Two equine charities have joined forces for a pilot scheme to help rehome more ex-racehorses.
World Horse Welfare will work with Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) to retrain “vulnerable” ex-racehorses ready for rehoming at its Hall Farm rescue and rehoming centre in Norfolk. If successful, the scheme could be rolled out to World Horse Welfare’s four centres.
The scheme will be funded by RoR following a review into the way the charity’s money is spent, which also saw the appointment of welfare consultant Paul Jepson and the expansion of RoR competitions.
“Racehorses are generally extremely well cared for, but after they leave racing they can be as susceptible as any other horse to the vagaries of the market or uncertain futures if they cannot find good homes,” said World Horse Welfare’s Roly Owers.
“The charity is adept at helping vulnerable horses make the transition to new environments, so it was natural to want to apply this expertise to help former racehorses. We can provide them with the retraining they need, and find them new homes – but as World Horse Welfare will retain ownership of the horses (as we do with all of our horses), they will have a safe and secure future with us.”
RoR’s Di Arbuthnot said it was in response to the growing demand for ex-racehorses over the past few years, and to ensure they are “suitably catered for” when their racing career is over.
“At RoR we have always sought to ensure there is a safety net in place to catch any vulnerable or unwanted horses in time to help find them a safe and secure home,” she added.
RoR already provides funding to Moorcroft, HEROS, the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre and Greatwood.
“What RoR was lacking was an even geographical spread of locations equipped and resourced to deal with a former racehorses and we hope this pilot scheme will in time open the door for RoR to work with all of World Horse Welfare’s Rescue and Rehoming Centres,” added Mrs Arbuthnot.
This news report was originally published in H&H magazine on Thursday 20 November, 2014
