TBA to Introduce Equine Welfare Levy from January 2026

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) has today announced the introduction of a new fixed Equine Welfare Levy, effective from January 2026, to help safeguard the health, welfare, and aftercare of all horses bred to race in Britain. 

The levy will be set at £60 per foal and collected at the point of Foal Registration by Weatherbys. It will apply to all thoroughbred foals born in Britain as well as those foals registered for racing from the Non-Thoroughbred Register (NTR).  

The new mandatory levy will replace the two voluntary donations of £12.50 each to the TBA and RoR (i.e. £25 in total), which have been in place for over 30 years and not previously subject to annual inflationary increases. The monies collected will help underpin a more sustainable funding model to secure essential lifetime services for all thoroughbreds bred to race as well as bringing breeders’ contributions into alignment with other industry stakeholders who already provide mandatory funding for aftercare. 

Breeder contributions via the new £60 levy will support health and welfare initiatives through two channels of activity including; the provision of monies to RoR, as well as facilitating a broad range of workstreams overseen by the TBA, which aim to maintain and enhance the health and high welfare standards of thoroughbreds domiciled in Britain.   

• RoR – £25 of the breeder levy will provide RoR with the necessary funding to underpin the delivery of their three-year strategy, on behalf of the thoroughbred industry, with their Articles of Association recently amended to now include formalised educational provision and support frameworks for all thoroughbreds bred to race (and not just those who went into training with a licensed trainer). 
• TBA - £35 of the breeder levy will be retained by the TBA to continue vital work around equine infectious disease control and prevention; biosecurity and border controls; vaccine and medication availability and stewardship; continued support and communication of veterinary research; lifetime traceability of the thoroughbred; and genetic diversity.   

Kate Sigsworth, Deputy Chair of the TBA said: “While many breeders already play an active role in the homing, paddock retirement or transitioning of their horses to the leisure sector, often for life, the new welfare levy ensures that all thoroughbreds bred to race, including those sold by breeders, will have access to the services and expertise of RoR throughout their lives.  

“We are incredibly grateful to all those breeders who contribute already and we see this formalised process as a significant step forward which will ensure that every horse bred to race in Britain is safeguarded both before and after their racing careers and is a vital step in demonstrating the breeding sector’s responsibility for the lifelong welfare of our thoroughbreds.” 

Tom Blain, TBA Trustee and Managing Director of Barton Stud said: “Feedback from breeders since announcing the new welfare levy has been very encouraging, reflecting our shared commitment to contributing fairly to the welfare and aftercare of all our horses. 

“As a jurisdiction with world-class racing, bloodstock and breeding, it is only right that we also provide world-class welfare and aftercare provision for every thoroughbred bred to race.” 

David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, said: “With the support of these increased contributions from the breeding sector, alongside the wider industry, RoR can continue to lead the way in aftercare for British racing and deliver on the ambitious goals set out in our 2024–2026 strategy. 

“We are extremely grateful to the TBA for facilitating this process, and in particular to breeders, whose support helps us provide an important safety net for all thoroughbreds bred for racing.” 

The introduction of the welfare levy represents a united commitment from the breeding sector to safeguard the welfare and long-term prospects of British-bred thoroughbreds, while strengthening the sector’s alignment with other jurisdictions, many of whom already have a process in place.