The 2025 International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys (ICHSWJ) was held 11-12 December in Hong Kong. Themed Performance Medicine in Racing – Developing and Protecting the Jockey, the two-day conference took an applied, evidence-based approach featuring presentations and panel discussions with leading experts in the field.
“This conference represents one of the most important conversations taking place within the racing industry today,” said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). “For too long, jockey safety and wellbeing have been discussed with admiration for the resilience of the athlete rather than with the structured, systematic, and scientifically informed approach required of a modern, high-performance sport.
“This conference marks another step in changing that, and ensuring that our riders receive nothing less than the highest standards of care, the strongest protections available, and the most rigorous pursuit of knowledge that contemporary sports science and medicine can offer.”
Across the two days, speakers took part in 13 sessions, including:
- Inside the Mind of the Jockey: Performance, Wellbeing, and Lessons from the Field
- Entrapment Protocols
- Fuelling the Ride: Practical Insights and Evolving Strategies in Jockey Nutrition
- Poster Presentations: Developing and Protecting the Jockey
- On the Turf: Live Outdoor Simulation of Raceday Medical Practice and Entrapment Protocols
- Minimum Riding Weights: Towards a More Individualised and Evidence-Based Approach
- From Turf to Recovery: The Concussion Journey in Horse Racing
- Fit to Ride: Physical Preparation and Rehabilitation for Jockey Performance
- Concussion litigation in England: the Going and the Odds
- Advancing Safety in the Saddle: Injury Surveillance, Prevention, and Protective Innovations
- Strong in the Saddle: Managing Jockey Performance, Injury, and Wellbeing in Hong Kong Racing
- Beyond the Finish Line: Supporting Jockeys’ Careers and Transitions into Retirement
- Themed Table Discussions: Cultivating Connections and Collaborations
Participants included William Audland, Michael Caulfield, Andrew Coonan, Hollie Doyle, Gavin Egan, Jeff Gomez, Danny Hague, Peta Hitchens, Suzannah Hoult, Rosy Hyman, Chris Kamper, Michaela Keener, Phil Kinsella, Kylie Legg, Karen Lo, Ciara Losty, Daloni Lucas, Dan Martin, Tarryn Mason, James Murray, Siobhan O’Connor, Gillian O’Loughlin, John O’Reilly, Jennifer Pugh, Richard Pugh, Bill Riddiford, Megan Roberts, Tom Scudamore, Lisa Stevens, Matt Stewart, Paul Struthers, Giles Warrington, and Keith Yeung.
The 2025 ICHSWJ was organised by the Jockeys Health and Wellbeing Committee of the IFHA and proudly supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
“Our theme this year, Performance Medicine in Racing – Developing and Protecting the Jockey, reflects how far the conversation has come,” said Darragh O’Loughlin, Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and Chair of the IFHA Jockey Health and Wellbeing Committee. “No longer focused solely on injury response, we now look more broadly at what it truly means to support a jockey—before, during, and after their time in the saddle.
“This conference is built around real-world practice, scientific evidence, and shared insight. It brings together doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, lawyers, researchers, regulators, nutritionists, current and former jockeys, and racing professionals from over a dozen countries. We are not just here to talk about jockey health. We are here to build the systems, culture, and knowledge base that can sustain it.”
The conference also featured multiple opportunities for networking, fostering connections and collaborations, and sharing valuable resources.
The ICHSWJ was last held in October 2023 in conjunction with the 57th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities and other associated meetings around the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend.
About IFHA
The IFHA is a federation of more than 60 racing authorities from different countries and regions in the world. It is the global leader for the international sport of Thoroughbred racing, seeking to promote all facets of the worldwide sport; protect the welfare of the equine and human athlete; and protect and grow its global social and economic significance for current and future generations.
Major areas of the IFHA’s activities include:
- Making and amending the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering
- Policy development relating to welfare and safety of horses and riders
- International race planning and grading (“black type”)
- World rankings
- The fight against equine prohibited substances and practices
- Harmonisation of racing rules
- Certification of IFHA reference laboratories
- Fostering commercial development of the racing industry globally
The IFHA is a foundation member with Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) of the International Horse Sports Confederation and is affiliated to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
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