EQUINE WELFARE
HERE FOR THE FOR HORSES
BY CELIA PURDEY
Racing Victoria’s ‘Medicare for horses’ or Diagnostic Imaging Subsidy is another way that the racing industry is helping to protect the health and welfare of our racehorses. First trialled as a pilot program from June 2021, the program is aimed at encouraging trainers and owners to use advanced technologies for early detection and intervention for racehorses at potential risk of injury. Racing Victoria (RV) will pay half of a range of scans, including scintigraphy (bone scanning), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (high field/standing) and computed tomography (CT). RV will also provide grants of up to $300 for specialist appointments and $200 for a racehorse who requires hospitalisation overnight. Trainers who claim the scanning subsidy will be able to save up to $1600. “We’ve had some really positive feedback, and there’s been some particular stories of owners and trainers that would definitely not have been able to afford this type of advanced diagnostic imaging because of the cost, who’ve been able to make use of this technology to diagnose an injury at an early stage in their horse, ” said Grace Forbes, General Manager, Veterinary Services, RV. “This is really exciting because it means that our trainers and owners can see the value in detecting injuries early, and that’s because it means when they detect an injury at an early stage, they can manage that injury and the horses are out of work for a much shorter time than if the horses sustains a more serious injury and needs to have a much longer break.” Trainers have welcomed the subsidy scheme, as it removes the financial hurdles they may have when wanting to use the advanced screening technologies. Trainer Kylie Vella has used the scheme to help pinpoint lameness and the potential issues it may cause. “Going in and having the bone
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