Minister questioned about "blood at the nostrils" of horses used in racing
Paul Murphy TD has asked the Minister for Agriculture about "the cause of ‘blood at the nostrils’ of horses during races and the treatment provided to horses found to be bleeding in this way".
Responding to the 28 July 2026 question, Minister Heydon stated: "The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has informed my Department that blood observed at the nostrils following a race (epistaxis) may arise from a number of causes including, for example, from a fall, or from a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). EIPH is a well-recognised condition affecting horses and other mammals in which intense exercise can result in bleeding from small blood vessels within the lungs into the airways. EIPH in equines has been extensively researched internationally and is known to be a multifactorial condition which is difficult to predict, with severity varying between individuals and episodes."
"The IHRB has further informed my Department that appropriate management of epistaxis depends on the underlying cause and the individual clinical circumstances," Minister Heydon added. "The diagnosis and management of individual horses rests with a trainer and their veterinary surgeon. Where EIPH is diagnosed, appropriate management may include investigation for any underlying respiratory disease or infection, a period of rest and a graduated return to exercise when clinically appropriate."
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
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Tanaiste Simon Harris TD
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Watch “RTE Investigates: Horses – Making a Killing”
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https://youtu.be/F1TZnZgV8L4
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