The seventh International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will take place in conjunction with the 39th Asian Racing Conference (ARC). The event is scheduled for February 14-19, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) and the host of the 39th ARC, Racing Victoria, are hosting both events.
About the Event
IFAR will facilitate an aftercare facility visit. It will also host a variety of panels with speakers from around the world. The sessions will include such topics as:
- new models for industry cooperation;
- training for success on and off the track;
- practical tools to screen for temperament and the importance of transition training; and
- realizing athletic potential.
The Japan Racing Association (JRA) will be assisting the IFAR conference. The JRA has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement to support the activities of the organization.
Di Arbuthnot, chair of the IFAR Steering Group, said, “For the past two years, our conference was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am looking forward to meeting again in person as we share success stories and best practices for equine welfare. The question of what happens to racehorses after they leave the track is a global one. The importance of IFAR only continues to grow.”
Andrew Harding, secretary general of the ARF, said, “ARF is pleased to once again include the IFAR Conference as part of the ARC. This will be the third time we have hosted IFAR during our event’s program. The past has shown how valuable this connection is. The safety and welfare of our equine athletes is paramount both during and after their careers. IFAR enables us all to learn about ways to improve our aftercare efforts on an international scale.”
Carly Dixon, executive director of the 39th Asian Racing Conference at Racing Victoria, said, “As host of next year’s ARC, we look forward to leading the discussion on how the global racing community can continue to learn and improve our approach to the welfare of horses after racing. We will also take this opportunity to showcase our own world leading equine welfare programs and initiatives. We will provide our global visitors the opportunity to better understand the work being done to successfully re-educate retired racehorses for secondary careers in Victoria.”
Past Events
Prior to the virtual conference series in 2022 and 2021, IFAR had previously taken place in conjunction with the Asian Racing Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2020; the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation’s General Assembly in Oslo, Norway, in May 2019; the Asian Racing Conference in Seoul, South Korea, in May 2018; and the Pan American Conference in Washington, D.C., in May 2017.
For more information about the Asian Racing Conference and how to register, please visit https://arcmelbourne2023.com.
About the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses
IFAR is an independent forum that recognizes geographical and industry differences among racing countries. It is designed to enhance Thoroughbred aftercare worldwide. Working with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, IFAR will raise awareness of the importance of welfare for Thoroughbreds. It will also improve education on lifetime care and help increase demand for former racehorses in other equestrian sports. For more information on IFAR, visit https://www.internationalracehorseaftercare.com.
