What actually do the Highveld Cape Horse Unit do?

I am worried what % are retired racehorses do they save??

As many as they can.... what`s up?

Johnno
I might have misunderstood the title of the thread, so I will start by saying that i am specifically referring herein to the HHCU (Highveld Horse Care Unit).

My take on it is as follows -
1)They care for ALL horses including ex racehorses
2)All horses retired from our yard are placed through them.
2)They have a list of approved homes/establishments for these horses.
3)They also have a list of homes/establishments which are not approved.....they will not allow horses to go there...
4)These people work for lowest salaries, doing what they love - seeing to the wellbeing of horses.
5)When we as a yard, retire horses, we could so easily get a few thousand rand for a horse but we will NEVER surrender to that - our horses go to HHCU, to be placed in good homes.... so often "retired" horses that never went through HHCU, end up being rescued by them later..,,
6)These people are our heart and soul, when it comes to caring for any and all horses, be they racehorses or not. When there time is up on earth, these people go straight to heaven, no purgatory, no questions.

Ultimately to me the ratio of racehorses versus other horses is a good and interesting question. However, I do know that every single horse matters to them, including racehorses. But, you may have a good point in terms of the criticism that we in racing often suffer whilst all other equestrian versions walk away scott free whilst they are more than likely / more often the recipients of rescue efforts from HHCU.

As for yourself John, I challenge all Owners to match your concern for your retired horses. From our side, we still donate via debit order R1000 monthly to HHCU and we challenge each and every Trainer to do same.
These people are Saints of the highest order ! As are all horses !

Keep up the great effort guys... Gentlemen of the game....

Thanks Louis although it sounds good and well it is not what I have heard from very reliable people who are working in the industry of takeing horses off the track and re homing them.
We all have a very skewed perception that a racehorse gets retired then is nicely " let down" over a few weeks then has all its problems fixed, most often the reason the trainer is told to get rid of it ( and I myself are guilty here too sometimes) and then it is put into nice stables somewhere in lalaland until it is very well schooled and then this lovely very well gentle horse is sold to some teenager who rides it everyday.

No this is how it actually works, the horse is taken off the track, it's high performance food is changed immediately it is schooled as best as possible within 5 days as it already has had some form of schooling at the racing stables, more often than not its problems are not fixed ie they often get sent with chips or coming off a bad colic or abscesses in hooves etc etc and if the people who are in this industry cannot get it right for sale within a week they are often just either dumped onto a plot to fend for themselves or are sent to the lion park and we all know what happens there.Why I am asking as regards the unit is that more often than not the SPCA has to be called in to try save some of these horses when they are found on these plots as the unit takes far too long to respond to calls for help when say 30 of these sore starving animals are found. That's all mate.

oscar wrote: No this is how it actually works, the horse is taken off the track, it's high performance food is changed immediately it is schooled as best as possible within 5 days as it already has had some form of schooling at the racing stables, more often than not its problems are not fixed ie they often get sent with chips or coming off a bad colic or abscesses in hooves etc etc and if the people who are in this industry cannot get it right for sale within a week they are often just either dumped onto a plot to fend for themselves or are sent to the lion park and we all know what happens there.Why I am asking as regards the unit is that more often than not the SPCA has to be called in to try save some of these horses when they are found on these plots as the unit takes far too long to respond to calls for help when say 30 of these sore starving animals are found. That's all mate.

Oscar do you have proof of what you are alleging here? If you do I would strongly recommend that you take your evidence to both the SPCA and the NHRA and furthermore lay charges at the SAPS.

I strongly suspect that you have no evidence and are responding to some or other bullshit story that is doing the rounds or even worse have made up your own mind about the HHCU without getting facts. Oscar please do yourself a favour. Get off your backside and drive to the HHCU in Meyerton. Arrive unannounced. Then come back here and apologise for the harm you have caused. As Louis says, these people are saints and deserve all the support they get. They do not need some wild flung accusation, particularly from an owner who should know a lot better!

And a final retort to the fairy tale. No horses are ever sold. The rehomed horses are leased to owners for a small fee to cover costs and remain the property of the HHCU. These horses are checked regularly at their homes by the HHCU to ensure that they are getting adequate care. These horses may never be sold or moved on by their owners and if something happens the animal is returned to the HHCU.

I know this all as my daughter was a showjumper in her teenage years and we adopted a horse from the HHCU.

Over The Air I think you need to re read what I have said above. I am not saying the Highveld Unit sells on horses at all, I am saying that there is a large industry which is involved in this made up of many many smaller stables and they do this. What I am asking is why is there a feeling that one needs to go to the SPCA when racing sponsors the Unit and when they are called they take a long time to respond??

I think you maybe need a new pair of glasses.

Oscar perhaps you should reread what you said

"more often than not its problems are not fixed ie they often get sent with chips or coming off a bad colic or abscesses in hooves etc etc and if the people who are in this industry cannot get it right for sale within a week they are often just either dumped onto a plot to fend for themselves or are sent to the lion park and we all know what happens there."

You of all people who professes all this love for his horses should know better. Perhaps your unfortunate incident with the Snaiths and de Kock has clouded your judgement. Let me tell you one thing, if you had sent that horse to the Horse Care Unit you would not have been embarrassed like you were.

OTA take a chill pill if you want phone nos of people who are in the business of selling horses off the track I have for you..or just go on the websites..PS I was not embarrassed by anything, making it personal will not help you understand what I am saying.

Oscar people who sell horses off the track have no affiliation to the Horse Care units. Please relook at what you have posted and even better suggestion let Bob delete this topic. You have no right to make the accusations that you have against this organisation.

Well done you finally worked out what I am saying...Why is this second hand horse trading in racehorses off the tracks not regulated, why does HHCU not get the correct funding from the racehorse industry, whoes responsibility is it to enforce the fact that ex racehorses are not just left on plots to rot, why do they allow people to sell retired horses on to clients within 2 weeks even less?? and did you know there is a carcus value on a racehorse?

Please try not get personal on this site it is exactly what chasers most valued posters away.