Dear Stakeholders,
With the third quarter now completed, this edition of the 1% Newsletter will update you on the welfare levy spend during February – April 2024.
As of 30th April, the spend of the 1% fund for the current season was $617,314.89, with $210,405.33 of this allocated during the third quarter. The season allocation is $908,000.
The largest portion of the spend in the third quarter ($89,165.83) was for sponsorship dedicated to showcasing thoroughbred versatility. Incentivising the use of thoroughbreds in a variety of equestrian disciplines continues to be a priority as we work to make thoroughbreds the sport horse breed of choice and create demand for our product in their lives after racing.
It is important we support thoroughbreds in their second career from the grassroots up, not just targeting the higher levels of competition that a limited number of riders aspire to, or combinations are capable of.
The second largest portion ($53,537.02) was allocated to the Acknowledged Re-trainers network as we continue to support the network and horses under their care. We visited three of the South Island Re-trainers in April, which was invaluable to get an understanding of some of the challenges the network is facing.
As with other companion animals, the cost of living is impacting the sport horse world. This is reflected in the price people are willing to pay for horses and also the time taken to sell and rehome them. We can only do our best to navigate this challenge as it is a difficult problem to solve. This is why we feel it is important to continue to celebrate our wonderful relationship with thoroughbreds and tell the success stories around them performing in their second careers.
This quarter we have celebrated the success of two Windsor Park-bred thoroughbreds. 11yo New Elegance placed first of 138 combinations in the global rankings for the Dressage World Challenge Senior 1 class with a score of 74.68%. Artist, who with rider Monica Spencer is in line for selection in the Paris Olympic Eventing team, recently finished seventh in the Kentucky 4* and named the best performing thoroughbred at the event.
It is also important to continue with our commitment sharing facts and figures to the general public to improve education and engagement around our sport.
As always, do not hesitate to contact either myself or Tracey if you have any feedback or would like to share a story of your thoroughbred in their second career.
You can contact us at thoroughbredwelfare@nztr.co.nz
Justine Sclater
NZTR Head of Welfare and Sustainability
Acknowledged Retrainers Funding
$53,337.02 was allocated to Acknowledged Re-trainers in the third quarter (YTD = $163,286.27).
85 thoroughbreds completed their education with an NZTR Acknowledged Re-trainer during the third quarter.
$34803.37 of the allocation went towards the Leg Up Grant, which covers initial costs when horses do not meet minimum standards on arrival.
If trainers and owners commit to ensuring horses leave their stable recently shod, in good working condition and with worming and dental treatments up to date then the amount spent on the Leg Up Grant can be redirected to other areas.
It is imperative that the NZTR Acknowledge Re-trainers network remains a viable education and rehoming service as the skill set and experience of these riders make sure thoroughbreds get the best opportunity to transition successfully into their second career.
Note that in this quarter the Lesson Scheme has been recoded to the Acknowledged Re-trainer's budget.
Second Career Sponsorship
TiES
This quarter $89,165.83 was allocated to showcasing off the track thoroughbreds through sponsorship (YTD = $180,923.69)
This is reflective of the importance of incentivising thoroughbreds in equestrian sports to ensure we create a demand for them as the sport horse of choice.
Of this spend $34,477.71 was allocated to sponsoring the Thoroughbreds in Sport Series (TiES) run in partnership with Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ).
The showjumping, show hunter, dressage, and para dressage TiES awards were presented at the Land Rover Horse of the Year show in Hastings. Winston Peters attended the ceremony and awarded the prizes.
The following TiES Series winners were:
Accumulator Dressage/Para-Dressage winner – Alpha Tauri (Chloe Cann) Raise The Flag x Missy’s Filly, placed
Race name: Deebeewiththestars. Breeder: M J & P G Crooks Trainer: Ross Beckett
Accumulator Jumping Winner – Grassendale Enzo (Luce and Sofia Williams) Reliable Man x Kaarera, unplaced
Race name: Boom Boom Basil. Breeder: GS Racing Ltd Trainer: Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley
Accumulator Show Hunter Winner – Volonte II (Kylie Lyndens) Raise The Flag x Volonte, winner
Race name: Dontputyafootinit, Breeder M J Crooks, Trainer: Sophie Price
TiES Futurity Series North Island Final – Miss Eves (Isabelle Jameson)
Indy King x Max Facta, unplaced
Race Name Li’l Miss Eves Breeder: E D Foreman & A J Kearns, Trainer: Kevin Gray
In addition, Quinn Coutts on Mini Cooper G won the TiES Love Racing Jumping Futurity Series South Island Final. Mini Coooper G is a 6yo gelding by Power out of Lemon Honey. He was bred by J Coutts and was unraced.
$1700 was paid to the Royal Agricultural Society for the Thoroughbred Showing Class Awards presented at Horse of the Year.
Richard Otto and Surrey (High Chaparral x Makybe Diva) won the NZTR Ridden Thoroughbred Show Horse class while Sue Reynolds and Manhatten (Skilled x Oh What A Song) took out the top honours in the Show Horse Accumulator Series.
$500 was spent sponsoring the Eventing Central Districts Horse Trial event giving NZTR naming rights of the event. The event was well supported by riders with thoroughbreds and the best performed thoroughbred prizes (printed dress rugs) were very appreciated by those awarded them. Nine competitors reached out to NZTR to express their appreciation for these prizes.
