Thoroughbred For Purpose | When did we decide a Thoroughbred was just a Racehorse

WHEN DID WE DECIDE A THOROUGHBRED WAS JUST A RACEHORSE? Article | J Christopher - photos courtesy of TTNSW, TSHA, TARC

How we perceive the Thoroughbred and its role/purpose as just a racehorse is a journey most of us could reflect on. Perception starts with us and can be changed by us. In the current climate we need our industry to unite in becoming stronger not weaker, before the court of public opinion changes it for us.

Eventing

Show Riding

The ABC story was horrendous, the actions of those abattoir employees is disgraceful, investigation and regulation must be enforced to stop this cruel behaviour. No animal deserves to be treated in this manner. However, abattoirs are not controlled by the racing industry, they are regulated by state governments and are privately owned. But let’s be very clear, the small minority of people involved in the mistreatment of these horses are not participants in the great thoroughbred industry we support. The overwhelming majority of thoroughbred industry participants love their horses. Retired racehorses & broodmares return to the paddock and/or breeding barn, younger horses to a new career, as in any industry as large as ours, a small minority may bring an entire industry into disrepute. This is being addressed but suggestions by the ABC and some of their viewers that the whole racing industry is to blame is as prejudiced as it is inaccurate. Where is the regulation and accountability regarding media reporting? Who is holding them accountable? People are so quick to jump on the boycott racing bandwagon. Horses and human beings have relied on each other for thousands of years, in one of the greatest symbiotic relationships in human history. Horses had many purposes including transport, warfare, industry, agriculture, racing, riding and recreation. Human dependence on the horse has diminished since the industrial revolution making Thoroughbred racing one of the last great testaments to one of mankind’s greatest achievements, horsemanship.

Educating Re-trainers Pleasure Riding Show Jumping

This, however, does not mean racing is a Thoroughbred’s sole purpose. How do you think you’d be wired if you were born and raised being told you were created for only one job? Horses like people love to have a purpose, they have personalities just like us, someone treats us badly it’s cope it, flee or fight. Some are lucky enough to be tapped on the shoulder and asked to try doing something different, off the track. Were we all not good at something once that we now call a skill? Wouldn’t you agree that it just takes the right training. Many horse breeds are bred for a specific purpose and a particular discipline but they should not be defined by it. There’s no doubt the Thoroughbred has been bred primarily for racing, but that is not to deny the Thoroughbreds versatility off the racetrack. Perhaps the Thoroughbred brand has been too successful promoting speed and its primary purpose as a racehorse. Perhaps we missed the “Bred to be a champion in every field” marketing campaign that could have celebrated Thoroughbred success in all aspects of the equine world and made the Thoroughbred more fashionable to equestrians. So many great Thoroughbreds have tasted success outside the racing industry winning national and international equestrian competitions, even at Olympic level. There is work to be done within the racing industry to stop the wrongful acts of a minority, but the same can be said when we look at other sectors such as the church and the small number of clergy who molest children, or the small number of corrupt politicians, the small number of young people who become drug dealers. To compare, we don’t respond by banning religion, by dismantling government or accusing all young people of all being

criminals. Let’s focus on creating solutions for our industry, our thoroughbred breed, acknowledging what is outside the racing industry’s control and by not bringing everyone down. The issue of horse welfare has never been more prominent with a percentage of prizemoney being allocated to welfare and rehoming programs. Horse lovers spend a fortune every year caring for horses of all kinds including retired racehorses, we encourage everyone to be careful of biased reporting and tarnishing an entire industry because of the actions of a few. The Thoroughbred breeding and racing industries are Australia’s largest agricultural employer and is extremely important in regional areas. With so much chatter on the channels many great ideas and solutions are being discussed and enacted, we must remain proactive and pragmatic in our approach. How the non-racing public perceive the Thoroughbred and our industry is our collective responsibility. Long before the ABC report we’d been supporting the great work of several credible not for profit Thoroughbred organisations addressing welfare. It’s now time to change public perceptions and there’s much to be done, let’s work together to support the breed that supports us.

TTNSW retraining a retired race- horse at Bart_s Farm under the guidance of Racing NSW staff.

