The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) has introduced a mandatory £60 welfare levy on all thoroughbred foals born in Britain, replacing the previous voluntary £25 donation. Collected at foal registration by Weatherbys, the levy aims to provide sustainable funding for the health, welfare, and aftercare of racehorses throughout their lives. Of the £60, £25 will support the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) charity, which focuses on aftercare, while £35 will fund the TBA’s work on disease control, biosecurity, veterinary research, and genetic diversity.

This new levy ensures that all thoroughbreds bred for racing, including those sold by breeders, have access to essential aftercare services, reinforcing the breeding sector’s responsibility for lifelong horse welfare. The TBA and RoR have received positive feedback from breeders, with RoR emphasizing that the increased funding will help them continue leading aftercare efforts and achieve their strategic goals for 2024–2026. The initiative marks a significant step toward safeguarding the welfare of British thoroughbreds both during and after their racing careers.