South Australian Owners - Retirement planning for

your Thoroughbred or Standardbred

Horse SAwww.horsesa.asn.au

19 April 2015

Q. 1 In which suburb do you live? 78 answered 2 skipped

sometimes(name removed) has been a racehorse, has gone back to show jumping and then returned to racingRe ride himWould hope that they can be sold on for pleasure etcDepends on what age he finishes, he can retire here or if young & sound, I will find him a suitable home.Already rescuedPurchased a mare from trainer, 2mths after retiring

Other

Q. 3 ‘other’

Myself

I'm an owner of an off-the-track and I havr gotten all of mine pre retraining and retrained them myself

We reeducate our own

keeping her myself

Myself

i will educate it

Myself

not required - as fillies will become broodmares

Rescued from sales

verbal contract was agreed to before she retired

Q. 5 If you are thinking of keeping a horse yourself after racing, but have not kept one before, is there any information, workshops, demonstrations, webinars or other educational type information that would assist

you? Answered: 37 Skipped: 43 (Answers with No and N/A removed)

Im not sure what you mean

no currently have a retired standardbred that stopped racing 10 years ago

Cannot keep after racing

Yes id like some help but don't know where to turn too, also not too far away, like to get him to trot and canter, stuff like that, would really be helpful, instead of pacing

Teaching them to relax as pleasure riding is the direct opposite of racing.

I am keeping ours, I've been riding since I was a toddler and work in the industry. Competed for 18 years as well. Basic education for owners RE standard husbandry monthly costs. Feed. Worming. Farrier. Teeth. Rugs. Agistment. Riding Gear. A lot of people assume horses are easy to keep. They aren't, they're expensive, time consuming and a new lifestyle.

Yes

Not applicable however most valuable lesson would be how to generate a calm and confident manner in your OTT

All of the above could help even if you're not going to rehomed

Q. 5 If you are thinking of keeping a horse yourself after racing, but have not kept one before, is there any information, workshops, demonstrations, webinars or other

educational type information that would assist you? Answered: 37 Skipped: 43 (Answers with No and N/A removed)

• I do plan on keeping him myself, but I am an experienced horse owner. but I agree education would be beneficial for many people looking to be first time horse owners. Information on feeding and general horse care.

• Yes, that would be beneficial to first time racehorse owners who want to keep them.• No capacity to keep a horse• No. Give them away. Back yard not big enough !• We own a Thoroughbred horse stud on which we breed horses for racing, so no assistance required.• I will keep the horse on my farm• I keep my own racehorses on my farm and use them for pleasure, but workshops would be beneficial

for those who haven't kept one before• No I am a great horse person but I feel many or most people believing they know how to care

maintain horses should do a course or have a licence to own a horse• Have done before• I would go to any workshop to help me stop some of his racing habits, ie won't stand still in the

company of other horses and at road juncs• If you have no previous knowledge working with a horse, go and talk to a coach, re-educator or

breed specific organisation such as STAR, and spphasa , they will point you in the right direction on who would be the best to help.

What suggestions do you have which will help you rehome your horse after racing? Answered: 41 Skipped: 39

Well looked after horses can be useful for any discipline as (name removed) has demonstrated. He has placed in racing initially, placed in show jumping competitions and then returned to racing where he was second at his last start at Strathalbyn

If I was suggesting to a trainer what they should do I would just say advertise it in lots of different places and make sure you can get references for the person that is interested in buying the horse. Make sure you disclose all information good or bad so that you don’t get a bad name for yourself

Help potential buyers understand the implications of buying an OTT thoroughbred: they need time, patience and understanding (and they can't expect intense education for a minimal price)

I only buy well-bred fillies with residual value and I can always move them on as potential breeding stock

keep it

A list of places or people that may like to have a horse

Not going to rehome him, just got him going to keep him,

Find a nice quiet young girl who would need a horse for her riding sports

Try to get as much exposure of life away from the track as possible, even if it is only doing groundwork with the horse

None are Bomb proof. They're all capable of stupid things that the breed get blamed for, instead of inexperience of the rider. To LEARN. Don't be ignorant about horses.

Trainers to give horses basic dressage education and things like pole grids etc

loving homes and put that understand their needs

make sure they have basic flatwork and sell on to a knowledge competitive home that suits the horse. They are all better at different things

I wouldn't breed my mate unless I knew I could accommodate the foal throughout his/her life. If I was to rehome I'd either do free lease with strict contract and regular checks or I'd sell via word of mouth to someone with excellent references & someone that had a good reputation for OTT!

