Our spring edition of the Welfare Advocate is another celebration of our wonderfully versatile thoroughbreds and the people who dedicate themselves to giving them a purposeful and successful life after racing.
Whether it be in a competitive or companion capacity, we love to see our thoroughbreds as the breed of choice for so many.
During spring the weather warms up, as does the competition in racing and equestrian disciplines. There are numerous opportunities for those competing thoroughbreds to make the most of the breed specific prizes on offer, including those in the popular TiES Series.
You can find more details about recent events and those scheduled for the future below.
Here at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing we are committed to helping riders ‘know their thoroughbred’. We are continually working on ways to support and educate those who have a thoroughbred as their sport horse of choice and I’m sure many will be pleased to hear we have plans for further clinics this season.
We are lucky enough to have a world class horse ambulance fleet in New Zealand and we will continue to work with the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust to support its presence at a variety of events and disciplines this season to ensure the welfare of all horses. It is not a service we ever hope to need but has proven time and again invaluable when necessary.
This week we welcomed Kristin Boyce to the Welfare and Sustainability team. In her role is a Thoroughbred Welfare Coordinator Kirsten will be assisting with the retrainer network, traceability and sponsorship.
Having spent time with horses in various stages of their lives, Kirsten understand the value of every horse, from birth to the racetrack, the competitive arena or the paddock. Her passion for racing and equestrian sports means she is keen to dedicate herself to ensure all thoroughbreds find their suitable second career and to help improve traceability in the industry.
We look forward to properly introducing Kirsten in the next edition.
On behalf of NZTR and the Welfare and Sustainability team I wish you all the best for the summer ahead and look forward to seeing our thoroughbreds out and about enjoying themselves.
Justine Sclater
Head of Thoroughbred Welfare and Sustainability
M: 021 433 107
E: justine.sclater@nztr.co.nz
EVENTS 🏆
Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sports Series
Funded by the 1% levy on stakes, the TiES Series was established in 2014 to demonstrate the versatility of Thoroughbreds and increase their uptake into equestrian sports.
The TiES Accumulator Series has a total prize pool of $41,500 up for grabs for Thoroughbreds of all ages competing across a range of equestrian sports.
The disciplines included in the Series are eventing, dressage/para-dressage, show jumping, show hunter and endurance/competitive trail riding (CTR).
The TiES Futurity Series was developed specifically for horses in their first or second year of ESNZ registered competition. With a prize pool worth $34,800 the Series is restricted to show jumping
The total number of thoroughbreds registered with Equestrian Sports is 350 - 38 of which have been newly registered this season.
30 of the new registrations have been registered for show jumping and show hunter (and a few also have eventing starts in addition to that).
The other eight are spread between eventing, dressage and endurance.
The remaining Futurity events for the season are:
23-24 November, South Island Champs - Ashburton
6-8 December, Canterbury Christmas Cracker
7-10 December, National Young Horse Show
14-15 December, Southland Festival Show
20-22 December, Auckland Christmas Cracker
11-12 January, Otago Summer Champs
18-19 January, SCNO Summer Classic Final
30 January-2 February, Nationals - Canterbury
8-9 February, Taihape
4-9 March, Horse of the Year - Hastings
Dressage events can be found HERE
Eventing events can be found HERE
Endurance events can be found HERE
Photo: EJ Photography
Moutoa Pony Club Spring Show
Winners of the Best Performed Thoroughbred High Points Prize at the Moutoa Pony Club Spring Show was Rose, ridden by Monique Dey.
Rose (Come Lucky) is a 13 year old mare by Electric Zone out of On Fire. The pair won the LOVERACING.NZ 70cm and the Biokū Technologies 90cm Championship and were 5th in the Blue Butterfly Interior Design Limited 80cm allowing them to win the high points class convincingly.
Pictured: Bon Garcon (Bachelor Duke/Fille Du Jour) winner of the Led Thoroughbred class.
Taupo ITM Off The Track Ribbon Day
The Taupo ITM Off The Track Ribbon Day was held in July at the National Equestrian Centre. The event celebrated thoroughbreds in their second career and had classes for thoroughbreds of all ages including specific classes for horses new to equestrian pursuits and those who have raced in Hong Kong.
This is a great initiative giving thoroughbred owners a fun day out whether they have had their thoroughbred a short while or they are a longstanding member of the family.
KNOW YOUR THOROUGHBRED CLINICS 🐎
The nationwide “Know Your Thoroughbred” education clinics are aimed at improving horsemanship and knowledge for those who choose an off the track thoroughbred as their sport horse of choice. The clinics create awareness, promote thoroughbred versatility, and further develop the understanding of thoroughbreds.
The first for this season commences 16 &17 November with Donna & Elise Edwards Smith at their Waerenga property. Subsidised by NZTR, the two-day clinic is designed to coach riders and their thoroughbreds in a supportive environment.
The clinics are part of the welfare and sustainability strategy that will bridge the gap between thoroughbred racing and equestrian disciplines. It also gives an opportunity to celebrate each horse's story and develop an awareness around breeding and traceability.
This clinic is fully booked, however to register your interest for future clinics please follow the link here.
