Q: What should someone do if they ship a horse to a track to race, and the horse is placed into a stall that isn't clean? Is there a clear set of protocols they should follow, including specific personnel to potentially file a complaint with?A: From HISA director of racetrack safety Ann McGovern.Stall cleanliness plays an essential role in ensuring fair competition by minimizing horses' exposure to potential contaminants. Both the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) have taken steps to establish best practices for receiving barn stall cleanliness and to educate horsemen on how to proactively address concerns regarding dirty stalls.The HISA Racetrack Accreditation team has incorporated stall inspections into their year-round Racetrack Safety Accreditation Audits to assess any potential areas where tracks can improve their stall hygiene. Additionally, HIWU investigators conduct stall inspections in receiving barns and observe general stall conditions while walking shed rows and will bring any cleanliness concerns to the attention of racetrack personnel.Should a trainer encounter a dirty stall, HIWU recommends following the steps below as soon as possible:Immediately notify racetrack personnel and request that the stall be cleaned or that the horse be reassigned to a different stall. Depending on the circumstances, trainers may also choose to clean the stall themselves before occupying it.If the racetrack does not promptly address the concern, please contact the 24/7HISAHelp Desk at 1-877-513-2919 for assistance.Document, either in writing or video, the condition of the stall and the steps taken to demonstrate caution to protect your horse from being unintentionally exposed to Prohibited Substances.If a trainer were to get a positive test despite following preventative measures, they should share documentation of the steps they took to protect their horses with HIWU. Depending on the circumstances of the case, demonstrating their efforts to keep their horses in a clean environment could be used as mitigating factors to reduce or eliminate penalties.The post Ask HISA: What To Do About Stall Cleanliness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.