Competitions for Off-The-Track-Thoroughbreds
NZTR support a number of initiatives for off-the-track Thoroughbreds to transition into all disciplines of equestrian sports and encourages people to consider Thoroughbreds as their choice of sport horse.
NZTR and Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) launched a joint initiative in 2014 called Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sport (TiES), aimed at increasing second career opportunities for thoroughbred horses retiring from racing.
TiES holds annual national competitions offering prizes to the most successful thoroughbred in the following equestrian sports categories:
- Show jumping and show hunter
- Eventing
- Dressage.
Other NZTR supported initiatives
NZ Show Horse Council
NZTR sponsors the Off the Track Show Horse series, which promotes the rehoming of thoroughbreds to a life after racing as show horses
Beyond The Barriers NZ
Beyond The Barriers is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to educate people in regards to the care of retired thoroughbreds, retrained as a pleasure or sporthorse.
NZTR will:
- Amend the Rules of Racing to create a duty of care for retiring and rehoming thoroughbreds
- Consult with reputable re-homing operators and relevant sector groups and agencies to develop a plan to support re-homing operators
- Provide supporting material for the people who receive the retrained thoroughbreds covering feeding, grooming and all round care of thoroughbreds
- Provide support for initiatives that showcase the versatility of thoroughbreds, including TiES and the Off the Track Show Horse Series
- Support objective research that identifies why horses do not start racing, or leave racing and breeding
- Support objective research that identifies the activities in which retrained horses participate.