• Fred Barrelet, Dr Neil Hudson MP and Jessica Stark join Horse Welfare Board as independent members
• Appointments follow confirmation of Baroness Minette Batters as Chair
• New Board structure delivered as result of cross industry review with focus on greater independence

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE HORSE WELFARE BOARD

Vet Fred Barrelet, Dr Neil Hudson MP and Jessica Stark of World Horse Welfare have been appointed as independent members of British racing’s Horse Welfare Board (HWB), it has been confirmed today.

The appointments follow a 2024 cross-industry review of the HWB which recommended that the board’s independent membership increase from two independent members, including the Chair, to four independent members, including the Chair.

This adjustment to the membership basis reflected the positive contribution that the HWB has made to the industry and the value of independent input on horse welfare in racing. The newly constituted Board will now oversee a new strategic plan for horse welfare, which will be developed in the second half of 2025.

The HWB received over 130 applicants for the independent member positions.

Fred Barrelet is a veterinary surgeon with more than 40 years of experience in equine medicine, welfare and governance. He is a consultant and former partner and clinical director at Rossdales of Newmarket, where he has served since 1991. He works as an FEI Official Veterinarian for all disciplines at 4* level and has worked at numerous championships and events, including the Olympic and World Equestrian Games.

Dr Neil Hudson MP is the Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, Shadow Defra Minister and an equine veterinary surgeon. He is an RCVS Diplomate in Equine Internal Medicine, a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He sat on the Commons EFRA Select Committee from 2020-2024, and is Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, and sits on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Bloodstock. Neil is the first vet to be elected to the House of Commons since 1884.

Jessica Stark, currently Director of Communications and Public Affairs at World Horse Welfare, brings to the HWB an extensive strategic background and a deep knowledge of equine welfare across all use of horses in society.

The three join the recently appointed Chair, Baroness Minette Batters, who will take over from the outgoing Barry Johnson from 1 July.

Fred Barrelet said: “My interest in horses and their wellbeing is lifelong, having grown up with them and dedicated my professional life to caring for them.

“It is essential that our horses transition to fulfilling careers once their days of racing and breeding come to an end. I am passionate about promoting the fulfilling bond between humans and horses, something that was a driving motivation to contribute to the work of the HWB.”

Dr Neil Hudson said: “I am delighted to soon be joining British racing’s Horse Welfare Board. At the heart of the racing and breeding sectors are our wonderful horses and for that you need high equine health and welfare, something I have spent much of my career promoting.

“The Horse Welfare Board has made great strides in bolstering equine health and welfare and I look forward to helping in this endeavour as the Board starts its new race.”

Jessica Stark said: “Ensuring good mental and physical welfare throughout the lives of all horses bred for racing is a cause close to my heart, so it’s a true privilege to be an independent member of this rejuvenated board.

“There is a lot of work to do but we have a strong foundation to build on and a racing community that both recognises the challenges and wants the best for their horses.”

Incoming HWB Chair Minette Batters added: “I am delighted to welcome Jessica, Fred and Neil as independent Horse Welfare Board members. All three made a strong impression during the recruitment process and bring a wealth of invaluable experience to their positions, across a range of skillsets and areas of expertise.

“I’ve no doubt they will make a valuable contribution to the work of the Board as we turn our attention to developing a new strategic plan for horse welfare.”

Jessica, Fred and Neil join the existing members Robin Mounsey (BHA Head of Communications), Seamus Mullins (Trainer), Kate Sigsworth (Deputy Chair of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association) and Sulekha Varma (Head of Racing, Aintree Racecourse). The new-look Horse Welfare Board is therefore now constituted as follows:

• Baroness Minette Batters: Independent chair
• Fred Barrelet – Independent member
• Dr Neil Hudson MP – Independent member
• Robin Mounsey – BHA representative
• Seamus Mullins – Licensed personnel representative
• Kate Sigsworth – ROA and TBA representative
• Jessica Stark – Independent member
• Sulekha Varma – Racecourse representative

In addition to the above, the BHA’s Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare James Given, who was previously a member of the HWB, will continue to attend every meeting in an observer role, alongside the HWB programme Director Helena Flynn.

The changes to the Board sees the terms of Dame Tracey Crouch and Simon Knapp come to an end. In addition, Caroline Davies now steps down from the Board, having been providing cover for Sulekha Varma during a period of maternity leave.

David Jones, Interim Chair of the BHA, added: “The fact that over 130 applications were received is a testament to the regard with which the Horse Welfare Board is held across the equine sector, and also the importance of its work.

“The move to a more independent structure was something that was clearly called for by the sport when consulted about the structure and work of the HWB over the last 12 months. I am full of optimism that this will provide a new impetus to the HWB and allow it to build on the tremendous progress made in its first iteration over the last five years.

“On behalf of the sport I would like to thank Dame Tracey Crouch, Caroline Davies and Simon Knapp for their contribution since its inception; they have played a valuable role in shaping British racing’s welfare strategy over the last five years.”

The HWB remains supported by an implementation team which is led by Helena Flynn alongside Katie Boon, Mike Etherington-Smith, Pip Kirkby, Sally Lyons, and with communications led by Gabi Whitfield and Lauren Stanley of Great British Racing.

About the Horse Welfare Board
British Racing’s goal has always been to lead the way in setting the best welfare standards in the world, both on and off the racecourse. The Horse Welfare Board was established in 2019 and has been responsible for overseeing the single overarching strategy for equine welfare in the racing industry. The five-year strategy, “A life well-lived”, was launched in February 2020. It considers the whole of the racing industry, including sectors not currently fully regulated by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and looks across the lifetime of all horses bred for racing. Multiple workstreams are underway covering projects ranging from traceability, training, obstacle improvement and development, through to welfare funding. The strategy can be read in full HERE.