Veterinary Officer

ROLE PURPOSE:

An equine veterinary surgeon dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of horse racing and promoting the highest standards of welfare of the racing Thoroughbred.

DIMENSIONS:

Departments – Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

General Management and Leadership Responsibilities

• Oversee a team of Equine Welfare and Integrity Officers (EWIOs) on Raceday

• Provide professional input as required to other BHA Raceday teams Role Specific Responsibilities Raceday

• Horse Identification

o Oversee microchip identification of all horses by EWIOs

o Oversee the identification of horses and address any discrepancies

• Control of infectious disease o Scrutiny of equine passports to establish Equine Influenza vaccination status

o Vigilance for horses exhibiting symptoms of endemic diseases (e.g. Equine Influenza, Ringworm etc.) and for those exhibiting symptoms of exotic diseases.

o Appropriate management of symptomatic horses

• Clinical examinations

o Download the fixture’s Welfare Report to establish a list of runners with previous significant clinical history

o Conduct clinical examinations on horses that meet agreed criteria

o Observation of runners in the Parade Ring and on the way to the Start to ensure fitness to race.

o Conduct post-race clinical examinations on injured horses, underperforming horses and those where welfare may have been compromised.

o Monitor veterinary facilities and personnel, ensuring that all injured horses are examined and treated appropriately and in a timely fashion before leaving the Racecourse.

o Ability to provide emergency back-up veterinary cover as required.

o Record all Raceday injuries to maintain an accurate injury database.

o Facilitate Post Mortem Examinations as required.

• Anti-doping and Medication Control

o Oversee the routine sampling of horses, ensuring Standard Operating Procedures are met

o Ensure that Sampling Unit personnel know and perform their duties to a high standard

o Provide guidance as to restrictions on substances, treatment and equipment on racecourse premises

o Monitor hygiene in Racecourse Stables, highlighting potentially contaminated boxes to the Stable Manager

• Communication

o Notify line manager (or Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare) of potentially controversial matters arising on Raceday.

o BHA Raceday Teams-

 Raceday Team briefing (testing strategy, at risk horses, fractious horses)

 Report relevant findings of clinical examinations discreetly

 Advise Starters as required regarding withdrawal of at-risk horses

 Provide evidence in Stewards Enquiries when requested

o Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons

 Ensure timely, accurate and discreet communication regarding injured horses

o Connections

 Ensure Connections of injured horses are updated appropriately

o Act as a conduit between Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons and Trainers to establish the outcome of racing injuries.

Non Raceday

• Visit licensed yards:

o Out of Competition Testing

o International Runner/Permanent Import Testing

o Late Foal Registration Testing

o Investigation of intelligence-based welfare concerns

• VO liaison duties – provide support to allocated Clerks of Courses to ensure that the veterinary aspects of BHAGIs are met.

• Attend Point to Point fixtures to perform regulatory duties (sampling, identification/vaccination checks, inspection of veterinary facilities)

• Involvement in clinical research projects associated with advancing equine welfare in the horseracing industry

• Continuous Professional Development to maintain a high standard of clinical expertise and knowledge of equine veterinary medicine, including attending the Casualty Management Seminar (Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons) at regular intervals.

• Critically appraise colleagues to encourage and maintain high standards and consistency within the Equine Health & Welfare department.

As the needs of the business change rapidly this role will change accordingly, therefore this document should be viewed as guidelines which are subject to change.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION

• Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

• Postgraduate equine-specific qualification desirable 

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Considerable relevant equine veterinary experience and clinical competence

• Specific interest in equine welfare

• A keen interest and understanding of the British Horseracing Industry

• A thorough knowledge of those BHA Rules and Instructions that relate to veterinary integrity and equine welfare

• Awareness of the key objectives of the BHA

• Awareness of current animal welfare legislation

• Excellent communication skills

• Ability to manage and resolve conflict

• Ability to influence and persuade a variety of stakeholders to obtain consensus

• Ability to supervise professional colleagues and racing participants and provide leadership when required

• Ability to manage own time effectively

• Computer literate

• Good administration skills

PERSONAL QUALITIES

•Acts with integrity and honesty at all times

• Reliable

• Solution-focused

• Resilient

• Compassionate

• Diplomatic

• Discreet approach to sensitive information

• Able to work with minimum supervision and maintain high levels of self-motivation

• Excellent inter-personal, motivational and team working skills, with a proven ability to form and work successfully in partnerships

• Willingness to follow agreed protocols to maintain a consistent team approach

• Ability to maintain a culture that is in line with BHA Values and Code of Conduct CIRCUMSTANCES

• Full valid driving licence

• Requirement to travel to all British Racecourses (usually regional focus)

• Occasional obligation to stay away from home for major meetings and operations

• The nature of horse racing dictates that duties will be performed during weekdays, evenings, weekends and holidays and therefore will require the job-holder to work outside of normal working hours.