Be realistic about what your horse is worth! Just because someone might sell him/her down the track for a lot of money doesn't make them valuable now. A lot of work goes into creating those horses so be appreciative that someone is willing to take the time, money and effort to transform your horse

If there is a problem with the temperament, the horse will be dogged, but rarely, otherwise they go as a companion or are re-educated for showing, three day eventing, etc., or for breeding if good enough (bloodlines and performance)

Promote temperament of Standardbreds and their positive attributes.

Perhaps a central database for retired horses looking for homes.

Not planning to rehome any they just become pets

Recognized re-education providers that can provide education and rehoming for horses off track

Land area required, setup, costs, vet health, diet, general information.

Contacts who would be interested in finding them homes

Contacts

Give away to good home where they can be pony club types. Jumping two foot hurdles with a girl steering it. Cant control where they get to down the track but at least gives them a chance of a new start.

SAROA to start a "bank" of prospective and researched contacts to be readily available, in particular because quite often a horse needs to be retired at short notice and unexpectedly.

Help it to become as quiet and calm as possible

What suggestions do you have which will help you rehome your horse after racing? Answered: 41 Skipped: 39

What suggestions do you have which will help you rehome your horse after racing? Answered: 41 Skipped: 39

Contact Local Pony clubs

NOT SURE - perhaps a country dispersal sale?

Need to increase awareness of the Changing Rein initiative

more off the track prizes and competitions as they do with hacking. Vic also do showjumping and eventing prizes for off the track horses. It gives an incentive for people to get a TB rather than a purpose bred performance horse.

None. I always find good homes for them amongst people I know

people that take give always cannot afford to buy a horse so they take the give always and have no idea how to care and give correct maintenance make them have a licence or they will die from lack of feed a worm burden or teeth going through gums hitting an artery never doing their feet

Need a national register owners could put there horse on when retiring if they do not have a home for the horse.

Have a more publisized place where people could advertise horses that are for sale after racing.

Be honest about the horses temperament & education.

Persons who offer re-education and re-homing services should be offered financial assistance through TRSA or Harness Racing SA.

A re training program where the horses can go to be re educated for sale to suitable homes.

I have 2 OTT TB both struggle with multiple horses around them the get very excited on trail rides, both won't stand still in groups and at road juncs which can be a challenge would be great to have workshops to show you how to relax and de sensitise them so that they don't think it's the start of a race

as above. Ask around before you commit, as Horses are a life time pet and 1 of the most expensive to keep.

SummaryRespondents (80) lived in the popular horse keeping areas around the greater Adelaide area including Strathablyn, Globe Derby and Gawler with some from Port Augusta and other states.

71.25% of respondents have a retirement plan for their horse58.75% had a contact who could re-educate the horse after racing80.52% were confident of rehoming their horse after racing

Suggestions to assist new owners of Off-the-track horses include:

Educational clinics and workshops to:

- How to train horses to be calm & confident- How to train work in groups- How to train horses to be ridden along roads- How to train pacers to trot and canter- Costs, time and lifestyle associated with horse ownership- Horse care including teeth, feet, feeding

Suggestions to help rehome horses after racing

• Information relating to advertising a horse and disclosure

• Information to set expectations for potential buyers about the training level of OTT horses

• Central database of horses needing rehoming• Promote places to advertise OTT horses• Promote the advantages of re-educating horses for

their next career• Promote more prizes for OTT horses in equestrian

competitions

Recommendations1. Information brochure for owners/trainers related to planning for a horse’s

retirement, including benefits of re-education, where to locate re-educators, advertising and duty of disclosure

1. Information brochure for prospective OTT horse owners about expectations, responsibilities of ownership, horse care

2. Educational riding & training clinics dedicated to OTT horses

3. Educational opportunities to learn about OTT horse care, have questions answered as workshops, webinars etc.

4. Promote prizes for OTT horses in all types of equestrian events

5. Discuss options for a central website/register for OTT horses seeking rehoming

Thank you

Thank you to all respondents who took the time to answer questions and to organisations and individuals who promoted the survey with particular thanks to the SA Racehorse Owners Association.

Horse SA105 King William St Kent Town SA E:horsesa@horsesa.asn.au Photo: Richard

Stafford