Equestrian Life
RV to throw big birthday bash for retired racehorses

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To celebrate Horses’ Birthday on Tuesday, 1 August 2017, Racing Victoria’s ‘Off the Track’ program will be throwing a party at Geelong Racecourse for up to 50 retired racehorses.

 

The Honourable Martin Pakula MP, Minister for Racing, is amongst the guests who will be helping the horses blow out the candles on their carrot cakes. 

 

August 1st marks the standardised birthday for all horses born in the southern hemisphere. The date is used by the horse racing industry to place horses in their age grades for races.   

 

The birthday celebrations will feature a variety of equine information sessions covering a range of topics, including: tetanus vaccinations, gastro stomach scoping for ulcers, worming, blood readings, X-rays, physical assessments for soundness, farrier services, dental services, nutritional advice, Off the Track re-training tips and saddle fitting advice. 

 

Terry Bailey, Racing Victoria’s Chief of Stewards, believes the event will showcase RV’s continued commitment to equine welfare through its Off the Track program.

 

“We’re very proud of the Off the Track program, and our Horses’ Birthday event is a great way of celebrating our retired racehorses and also giving something back to the racing community,” said Bailey.  

 

“The services will be provided for free by some of Australia’s leading equine professionals, to help support and acknowledge the work of the people who have given our retired horses a future after racing.

 

“Their horses will get a makeover and the owners will get some great advice from the experts, so I would encourage people to register their interest before the July 21st deadline.”

 

Established in 2012, Racing Victoria’s Off the Track program aims to facilitate the placement of retired thoroughbred racehorses in second careers.

 

Approximately 3000 racehorses retire each season in Victoria, of which 90 pent are re-homed to the equestrian, pleasure riding or breeding industries. Of this number, 69 per cent become pleasure or equestrian riding horses.

 

There are more than 11,000 retired racehorse participants in Victoria taking part in more than 400 events, as well as more than 40 acknowledged re-trainers across the state. They include Subzero, the 1992 Melbourne Cup winner affectionately known as ‘Subbie’ who is now RV’s Community Ambassador.

To register an interest in bringing your horse to the birthday celebrations, visit the RV website here. Registrations close on Friday, 21 July.

 

This article first appeared on the Racing Victoria website and is reprinted here with their kind permission. For more on the Off the Track program please visit http://rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track

 

Source: Racing Victoria website

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© copyright. Equestrian Life. Thursday, 28 March 2024
https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/RV-to-throw-big-birthday-bash-for-retired-racehorses