Movement Seen on Plan to Ease South African Export Rule

After years of frustrated waiting, South African racing finally has a promise of progress toward changes in the horse export regulations that largely have isolated the country from the rest of the world.

Adrian Todd, head of the SA Equine Health and Protocols NPC, said European Union officials have set October dates for an audit of the protocols. That inspection is critical to any relaxation of rules currently prohibiting shipment of horses directly from South Africa to the EU.

The regulations, in place to prevent spread of disease, including African Horse Sickness, currently mandate that exported horses must take a convoluted, multi-leg journey that can require several months of quarantine—time in which they are out of training.

The upshot has been a severe reduction of international support for South African sales and racing at a time when purses already were declining, sponsorships drying up, and civil unrest was affecting racing.

The precipitous decline even threatened the operations of the SAEHP until the Hong Kong Jockey Club stepped up as a funder and supporter.

The scheduling of an audit is no guarantee of eventual success in relaxation of the export protocols. Previous timetables have been upended by the pandemic and South African officials still must convince their proposed revisions pass muster.

Dr. Mpho Maja, South Africa's director of Animal Health, expressed confidence.

"Todd has always been confident that measures put in place to control diseases like African Horse Sickness and prevent their spread will see South Africa passing the audit," Maja said in announcing the development.