Poultry spat threat to racing

Horse export protocols are being used as a ‘pawn’ in battle.

Adrian Todd

SA Equine Health and Protocols managing director

The future of horse racing in South Africa is being threatened by an international agricultural trade deal wrangle.

Horse export protocols were being used as “a pawn” in a battle between South Africa and the European Union (EU) over poultry exports and imports, said Adrian Todd, managing director of SA Equine Health and Protocols (SAEHP), a non-profit company responsible for equine welfare on behalf of government.

Racing will not come to an immediate halt following the shock decision to stop issuing permits for horses to be transported around the country.

But the outlook for next year is very uncertain and the prestigious L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met race meetings in January could be badly affected if horses from other regions cannot travel to Cape Town.

The racing world was rocked this week by news that no new permits would be issued from 1 December following a “temporary suspension” of the SAEHP.

It has since emerged that some trainers have valid horse-travel permits for the next two to four weeks, allowing the racing schedule to continue for the time being.

The issuing, updating and monthly validation of multiple movement permits has reverted to the state, but it is common knowledge the department of agriculture does not have the capacity to do the job.

Leading trainer Mike de Kock summed up the situation: “At this stage the state will have to issue permits which could take goodness knows how long – if at all.”

The SAEHP could, according to Todd, resume its duties should the European Union (EU) reschedule a much-anticipated export protocol audit, which was originally scheduled for April, but was indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The export protocols are aimed at combatting the spread of African Horse Sickness.

An audited clean bill of health for the protocols should see long-standing, onerous barriers to horse exports removed – putting the country on a level playing field with other thoroughbred-producing countries and throwing a lifeline to struggling breeders.

Leading trainer Justin Snaith said yesterday: “The importance of the EU audit taking place must not be underestimated. The amount of jobs hanging in the balance is enormous and disturbing. The export of thoroughbreds is essential to the sustainability of the sport of horse racing.”

Recent research has shown that more than 177 000 South Africans are supported by the racing and breeding industries.

Todd said he hoped the SAEHP shutdown would highlight the plight of the horse industry.

“Neither government is willing to commit to a new date for the audit. Trade negotiations could take six to eight months to conclude, but the equine industry simply doesn’t have that amount of time.

“The number of breeders in South Africa has declined steeply recently and, unless something changes soon, we won’t be able to sustain racing in this country.

“We won’t be able to produce enough horses to hold race meetings.”