TTNSW Horse Therapy

Spur Graduates

TEAM THOROUGHBRED NSW

Team Thoroughbred NSW is the customer facing brand of Racing NSW’s equine welfare programs, driven by the motto ‘for the love of the horse’. Team Thoroughbred NSW is about finding homes for all thoroughbred horses that were predominantly domiciled in NSW. Whether they are suitable as equestrian athletes, pleasure horses or just paddock mates, every horse is treated equally. TTNSW operates from properties owned by Racing NSW where dedicated staff undertake the direct retraining and rehoming of thoroughbred horses. These properties include Bart’s Farm at Castlereagh, Bandanora at Capertee and The Grange at Oxley Island, as well as joint venture properties operated with RSL LifeCare and NSW Corrective Services. TTNSW partners with charities and community organisations to deliver programs which benefit both horses and humans. These include RSL LifeCare for the Spur equine therapy course, the St Heliers Correctional Centre joint venture and Pony Club Tri-Nations 2019 Showjumping Challenge. Promoting the Thoroughbred breed, celebrating off the track success and creating a network of Thoroughbred enthusiasts are also important functions of TTNSW. Find out more at www.teamthoroughbred.com.au

THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE & RETRAINING CENTRE

Correct spelling, nutrition, assessment for suitability to other pursuits and thorough retraining after racing prevents uncertain outcomes. With 30 years’ experience from training Police Horses to Ex-Racehorses in retraining and competition riding, Scott Brodie author of “ Horses from Courses” is an internationally recognised authority on the subject. Scott now heads up NSW based “Thoroughbred Aftercare and Retraining Centre.” Professional facilities and practical retraining systems provide the perfect environment to transform your horse from a racing athlete into an equestrian or pleasure horse. Owners and trainers are encouraged to contact Scott directly, arrange a visit to the facility or one of his clinics. Ensure the future of your racehorse and enjoy following its progress into a meaningful career change. Spring Creek, Mt Hunter NSW (45 minutes from Sydney) PH: 0448 088 844

THOROUGHBRED SPORT HORSE ASSOCIATION

The Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association aims to create a professional performance career for registered thoroughbreds.

To achieve this, we are initiating thoroughbred-only competitions in the equestrian disciplines of show jumping, eventing, dressage, camp-drafting and hacking. In 2020 starting with show-jumping, TSHA’s main objective is to work with show organisers to create dedicated thoroughbred classes and to secure funding from the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry for prize money, thereby creating a market and a competition destination for all registered thoroughbreds. A sport horse can have a competition life (depending on soundness) of up to 15 years or more. Which is why TSHA is in for the long haul, aiming to have on-going competitions in each state of Australia focusing on both city and regional competitions for the foreseeable future. TSHA competitions seek to improve the market for thoroughbred performance horses. Since the inception of TSHA in March 2019, the first competitions in May, 397 licences have been purchased and over 1,500 rounds have been jumped at 14 shows in QLD, WA and NSW. Support of this nature always comes from the heart, there are no statistics and often little return on your investment. The first people to back the TSHA were breeders – John Singleton from Strawberry Hill Stud and Greg & Jodie White from Robrick Lodge Scone. TSHA are eternally grateful to these breeders for allowing us to start running thoroughbred show jumping classes and being instrumental in initiating the first year of success for the TSHA.

The team of Krissy Harris, Karin Attebo, Nicole Poetsch, Linda Vojkovic and Katelyn Mallyon have all put in countless hours for the love of horses and kept the administration minimal. With competition licence fees of $55 per horse per year and 429 horses, our sponsorship has now grossed us $105,795. TSHA has handed over $96,342 in prize money, trophy rugs and sashes. We have spent $3,355 on advertising, travel expenses and the purchase of a microchip scanner. We’ve a small amount in the bank ready to sponsor our next round of shows in 2020 with future sponsorship backed by Robrick Lodge and Peachester Lodge. We continue to seek the support of other thoroughbred industry participants to continue a collaborated initiative. Vital to our success, a huge shout out to Breednet. com. Without Tara Magwick and Craig Thompson, TSHA would not have had the exposure in the thoroughbred industry. Thank you to the NSW Thoroughbred Breeders for having the passion and the foresight to support the TSHA. Contact us via www.thoroughbredsporthorse.com.au Various merchandise items and sponsorship proposals are available from each organisation, please contact the organisation or TBNSW for more information.