Life After Racing Matters at Te Akau

At Te Akau Racing, we take the responsibility of re-homing our retired racehorses very seriously - that is our commitment - to find safe, forever homes for our lovely equines ... we thought we would in coming weeks share some stories with you ...

Te Akau apprentice Chelsea Burdan (18), who notched a win aboard Lady Zeraph (Makfi) at her first race day ride, is also doing a fine job re-homing retired racehorses.

Burdan has always used thoroughbreds when competing in eventing, cross country, and dressage, and believes that many retired racehorses have hidden talents off the track and enjoy competing in a different scene.

“Coming off racehorse feed changes them and most the ones that I've had have been quite nice horses with good attitudes,” she said. “I've always competed on thoroughbreds that my Dad bought off the track and I like them a lot better than the push-button ponies you get.

“After spending a few weeks with them you can work out which discipline they could be suited to. If they've got even balanced steps they might make a nice show horse in the ring. Having scope and ability to jump can see them show jumping and if they have both, and athletic, they might make a nice eventer, and nice jumpers and movers can do dressage and show jumping.”

While every horse is different, Burdan likes to spend at least three weeks educating retired thoroughbreds before they go to their new homes. “It gives me a chance to work out if they would be suitable for a beginner or an experienced rider,” she said.

She has found homes in recent times for 11 thoroughbreds from Matamata, including four retired from the stables at Te Akau. Dual Group Three placed, winner of four, Zambezi Warrior (Pentire), who contested a Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2200m), was retired in October following a tendon injury, and Burdan has been riding him each day (below).

“He's currently a farm hack, helping out with my younger ones, but he's done a bit of jumping and quite a few ladies want him as an eventer or show horse,” she said. “He's a very good-looking horse, has a good head on him, great personality, and well balanced throughout his body.”

Another, Chambord (Zabeel), runner-up in the 2000 Guineas and a multiple Group placed and stakes winner, who overcame a series of injuries throughout his career, was retired in June and now begun competing in low level show jumping, with a recent fourth (below).

She also prepared Zavistic (Zacinto) for a show jumping career in Christchurch (bottom of page), and Aquilo (Snitzel) has done some dressage and currently being used as a farm hack, moving sheep and cattle (main picture).

Respect for the thoroughbred in retirement has always been a top priority at Te Akau. While many fillies and mares are destined for breeding, some of them, along with geldings, are finding new homes in trekking, showing, dressage, hunting, eventing, polo, show jumping, or just hacking around the farm.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has also documented a vision (under the Rules of Racing) for thoroughbred welfare and understands the importance of the issue internationally, forming their protocol after attending the International Forum for Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) and launching a joint venture with Equestrian Sport New Zealand (ESNZ) called Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sport (TiES). They also have an association with the NZ Show Horse Council and sponsor the Off the Track Horse Show Series.