THE well-being of the hundreds of horses that exit the professional arena each year has long raised serious concerns.

The racing community has battled with the sport’s legacy and the drive to provide uncompromising adherence to horse care. It’s often said that the difficulties the industry confront outpace the proposed solutions and implementations.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), a non-profit organisation based in Lexington, Kentucky, in the United States, with the explicit purpose of addressing concerns regarding the welfare of thoroughbreds post-racing, has made its mark in the industry.

Stacie Clark Rogers, TAA’s executive director, told the Jamaica Observer that a major step to addressing retired horses and the issue of re-homing is to establish a comprehensive system that oversees and ensures the well-being of the retired animals while also providing financial support to those entrusted with their care.

From left: Dr Katherine Facey-Daniel of Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC); Dr Simone Johnally, JRC’s veterinarian; Stacie Clark Rogers, executive director of the United States-based Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance; Trina Delisser, director at Half Moon Equestrian Centre; Dr Sophia Ramlal, JRC senior veterinarian; and Mike Rogers, a member of The Stronach Group’s executive board, one of North America’s leading horse track suppliers of pari-mutuel technology, at Half Moon Equestrian Centre recently. .

“I think we have to be very active about what we are doing, and we have to be in control of our inventory in our industry. When horses come into our tracks we need to know who they are, and when they leave — we should know where they go,” Clark Rogers, also a former champion apprentice rider, stated during a recent visit to Jamaica.

Bred expressly for racing, many racehorses have a brief racing career. Horses may be excluded from the racing industry due to poor performance, illness, injury, or behavioural issues.

Due to the unavailability of relevant and accurate statistics the Observer was not able to ascertain the destination of horses leaving the racing industry in Jamaica.

It is widely known that some retired racehorses are used for breeding, recreation, or equestrian activity, while others are butchered at knackeries or abattoirs. However, others deemed to be of no value are left to roam freely and oftentimes end up on roadways, thereby presenting a danger to human beings and to themselves.

Bridging the gap between a racing career and a second profession for horses can be difficult, according to Clark Rogers.

“We have to be good stewards, and we have to take care of them. We have to help them land in good spots and make sure that the places they are in are taking care of them, because you could send horses somewhere but they might not take good care of them.

“I want the local industry to come and talk to other countries about what they’re doing. I want them to come to North America, to meet with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and to know that there is a solution and that it can be done. It is very important to get ahead of the game instead of doing so afterwards,” she said.

Clark Rogers, who visited horse farms at Half Moon Equestrian Centre and Sand N Saddle during her stay in Jamaica, said aftercare organisations around the world have made significant advances to ensure thoroughbreds can live out the rest of their lives with dignity. And so with that, she has seen the potential for growth of the aftercare programme in Jamaica.

“When horses are just discarded, that’s not a good sign. It’s not horse racing people that do that necessarily but it is a reflection of what we do with our horses after racing. It’s very important that people are proactive, and the commission here has been very proactive and they’ve made this a priority. So we’re here to help, and we’d love to help them make that a priority for Jamaica’s racing [indusry],” Clark Rogers noted.

Head of Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Clovis Metcalfe, who aknowledged that Caymanas Park has recently received a lot of negative publicity regarding the abandonment of racehorses, said the stakeholders are moving to establish a plan of action.

“We are coming together to ensure what we can do to help and get a lot of these abandoned horses off the road. We have identified some properties in St Catherine that are about 10 acres, and it is our intention to put some sort of property there that we can develop and house these horses.

“This is long overdue. We are going to take on that responsibility. We have to do it and care for these animals who have been abandoned by their owners,” Metcalfe said.

Dr Sophia Ramlal, senior veterinarian at the JRC and who has previously urged the racing industry to formalise retirement options for horses that have outlived their usefulness on the track, noted that considerable strides have been made in raising awareness and garnering support for aftercare within the industry.

“A committee, led by JRC’s Commissioner Anthony Shoucair, has been established to drive the formalisation of Jamaica’s racehorse retirement programme. They are looking to ensure that horses are retired from racing through a financially sustainable programme that preserves their well-being and allows them to transition into new careers or retirements, thereby continuing to provide value while enjoying happy, healthy lives,” Dr Ramlal told the
Observer.

“Most horses will retire from racing by age eight but they can go on to live and provide value into their twenties, not just in the breeding industry but also in non-racing-related industries.”

Key stakeholders Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA), Equestrian Federation of Jamaica, Jamaica Polo Association, the Mounted Troops, Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), and Jamaica Equine Veterinary Association are said to be involved in the move.

In addressing the issue of accounting for retired horses, Dr Ramlal said an updated database is to be a key component.

“Members are actively conducting research to populate our retired database, ascertain how these horses have transitioned, and collect other data to be used in formalising our programme,” the JRC senior veterinarian said.

In a recent interview, managing director at JSPCA Pamela Lawson recommended the establishment of a facility where horses can be inspected and, if necessary, placed in the care of the JSPCA until a suitable arrangement can be found.

“I have no problem assisting and helping,” she told the Observer. “I would form a band of many women and men to take over that load. Yes, I would be sending some to the police; yes, I would be sending some of them to riding establishments, most definitely; and to polo…anywhere I can find a place to put them. If everybody can come together then it can be sorted — and it will only improve things for the industry.”

Clovis Metcalfe (right), chairman of Jamaica Racing Commission, greets Mike Rogers (left), a member of The Stronach Group’s executive board, and Stacie Clark Rogers, executive director of the United States-based Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, at Caymanas Park recently.