RACEHORSES RETIRED

every thoroughbred/mare/runner should have a policy which builds up a retirement for him...and a good idea would be to subsidise some farms to include these retirees....alternatively go like the east and know that once your horse is no longer in training, it becomes a can of dogfood. Decide. I vote for a retirement plan. I wonder the % of horses that leave racing each year - what happens to them+ where they end up...

This shit has been happening for ages
Rumours had it we were having it as mutton curry in Gatesville / Rylands in the 80s
Sick

If you are an owner of any animal, being a horse, dog,cat, croc I don't care what. it is your responsibility to care for it. Owners of race horses that can't care for it if it brings in no money and don't follow up on where they land up should be made public. Craig Eudey adopted a horse and we all know who the owners were......and??????

Unfortunately there is very few people like Craig Eudey around

Thank you O R. We have sent back Refresh(Lucky) and taken in another bad case. Puccini. I hear was taken to a place that was inspected by a private dealer(not CHCU) but then given away as a birthday present. Sounds a bit far fetched but investigating He is starting to turn around and look a bit better.

Guys Even if every racehorse was looked after on retirement or even euthanised ,there would still be ponys and show jumpers,work horses and un wanted companions that would find their ways to the slaughter house,sad but true.

Is there an answer? what about a minimum retirement age? for example you own a racehorse,the horse is no good or injured but you have a duty of care to look after the animal until they are say 6yo (breeders can help)

After they are of age to retire they are handed over to a horse care unit new owners are licenced and the horses are monitored using chipping and passports for life.

The only other option is as Don said,race then die....

I agree with Don about dog food
Retirement won't work,there would still be an over population problem
Exeptions can be made for some if GOOD OWNERS are found,
Like riding horses for KIDS,but then on FARMS only,where they will have freedom and space
My opinion only

Many ex racehorses find great homes. Just go down to a showjumping show etc and see some of your old favourites there. The problem comes when the horses are sold to people who are chancers. They are just buying them to sell on to anyone without knowing them or making sure that the home is good and loving. It is just a money making operation. We have also found that the cheaper the horse is sold for the less it is looked after. There are obviously exceptions to this. Another problem is when the 1st person sells it on after that. That the owner/trainer has no control over unless they have stipulated the if there is a problem the horse must come back to them. There are some trainers who appear to be lying to their owners and saying that they will give the horse away to a good home and then sell them on for a small price to a trader who loads them onto the back of a truck and ships them off for slaughter. Please, everyone who is an owner with a heart, make sure the person you pass your horse onto is reputable. Check on your trainer if need be. Some are better off being put down straight away rather than being put through what they are being put through before they are slaughtered. Like being neglected on the farm before being loaded onto the back of a truck for the trip to the slaughterhouse.

A lot of publicity is given to the horrors of the slaughterhouse, but imho there's not enough given to what many animals suffer before they get there. Even with "nice" people who simply know b-all about horses or their needs. These horses stand around in a bare paddock, lame, starving, left to some uninterested employee to feed and water when he feels like doing it, the owners arriving a few times a year when they fancy going for a ride.

On a good note, a couple of months ago I spotted a horse many will remember, Equal Image, jumping cross country in a Horse Trials event. Anybody have news of other horses we once knew?

Makaro, Jagermeister came 4th and 1st in one of the top competitions in Natal last year. Have also seen Equal image and a host of others here.

if 1%of racing turnover could go to national retirement plan - and breeders or farms be incentivised. Trying to do the math - breeders, anyone, we know what the cost is of keeping your horse in trainer per month, but what is the cost of keeping a horse on a farm, let's say, as a riding pet (properly cared for, not wasting away)?

We paid around r2500 pm when miss d was on the farm

Is anyone following the Retired Racehorse Training Project 100 Day Challenge? It's a great US initiative where they select 4 Thbs and are given 100 days to re-train them into sport horses. They make a big song and dance on websites and social media and it's done great things to showcase and market the THB as an all-purpose sport horse. For some feelgood factor in your day, follow them on Facebook. Even the TDN is supporting them.

People tend to forget that THBs are not only good for racing, they are purpose-bred athletes with great temperaments (if correctly handled) and are actually suited to just about anything.

Sorry that this is another US example (pity we don't have the resources to do something similar here), but if anyone needs any more evidence that THB's can have very successful second careers, check this out:-

horsetalk.co.nz/2013/01/06/thoroughbreds...erboard#.UO9s6m-TySr