The issue of full disclosure of veterinary procedures for horses offered at auction generated lively discussion during the Nov. 2 Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers’ Club meeting in Lexington. The Sales Integrity Task Force is preparing a position paper expected to include recommendations on the issue.

Task force chairman Cot Campbell and other task force members were the scheduled speakers, but Campbell, in a written statement to the membership, said being involved in a panel discussion would be inappropriate while the position paper is being developed. The task force is scheduled to meet Nov. 19.

The substitute panel included Rob Whiteley, Dr. Paul Thorpe, Mike Ryan, Tom VanMeter, Dr. Stuart Brown, and Dr. Chet Blackey. The speakers outlined their personal and professional concerns of when disclosure should be mandatory, and what type of information should be disclosed.

Whiteley, a buyer and consignor, broke the auction market into four major groups–breeders, consignors, buyers, and sale companies–each with a unique responsibility to work with the others. Though he acknowledged veterinarians and bloodstock agents are important to the process, he said they have a huge influence on decisions even though they have very little invested in the business