Jennifer Hughes, General Manager – Equine Welfare (Racing Victoria), with OTT Chatsfield who is part of RV’s RESET Program.
Racing Victoria’s RESET Program signals second chance for ex-racehorses
By Equestrian Life
Here at Equestrian Life we’ve shared many off the track success stories over the years, from gallopers who’ve enjoyed success in the show ring, through to those that have excelled at the elite end of eventing.
But what about the ones that aren’t quite pretty enough, don’t possess ‘wow’ factor movement, or perhaps aren’t bold enough to stare down a four-star cross country fence?
The team at Racing Victoria (RV) are committed to horse welfare, and part of that is finding a suitable home for off the track horses at the culmination of their racing career — even those who, for a variety of reasons, have struggled to capture the imagination of the equestrian community at first glance.
The newly developed ‘RESET (Racehorse, Evaluation, Support, Education and Transition) Program’ is a new pathway for Victorian thoroughbreds that have struggled to find the right home following the conclusion of their racing career. The program will provide direct support for those horses that are sound and have good prospects, but have not been successful in transitioning to a second career outside of racing.
“The RESET Program will underpin the industry’s approach to creating a sustainable pathway for every thoroughbred racehorse leaving the sport,” says RV General Manager, Jennifer Hughes.
Jennifer explains the program is not just aimed at providing the support these horses need, but is also about creating demand for horses that were previously not sought after.
“Our job is to reset the stigma surrounding these horses and give them the opportunity of a second career. We have a terrific network of Acknowledged Retrainers across Victoria and we will be working with them to reset the careers of more thoroughbreds.”
RESET will complement RV’s existing Off The Track program, and is one of a number of initiatives that will be introduced in the coming months to support sustainable after racing care for Victorian thoroughbreds. It has been made possible by the Victorian racing industry’s $25 million commitment to accelerate and expand its three-year equine welfare action plan.
With the goal of responsible rehoming, each horse in the RESET Program will receive retraining from an RV Acknowledged Retrainer, funded by the industry’s equine welfare fund. The pilot program will initially welcome 10 horses, with an additional 20 to join within the first two months.
One of the horses receiving a leg up is ‘Chatsfield’, a 13-year-old gelding who finished last in his only career start at Echuca in 2011 before being retired the following year. Surrendered to the RSPCA from a private home in 2019, in light condition, he will now get a new opportunity to be retrained by RV Acknowledged Retrainer, Amanda Porter, and have the prospect of finding a new home and second career.
Chatsfield arriving at Garfield North (Amanda’s property).
“Chatsfield was one of 43 horses that came into our care during the 2019-20 financial year,” explains RSPCA Victoria Head of Operations, Tegan McPherson. “He is the first horse RSPCA Victoria has sent through Racing Victoria’s RESET Program, so we’re excited that he now has the opportunity to start a new life.
“There are hundreds of horses like Chatsfield across the state needing homes and for those who leave the racing industry with many valuable years of life ahead of them, retraining programs like the RESET Program provide an opportunity for a fulfilling second career in a different discipline.”
Amanda Porter (RV Acknowledged Retrainer) with Chatswood.
Amanda Porter is excited by the opportunity to be involved in the RESET Program and help Chatsfield find a new purpose in life. “I love working with thoroughbreds and I’m glad that I’m in a position to retrain him. There will no doubt be ups and downs as there is retraining any horse for a new career, but I’m confident we can reset Chatsfield for the next phase of his life after racing,” she says.
Equestrian Life looks forward to following the progress of Chatsfield and a number of other horses through the RESET Program. Stay tuned!
This article was written in conjunction with Racing Victoria / Off The Track.
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
