This week on Changing Rein, co-hosts Karen Luke and Meta Osborne chat to a man who wears many hats in Irish racing, Kevin Blake.

Kevin talks about the challenge of balancing media exposure with the scrutiny that it brings, social licence, adapting to the changing understanding of horse welfare and being open to change and continuous improvement.

Kevin highlights the need to communicate the level of care given to racehorses in addressing concerns about their welfare and recognises the responsibility of horse owners to make decisions in the best interest of the horse's physical and mental well-being. He also discusses  the importance of being open to change and continuous improvement in horse welfare, and highlights efforts such as the horsePWR  portal and increased independent veterinary scrutiny before races, utilising modern technology as appropriate. The conversation touches on the use of the whip in racing and the potential for alternative cues to encourage horses to accelerate.

Kevin mentions the horsePWR portal developed by the British Horseracing Authority, the Horse Welfare Board and Great British Racing. It is available at this link: www.horsepwr.co.uk

Kevin writes a regular blog for the specialist racing broadcaster At The Races: https://www.attheraces.com/blogs/kevin-blake/archive and is a co-host of the Betfair Racing Podcast Racing Only Bettor https://betting.betfair.com/podcasts/racing-only-bettor/

He is on Facebook as Kevin Blake Racing https://www.facebook.com/kevinblakehorseracing/