The Star: July 11, 2019
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news online at www.star.kiwi<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>11</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
NEWS 17<br />
Cruelty or useful healing tool?<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re are a number of<br />
inaccuracies and supposition in<br />
Mr Phillips’ submission, which<br />
consequently gives a misleading<br />
view regarding the use of blood<br />
spinning within the harness<br />
racing industry,” said Mr Jensen.<br />
“HRNZ obtains expert<br />
veterinary advice as necessary<br />
when setting the rules and<br />
regulations of harness racing.<br />
Veterinary advice was obtained<br />
on the permitted use of blood<br />
spinning as a therapeutic<br />
treatment to aid the healing of a<br />
horse.<br />
“HRNZ continually monitors<br />
its rules and regulations in light<br />
of what is happening globally,<br />
with other racing jurisdictions<br />
and regarding advances in<br />
veterinary medicine,” he said.<br />
But HRNZ is obtaining<br />
further independent advice on<br />
the process of blood spinning<br />
and will consider the impact, if<br />
any, of this advice on its rules,<br />
general manager operations Liz<br />
Bishop told <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong>.<br />
But Ms Bishop did not respond<br />
to questions from <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> about<br />
when the decision to obtain<br />
further advice was made.<br />
In his submission, Mr Phillips<br />
says blood spinning is the same<br />
as blood doping. However, both<br />
HRNZ and the RIU have said<br />
this is incorrect and the two<br />
processes are very different.<br />
“Blood doping is completely<br />
different and banned,” said Mr<br />
Jensen.<br />
SPCA scientific officer Alison<br />
Vaughan said there are a small<br />
number of studies which appear<br />
to support the benefits of blood<br />
spinning for healing injuries.<br />
“However, further study<br />
(and evidence) is required to<br />
determine the efficacy and short<br />
and long-term safety.”<br />
Dr Vaughan said the<br />
SPCA supports the use of<br />
blood spinning when used<br />
under veterinary advice<br />
and supervision as part of a<br />
treatment plan to aid the healing<br />
of injuries.<br />
However, she said the SPCA<br />
opposes the use of blood<br />
spinning when it is intended<br />
to enhance an already healthy<br />
animal’s athletic performance.<br />
PROCEDURE:<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are<br />
various opinions<br />
on the process<br />
of blood<br />
spinning in<br />
harness racing.<br />
Dr Vaughan said similar to<br />
humans, some horses are more<br />
tolerant of blood being taken<br />
than others but the process could<br />
be stressful for the individual.<br />
A PETA spokeswoman said<br />
blood spinning is a procedure<br />
used to force horses to recover<br />
from an injury more quickly.<br />
“Many horses are made to start<br />
racing before they are skeletally<br />
mature and may be given a<br />
concoction of drugs to help<br />
mask injuries and keep them<br />
profitable . . . horses should not<br />
be manipulated or subjected to<br />
such procedures, particularly as<br />
the goal is often to get the horse<br />
back on the track faster. Horses<br />
should be allowed sufficient time<br />
to recover naturally and fully,”<br />
she said.<br />
“With horses, there is also the<br />
concern that illegal substances<br />
could be introduced in the<br />
procedure.”<br />
PETA wants to see the racing<br />
industry focus more on reducing<br />
injuries, rather than use blood<br />
spinning.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> real question should<br />
not be about the ethics of blood<br />
spinning but about what we are<br />
forcing these horses to endure<br />
that they might require such a<br />
procedure.”<br />
SAFE head of campaigns<br />
Marianne Macdonald said<br />
the organisation opposes<br />
the use of animals for<br />
entertainment, which includes<br />
horse racing.<br />
“Blood spinning is a very<br />
small aspect of the suffering<br />
that a race horse will endure<br />
during their life . . . we support<br />
an investigation into the welfare<br />
of animals used by the racing<br />
industry and any steps to<br />
improve their lives,” said Ms<br />
Macdonald.<br />
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