The Queensland Off-The-Track Program’s partnership with Save A Horse Australia continues to support former racehorses well beyond their years on the racetrack.
The partnership – unveiled 12 months ago – ensures a formal safety net for racehorses that have left the racing industry and become vulnerable at later stages of their lives.
The three-year partnership, worth $900,000, supports the work SAHA does to take in vulnerable and neglected former racehorses into their care at their horse rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary.
It also allows SAHA to continue monitoring horse sales in Queensland for the purpose of purchasing vulnerable and/or at-risk retired racehorses.
Established in 2001, Beaudesert-based SAHA is Australia's largest equine charity.
SAHA's purpose is to rescue and rehabilitate neglected, abused and surrendered horses, prior to assessing them and rehoming them appropriately into suitable homes under a lifelong lease agreement.
Former jockey and SAHA president Laura Cheshire said the partnership has increased their ability to be able to better assess each horse to ensure they are placed into the right homes.
"This partnership has really opened things up for our thoroughbreds and standardbreds here, and has allowed us to go through a really thorough process before they can move on to their next home," she said.
"Thanks to the Queensland Off-The-Track Program, we have really raised awareness for the racing industry that the horses are incredibly well looked after. Unfortunately, it is post-racing that the horses can slip through the cracks.
"Going forward, we're going to be able to keep bringing horses in from all walks of life.
"These horses still have so much to give in their post-racing lives, and we are really fortunate to be able to help them move into that next stage of life in collaboration with QOTT."
The QOTT Program was established in 2021 following the Martin Inquiry to provide a high-quality first transition for thoroughbred and standardbred horses from racing and breeding activities to retirement.
Racing Queensland Senior Animal Care Manager said that the partnership has created a lot of public awareness about the racing industry's support of former racehorses once they leave the track.
"The partnership with Save A Horse Australia has been so incredibly important – not only for the horses we support, but also for the racing industry," she said.
"We are so lucky in Queensland to have a registered charity like SAHA who does incredible work.
"Their equine welfare is second to none, and the knowledge and experience of the people who run this organisation is really important to ensure that our former racehorses are well cared for.
"To have a formal safety net in Queensland to support former racehorses should they ever become vulnerable or at risk later in their lives is incredibly important for the Queensland Off-The-Track Program but also for the racing participants who loved and cared for these horses during their racing years."
This partnership complements the various post-racing initiatives introduced by QOTT over the past three years.
These include the QOTT Grants Program, the Subsidised Lessons Program, Acknowledged Retrainers Program, Event Sponsorship Program, QOTT Nutrition Education Hub, QOTT Clubhouse and the New OTT Owner Welcome Pack, QOTT Education Program and QOTT's Premium Event Partnerships.
