jockey Fern O’Brien attended the training as part of the Ravenswell team and said: “In the space of the last few hours I’ve learnt more than I have in the last 19 years! The training is really beneficial for us stable staff who love our horses to be able to understand them more, work them out and look after them.”

Following the pilot, which form’s part of The Jockey Club’s ongoing commitment to equine welfare, it has been confirmed today that Britain’s largest racecourse group will partner with Equi-Ed to develop a bespoke training course and fund 100 places for racing staff across Britain to receive the training in 2025.

Jon Pullin, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “This is a new and really exciting space for us to be moving into. The pilot at Cheltenham was a huge success and the team from Fergal’s found it massively beneficial.

“We know the exceptional level of care that racing staff provide to their horses all too well, but this course will equip them with some really useful additional skills, as well as helping them in their own professional development.

“We remain totally committed to playing our part in driving the very best standards of care for our equine athletes, whether on the racecourse or at home, and we look forward to delivering the next stage in this exciting partnership later in the year.”

Therese Murphy, Owner and Founder of Equi-Ed, said: “We are thrilled to be working with The Jockey Club in expanding our racehorse specific training programs into British racing.

“Having been well received in Ireland, our courses provide racing staff with access to cutting-edge scientific research and veterinary advancements.

“This initiative offers an exceptional opportunity for stable staff across Britain to deepen their knowledge, enhance horse welfare, and apply the latest equine care techniques directly to their daily work. Our commitment is to ensure that industry professionals receive practical, evidence-based training that directly benefits both the horses in their care and the future of racing.”

The training will be specifically designed to enhance attendees’ understanding and ability to care for the racehorses in their care whilst also providing useful additional skills for their ongoing career development through an independently certified qualification.

The courses will begin later in the year and be based at either racecourses or training centres owned by The Jockey Club across Britain. Further details to be published in due course.