Keeping track

When it comes to horse welfare, some racing industry organisations are going the extra mile and achieving great things in the process, writes AMANDA MAC.

It’s always a joy when you hear of an organisation within the racing industry taking the wellbeing of horses particularly seriously, and credit where it’s due, Victoria based OTI Racing & Bloodstock are doing a fine job with their innovative Equine Welfare Program.

Established in 2019, the program is the initiative of Terry Henderson, OTI’s CEO of many years standing. Terry’s vision was to find a way of monitoring a horse’s welfare from their arrival at OTI to the end of their life. So, he tasked then OTI Welfare Manager Campbell Wansbrough with establishing a state-of-the-art system capable of tracking every horse that came through the organisation’s hands. “We’d always had an informal rehoming program,” Campbell tells me, “but we thought it was time to put something more structured into place that would also make funding for new off the track owners available. What evolved was a program with two main pillars, our tracking register and our welfare fund.”

In a nutshell, the welfare of all horses leaving OTI’s management, whether by sale or retirement, is monitored through the register, with twice yearly reviews to ensure the horse is going well in their new home. “We sometimes request a photo or video so we can see for ourselves whether the horse is in good shape,” Campbell explains, “but more usually it’s an email or a phone call to check in with the owner.” New owners are also required, by way of a written agreement, to provide any information needed to update the register, ensuring it remains both accurate and current.

Running alongside the register is OTI’s Welfare Fund. Financed with a $2,000 levy on every racehorse OTI sells, the fund is designed to help new owners taking on an OTT Thoroughbred. “The owner can receive up to $2,000 to help cover any veterinary or relocation costs, but we’ve used it on other occasions too. Where an owner is in a bit of trouble and needs an extra top up to help with things like feed, we’re happy to assist,” Campbell says.

The fund has also proved its worth on the few occasions when a six-monthly horse welfare review revealed all was not well, at which point OTI stepped in and managed the situation by either sending a vet out to assess the horse, or offering the owner assistance to help them get back on track.

Through their program, Campbell estimates that as many as 100 retired racehorses have found a new life off the track, and notes that OTI has built up a network of retrainers who are always keen for horses. He also commends Racing Victoria for their off the track program, which has been particularly helpful. “It makes rehoming a lot easier when you can go to Racing Victoria’s website and access their list of retrainers, which also includes information on the sort of horses the retrainers are particularly interested in.”

The program’s effectiveness has been further enhanced through the forging of important working partnerships with several welfare-related charities, including Lisa Coffey’s Racing Hearts, Living Legends, and the Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association, all of which focus on creating a life after racing for OTT horses.

After establishing the welfare program, Campbell later shifted focus and is now OTI’s Communications Manager, his previous position ably filled by Lisa Grund. With a passion for Thoroughbreds backed by a Diploma in Equine Business Management, Lisa has been involved in the industry for some years and is responsible for managing and tracking the progress of OTI’s off the track horses through their Equine Welfare Program.

One particular rehoming story Lisa is delighted to share is of Alicia Frankenburg and Corncrake, who also answers to Harvey – and as a side note, if ever there was a poster child for the Thoroughbred’s extraordinary versatility, Harvey is surely it.

Alicia first met the then three-year-old colt by Mastercraftsman out of Harvest Queen in 2019 while she was in the UK working for Richard Hannon Racing: “I rode him in track work, and followed his career closely when he was imported into Australia to race with OTI.”

When she heard that he was to be retired, Alicia asked if she could take Harvey on for his after racing journey, which was to be the rekindling of a remarkable partnership.

After several months of rehab to deal with a niggling tendon injury, Harvey was introduced back into work, and since then the pair have successfully turned their combined hands to, as Alicia puts it, “anything and everything.” And that includes showing, eventing, stockman’s challenges, dressage and Pony Club. They’ve competed in show jumping, hunts and hurdles, open show horse, the breed ring, fashions on the field, fancy dress and barrel racing – none of which have phased Harvey in the slightest – and have collected multiple wins and placings along the way. He’s proved to be great with children and beginner riders, loves swimming at the beach, trail rides and hacking out, and has even been a nanny for Alicia’s yearling.

One of their most recent outings was to Equimillion 2024, a popular showcase for the talents of OTT Thoroughbreds. “We competed in show jumping and eventing at the 65mm level in both and finished mid-field,” Alicia says. “Harvey was perfectly behaved for the whole weekend. He has become the most amazing riding horse. He was the easiest horse to retrain off the track, and he’s just so willing to please and have a crack at any discipline I ask of him.”

The bond Alicia and Harvey share is a special one. It started five years ago in the UK and was renewed when Harvey eventually retired from the track here in Australia. But there’s another facet to this relationship that makes it even stronger: “Harvey has helped me through some challenging times in my life and made me fall in love with riding again,” Alicia explains. “And I love how people react when they meet him or see him in action. They all love him! He really is a unicorn and I’m so thankful I ended up with him, all thanks to OTI’s amazing welfare program.”

Follow this link to learn more about OTI’s Equine Welfare Program.