The Melbourne Cup is run, the spring racing carnival in full swing, but as a massive horse lover, I can’t watch a race without seeing the misery behind it. The biggest animal welfare issue facing the Australian racing industry is wastage – a euphemism for the slaughter of twenty thousand thoroughbreds each year.
Deposer
Eighty percent of horses get no life after racing. Take Deposer, for example. This magnificent horse raced at Royal Ascot, went to Hong Kong, then came to Australia and won more than $1.1 million for his owners – before being dumped in the Echuca meat pens. He was alone, forgotten and left for dead, when filmed by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses last year. Deposer was due to join thousands of terrified, often starving and terribly injured horses, in a desolate dogger’s yard. They are taken one by one into a killing box, and shot in front of each other for pet food, crab-pot bait and export meat. More than ten thousand thoroughbreds slaughtered each year are healthy young animals under seven years old. Call me a party-pooper, but that just stinks!
Celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown has got behind a proposal for the Australian racing industry to use a tiny 1% of all betting turnover to establish a retirement plan for horses. Along with this, the proposal calls for some other preventative measures (such as a reduction in breeding) to stem the issue of wastage, and in the long-term, end the slaughter of thoroughbreds. A 1% betting levy would result in $143 million annually being given back to racehorses, thus sharing the riches from the ‘Sport of Kings.’
http://www.horseracingkills.com/features/1-percent-to-stop-the-slaughter/ http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/the-project/extra/season-5/just-1-percent http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/they-shoot-horses-dont-they-20130923-2u8nh.html
In the meantime, North West Equine Rescue INC have vowed to take off the track racehorses when their career is over (sometimes before it even starts).
NWER INC is a Not-for-Profit registered charity with three bases in Moree, Armidale and Tamworth. Since registering in 2012 NWER has successfully rescued and rehomed 397 horses. NWER is funded by the generosity of the public, meaning they receive NO government funding. Volunteers have twenty-four horses in care at any given time. Their mission is to rescue as many sick, injured and slaughter-bound animals as possible, set their lives on a different path and give them the second chance they deserve! NWER have set out to raise $5,000 to rescue seven thoroughbreds facing slaughter, re-educate and rehome them. They are still a long way off target. You can donate as little as a dollar. Help put a doomed racehorse in the arms of these angels. It only seems fair, don’t you think?
www.northwestequine.org.au
admin@northwestequine.org.au
www.facebook.com/North.West.Equine.Rescue
Thank you for bringing this to people’s attention Jen. I hope this initiative is a huge success.
So do I!
Reblogged this on Flying Pony and commented:
Recently I’ve become aware of the shocking cost horses in the racing industry are paying to make money for humans. I want to share with you this important post from fellow writer Jennifer Scoullar.
Thanks for brining this to our attention Jenn.
I don’t understand why such magnificent animals should be treated with such contempt after providing so many people with entertainment. We wouldn’t do it to humans without a huge outcry.
The idea to tax the industry 1% is brilliant and could provide a fantastic retirement for so many animals. I hope it succeeds.
xxx Huge Hugs Jennifer xxx
Hugs to you too, my Lord xx
Just donated and will reblog as well. I’m disgusted to think that we allow this blatant disregard to life to continue while we happily enjoy champers and dressing up for the Derby. Shame Australia. 🙁
Thanks so much 🙂 Really appreciate the donation and reblog. If only more people cared. And yes, all that glamour hides a cruel and ugly truth …
Oh if only I had the power! 1. I’d stop the factory breeding and 2. I’d make every race-goer pay a $1 cruelty fee at the gate, or better yet, on every bet. Not as punishment but as a sort of forced awareness campaign. -sigh- But of course people like me never get to do anything but type words. 🙁
Don’t underestimate the power of words! But yes, $1 at the gate, as an awareness thing. If people knew about the cruelty, I think they’d be happy to help.
Assigning a percentage of betting turnover makes so much sense. In the meantime, donations will help, and given other than a single $10 wager in the Melbourne Cup as I’ve traditionally done, I can afford at least this, and the horses can’t afford to not have it. Great post.
Very grateful and happy to read your comment and hear of your donation. I’m sure more people would get on board if they realised. Thanks again Ella!
Well done guys 😊😊😊
Thanks Kim!