Protecting the Integrity & Reputation of Irish Horseracing

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Veterinary information

Veterinary Team

The Veterinary Team is headed by the Chief Veterinary Officer/Head of Anti-Doping, Lynn Hillyer:

Lynn Hillyer
Chief Veterinary Officer/Head of Anti-Doping
Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board
The Curragh
Co. Kildare
lynn.hillyer@ihrb.ie
087 1925366

The Veterinary Team comprises Veterinary Officers and Veterinary Assistants and is the primary group within the IHRB responsible for the health and welfare of the Thoroughbred racehorse, on and off the racecourse.

The principal responsibilities of the Veterinary Assistants on and off the racecourse include:

  • Identification of horses via microchip and/or markings
  • Inspection of passports to ensure compliance with the rules of racing.
  • Taking urine samples from horses
  • Monitoring the health and welfare of racehorses on the racecourse, such as by assisting with pre-race inspections, post-race examinations, racecourse stable yard monitoring.
  • Contributing to the wider veterinary team to develop its integrity and welfare function
  • Identification and reporting on horse and facility details in Stable Inspections and other testing and welfare monitoring activities

The Veterinary Officers are responsible for regulatory clinical examination of horses, equine anti-doping procedures and the provision of advice on veterinary matters to the stewards on the racecourse. They also carry out a wide range of other duties including:

  • Working with the Veterinary Assistants to identify horses via microchip and/or markings on the racecourse and elsewhere.
  • Monitoring the health and welfare of racehorses on the racecourse and elsewhere, through planned pre-race inspections and other examinations.
  • Documentation of any injuries sustained by the horses during the racing day.
  • Leading sampling, observations, recording and reporting during out of competition testing (OOCT)
  • Leading/assisting Stable Inspection Officers during Stable Inspections
  • Assisting the Security Department during investigations
  • Providing veterinary evidence as required during disciplinary proceedings
  • Contribution to the Veterinary Team, developing its integrity and welfare function

For further information about the work of the IHRB Veterinary Officers or Assistants please contact equine@ihrb.ie

The IHRB veterinary team works alongside Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons (RVS), who are employed by the racecourse. There must be at least two RVSs on duty at a meeting and the meeting cannot, under the Rules of Racing, go ahead without them. As well as needing to be licensed to practice via membership of the Veterinary Council of Ireland/the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, many RVSs are also members of the Association of Irish Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons (AIRVS) who provide training and further education in this specialist area of veterinary medicine. Matters relating to RVSs should be raised in the first instance with the individual/racecourse concerned but the IHRB is a further point of contact if needed.

Horse Movement
Veterinary Certificates
Pre-race Inspections
IHRB Vaccination Passport Pre-Clearance Digital Upload Service


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