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Pack provides Thorough Care for horses on their birthday

Whether they’re young, a current racehorse, retired or in a completely different pursuit, all horses in the Southern Hemisphere will be celebrated on the official Horses’ Birthday this Sunday, August 1.

To mark the occasion and as part of a commitment to caring for thoroughbreds before, during and beyond their racetrack careers, Thorough Care SA, the welfare arm of Racing SA, has teamed up with Hygain and PETstock Assist to offer a Retired Thoroughbred Racehorse Assistance Package.

The union between the three organisations is designed to encourage people to consider taking a retired thoroughbred racehorse and help relieve some of the initial and ongoing costs involved.

Valued at approximately $600, the package is now available to all South Australian thoroughbred racehorses transitioning into retirement, with anyone who takes a horse from the track or one of SA’s acknowledged re-trainers able to apply.

The special package includes:

  • Supplements, feed and on-going nutritional support courtesy of Hygain and Racing SA
  • A Caribu Alpine Rug courtesy of PETstock Assist and Racing SA

In recent times, Racing SA has enhanced its already-strong focus on welfare and developing industry-leading practices. In August last year Racing SA announced a partnership with Hygain to facilitate better care for horses.

Racing SA Equine Welfare Officer, John Cornell, said the new collaboration with PETstock Assist would further help to ensure the care of the state’s retired racehorses – on their birthday and year-round.

“The thoroughbred racehorse assistance package that we’ve put together at Thorough Care, in conjunction with our partners at Hygain and PETstock Assist, is a really great initiative for the Racing SA,” Cornell said.

“The pack offers feed voucher through Hygain and importantly, ongoing nutritional support from their nutrition department.

“Also, in this assistance package we are giving a new Caribu rug which gives the new owner a little bit less to have to worry about by making sure that all their horse’s welfare needs are cared for.

“It’s really important to us that we see these horses get the whole of life care they are entitled to.”

PETstock Assist Charity and Events Lead, Jessica Curtis, said the organisation was pleased to be able to help provide care for horses at all stages of their life through the provision of the quality Caribu rug.

“PETstock Assist is proud to be partnering with Thorough Care SA to care for thoroughbred racehorses before, during and beyond their racetrack careers,” Curtis said.

“We are a business built on family values and our commitment to community is what guides us. Our humble, regional beginnings have us excited to be part of this program. The ability to offer recipients one of our quality Caribu rugs is just the start of what we hope will be a lasting relationship with these horses and their new families.”

Nina Selleck of Magdala Agistment and Training Facility and her off-the-tracker Maccabee, recently retired from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable, are one of the first to benefit from the gift bundle.

“I’m really grateful to Thorough Care SA, Hygain feeds and supplements and PETstock Assist with the gifting of the rug – it’s definitely going to come in handy,” Selleck said.

“I’d really like to say my thanks to the McEvoy Mitchell Racing team and the ownership group for giving me the opportunity to take on Maccabee – he’s going to have a great life and a great career post racing.

“He’s been let down in the paddock since last start in April, and he’s basically living a really comfortable life.

“I’d really like to encourage anyone who is thinking about taking an off-the-track horse to get in contact with John Cornell at Thorough Care SA, the process is really easy and you’re going to get great support for your horse post racing.”

In Australia, all thoroughbred horses share the same birthday (August 1) to allow for the standardisation in horse events, like racing, to link up with the breeding cycle of the animals. This makes it easier to keep track of bloodlines and makes it easier in the racing industry to keep track of the horses' ages.

The application form for the Retired Thoroughbred Racehorse Assistance Package can be accessed via the Racing SA website here.

Thorough Care SA is focused on ensuring whole of life care for our equine athletes – before, during and after their racing career. We currently have a team of nine passionate re-trainers across the state who support the transition of thoroughbreds following their racing career.

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