SECOND CAREER SPOTLIGHT 💡
In this edition we talk to Waiuku-based Tina Brooke who, along with her horse Sarge, are competing in Distance Riding.
Q & A
Name: Tina Brooke
Horse Name: Sarge
Race Name: Always on Time (Reliable Man x Simmonstar). Bred by Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan.
Location: Waikato
When did you first become involved with thoroughbreds?
My parents were both heavily involved with horses when I was young (Dad was a jockey) and I rode at a trekking company through my teens to pay the grazing for a horse I was gifted by my cousin. Paddie (my first horse) wasn't a Thoroughbred, but we had Thoroughbred trekking horses at the stables who were brilliant. When I was looking for a horse to get back into riding some 20 years later it seemed the mighty Thoroughbred was an 'affordable' option and it was familiar to me. I only had my own experience with them as a guide so didn't really have the choir of negativity on my shoulder like many do today.
Read more about Tina and Sarge here.
NEW ZEALAND HORSE AMBULANCE TRUST 🚑
NZTR are dedicated to supporting the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust. $192,332.41 was allocated to the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust from the 1% Fund during the 2023/24 season with this to continue this term.
As well as being in attendance at trials and on raceday, NZTR support a horse ambulance to be on site at equestrian events, ensuring the safety for all horses, not just thoroughbreds.
This year a horse ambulance has been at the Horse of the Year Show, high level polo competitions, NZ Pony Clubs Championships as well as events that cater to their local community.
NZTR has further increased their commitment to equine welfare with ESNZ by enabling the horse ambulance to be present for all internationally ranked cross-country events in the 2024-25 season.
Learn more about the world's first national dedicated horse ambulance service, which uses unique, purpose-designed equine ambulances made in New Zealand.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 🌎
EIGHTH IFAR CONFERENCE
PowerPoint presentations and video replays from the eighth International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) are now available for viewing.
The IFAR conference was held in front of a full house on 27 August in Sapporo, Japan. It offered a full day programme incorporating a conference and a local facility visit, showcasing off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Both events were hosted by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and supported by the Asian Racing Federation (ARF).
View Presentations here.
HEALTH AND RESEARCH 🔍
Breeding Season Biosecurity
For horse breeders, spring heralds the excitement of the beginning of a new foal crop arriving but sometimes the unexpected happens.
Not all pregnancies end with a lovely healthy foal. Irregularly mares can abort, or give birth to a stillborn or weak foal. Equine Herpes Virus or Leptospirosis are both common organisms circulating in New Zealand and if your mare has aborted or if your foal is weak or dies early then this is when good biosecurity practices can prevent you or other horses also getting infected.
During this period, people are more likely to come into contact with birthing fluids and unwell mares and foals, and leptospirosis can cause severe illness and even death in people so horse handlers should be extra vigilant with their hygiene.
Read more here.
OWNERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES 📖
Microchipping
2024 marks 20 years of New Zealand-born thoroughbreds being microchipped.
To celebrate this, there will be a registration promotion in December. NZTR will offer free registration of thoroughbreds in their second careers with the Companion Animal Register.
This is a lifelong registration meaning it does not have to be renewed.
To register you need your horse's microchip number or breeding/race name details, and to fill out a simple form. If you don’t have the required details you can request them from LOVERACING.NZ.
By registering with the Companion Animal Register you are linked to your horse on a national database that veterinarians and authorities can access in the case of an emergency or disease outbreak.
Register your interest here.
WALL OF FAME - supported by DUNSTAN HORSEFEEDS ⭐
We want to hear your stories about your thoroughbred in their life after racing. If you wish to share, please contact us with a recent photo and story of your horse at traceability@nztr.co.nz.
Sire: Coats Choice
Dam: Batterysnotncluded
Born: 2016 Mare
Present Role: Therapy Horse
Jill trialed but never raced. Now, with a slower pace of life, she is thriving in her new career as a therapy horse. At Aspiring Therapy in Wanaka, Jill is treated like a co-therapist, helping kids and teenagers with mental health difficulties express their emotions and develop mindfulness. Her calm presence and gentle demeanour make her an ideal partner in equine-assisted therapy sessions, where she supports people in building trust, boundaries, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. While she may not have been suited for the track, Jill's true talents shine as a companion in the therapy arena.
Story shared by Kiara Moore
FOR THE BOOKSHELF📚
Relatively Speaking Volume 2
Read about the breeding and family background stories of another 109 thoroughbreds enjoying a second career playing polo in the South Island.
This issue features all new horses and images, breeder details and stallion information.
$60 per copy
You can order copies of this special publication by PM to Thoroughbreds In Polo – South Island’s Facebook page or by emailing ianmill.sumner@gmail.com with your name, address and number of copies required. Bank a/c details will be supplied on receipt of order.
Books will be available for collection at all South Island polo tournaments or can be forwarded by courier for an additional $15 ($21 for rural delivery).
ALL NET PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THIS BOOK WILL BE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORTING YOUTH POLO IN THE SOUTH ISLAND
Thank you for reading the spring issue of NZTR's Thoroughbred Welfare Advocate, we hope you enjoyed the content and are looking forward to our updates moving forward.
The NZTR Welfare Team