Thoroughbred Horse Welfare Challenges: From Rape to Relegation
Written here as a poem, each verse is structured as a three-line haiku. The haiku is a Japanese poetic form, in this case consisting of seventeen phonic syllables in a five-seven-five pattern. Traditionally, haiku evoke images of the natural world. The author's aim:...
Race-2-Ride: Retraining and Welfare Off The Track
There has been much in the press over the last year about the welfare of horses leaving the racing industry, raising questions about the sustainability and ethics of the current situation. In this article, Kate Fenner explains how we can all help to protect the...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 10 (Final): The Training Principles
The Standardbred's Track-to-Hack Journey Part 10 (Final): The Training Principles Welcome to the last article in the Unharnessed Potential series, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds when they retire from a...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 9: Andy’s Equitana Experience
Welcome to Part 9 of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds when they retire from a racing career. The previous article marked the completion of Andy’s re-training, according to...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 8: The First Outing
The First Outing. Welcome to Part 8 of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds when they retire from a racing career. In the previous training article, Alistair explained...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 7: Training the Lateral Movements
Training the Lateral Movements Welcome to Part 7 of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds when they retire from a racing career. In the previous training article, Alistair...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 6: Refining the Canter and Jumping
Refining the Canter and Jumping Welcome to Part Seven of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds that retire from racing. In this article series, Alistair McLean from the...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 5: Consolidating the Basics
Consolidating the Basics Welcome to Part Five of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds that retire from racing. In this article series, Alistair McLean from the Australian...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 4: Moving on Under Saddle
Under Saddle Welcome to Part Four of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds that retire from racing. In this article series, Alistair McLean from the Australian Equine Behaviour...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 3: Backing
Backing your horse. Welcome to Part Three of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds that retire from racing. In this article series, Alistair McLean from the Australian Equine...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 2: Ground Work
Ground work. Welcome to Part 2 of the Unharnessed Potential project, an education and awareness campaign to promote the re-training and re-homing of Standardbreds that retire from racing. In this article series, Alistair McLean from the Australian Equine Behaviour...
Horse racing must change, or the court of public opinion will bury it
In the wake of a shocking ABC report on the dismal end of many racehorses’ lives in slaughterhouses, many Australians are questioning whether the horse racing industry can operate ethically. Some people will never agree that animals should be used for human...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey Part 1: Settling in
Settling In. We’re all excited to have Ideal Guy, aka ‘Andy the Standy’, at the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre (AEBC). It is with great pleasure that we join the fantastic cause of documenting the re-training of the Standardbred from harness racehorse to saddle...
The Standardbred’s Track-to-Hack Journey: Introduction
Track-to-Hack. In order to improve racehorse wastage statistics, in 2014, Horses and People Magazine launched an awareness and education campaign to encourage leisure and sport riders to take Standardbred racehorses from track to hack. Racehorse wastage is the term...
The shocking use of ‘jiggers’ in horse racing
Jiggers in horse racing: Trainer Darren Weir will not contest three charges for alleged possession of electronic devices used to give shocks to horses, according to a statement released by Racing Victoria earlier today. The statement says assistant trainer Jarrod...