The Rode To Champs, held by the New Zealand Pony Club Association, was supported with Best Performed Thoroughbred awards in three classes with printed dress rugs and merchandise supplied.
AnnaRehab
$5,380 was allocated towards non-athletic sponsorship in the third quarter. This included the continued sponsorship of AnnaRehab who held a variety of events and continued with their programmes. During the third quarter they hosted the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust followed by an hour of teaching around first aide for horses. They also hosted two Probus groups and continued with their Gateway programme and Stand Tall anti-bullying programme.
Living Legends
$1630 went towards the transport of the horses to Te Rapa’s Living Legends Day this quarter. Racegoers interacted with the impressive lineup that included Gingernuts, Mufhasa and Seachange who proved very popular.
Welfare Assistance
$2,499.97 was allocated to MPI, SPCA and rescue groups during the third quarter (YTD = $9,292.88).
This supported seven horses currently in the care of the SPCA and closed out the costs of one horse who has been successfully adopted. NZTR supports the recovery of thoroughbreds seized or surrendered to the SPCA. This covers vet visits, blood tests, farrier fees, worming, dental procedures and agistment for a 12-week period. In most cases this enables to the horse to improve to a condition where they can be adopted out by the SPCA.
As it is winter, it is reasonable to expect this spend to increase in the final quarter. It is of note the horses in need of support are often those kept by owners on small blocks of land that rely on pasture-based feeding which is affected by seasonal weather conditions.
This money is a worthwhile spend and we have several good news stories of horses we have provided assistance to that have then been successfully rehomed
Equine Research
$7,148.64 was allocated to research in the third quarter (YTD = $45,306.08).
During this quarter we have worked on a strategic plan for independent research for welfare initiatives. We are looking at several research projects which hold relevance. Focusing on validated research will improve outcomes for horses which is our ultimate goal.
Horse Ambulance
$49,978.66 was allocated to the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust during the third quarter (YTD = $144,881.14)
To date this season a horse ambulance has been deployed 65 times for a thoroughbred in racing, breeding, or off the track. They are safely transported to an equine veterinary practice for specialist care, giving them the best chance of recovery and eventually returning home.
A horse ambulance will have been on track at over 530 Thoroughbred race meetings and trials and harness race meetings this season by the end of June.
The Trust has also attended 25 self-funding equestrian events and demonstrations. It also attended the Byerley Park Open Farms Day to build awareness of its role in the thoroughbred industry and was a partner charity with Windsor Park Stud’s Rugby, Racing, and Beer yearling sale at Riccarton Park.
NZTR funded the Horse Ambulance to be present at both the Land Rover Horse of the Year and the NZ Polo Open to ensure the horse ambulance was available for the well-being of all competing equine athletes.
Though racing industry stakeholders are generous supporters of the Trust's work to protect the well-being of its equine athletes, to ensure its long-term future, the charity needs to continue raising funds to supplement the racing codes' funding of the direct operating costs.
Population Analysis and Traceability
$4,744.27 was allocated to traceability in the third quarter (YTD = $40,539.75)
We are collating and developing reports to manage our population of horses during breeding, racing and retirement.
The focus is on the 2020 foal crop and any inactive horses from 2020 onwards to ensure we have data that is as up to date as possible.
It has been pleasing to see a greater uptake of completion of SR24 forms and we are making a concerted effort to contact those who are not completing their paperwork which leaves gaps in the traceability of thoroughbreds.
Communication and Education
$3,330.94 was allocated to Communication and Education during the third quarter (YTD = $33,085.08).
During this period, we produced a 1% update and an edition of the Thoroughbred Welfare Advocate which was well-received and is meeting its purpose of bridging the gap between the thoroughbred and equestrian communities.
Some of this spend also went on purchasing professional photos of thoroughbreds out competing to be used online and in print publication.
We are continuing to promote thoroughbreds in as many equestrian disciplines as possible by telling their stories to showcase their versatility to the public and other equestrians.
$1242.33 of the allocation for the third quarter was spent sponsoring the Companion Animal NZ ISES Conference held 14-16 March. It was the first time this had been held in New Zealand and was an exciting opportunity to host international experts who presented the latest research that supported the conference theme “A Good Life For Horses.”
This theme is central to NZTR’s welfare strategy - ensuring our Thoroughbreds have positive and rewarding experiences enabling them to have a “good life” so they can thrive and can perform to the best of their natural abilities, no matter what stage of their career they are in.
Equine Crematorium
$200,000 from the 1% reserve fund has gone towards supporting the development of the Equine Crematorium.
When owning any animal there are responsibilities and at times difficult decisions that need to be made around humane euthanasia. As such, providing a dignified end of life is at the forefront of our industry responsibility to our thoroughbreds.
The welfare fund holds a ‘reserve’ and this, along with other industry stakeholders, have supported the building of the first dedicated Equine Crematorium. This will provide the means and opportunity for a dignified end of life for our horses and ensure responsible carcass disposal.
It will operate under The Rural Guardian Trust which has been approved for charitable status. A large portion of profit will be reinvested into equine initiatives and research.
Your feedback is always welcome. Please email Justine Sclater at Justine.sclater@nztr.co.nz.