Racing Victoria (RV) is delighted to announce that it has committed to ongoing sponsorship of EQUITANA via it’s Off The Track (OTT) program.
EQUITANA Melbourne is a world-renowned equestrian event held at the Melbourne Showgrounds from Thursday,15 to Sunday,18 November 2018.
The 4-day show features education, entertainment, exhibitions and competitions to suit various interests, from a first horse owner to a professional rider.
This year RV will again present the Off The Track Show Horse Showcase which will see OTT horse and rider combinations assessed on manners, paces, confirmation and general appearance by a panel of expert guest judges.
The Off The Track Show Jumping Showcase will also be presented, featuring OTT horses and riders competing over show jumping fences for the fastest times and lowest penalties.
Both competitions will see entrants line up in front of large crowds with their former gallopers to gain prizemoney and OTT merchandise.
OTT will also have an active presence in the Education Arena through the informative ‘Racehorse to Performance Horse’ demonstration at 2pm on Sunday,18 November 2018 illustrating the key stages of the re-training journey of an OTT horse onto their second career.
In addition, the ‘Careers in the Racing Industry’ seminar, scheduled for 4pm on Friday, 16 November 2018, will showcase various career opportunities in the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry.
On Friday, 16 November at 11.15am, Olympian Andrew Hoy will run an ‘Off The Track Masterclass’ showcasing retired racehorses that have begun new careers as performance horses.
RV’s Equine Welfare Manager Jennifer Hughes says OTT is an excellent fit for EQUITANA, with both organisations boasting mutual interest in thoroughbreds excelling in their lives after racing.
“The versatility, athleticism and intelligence of retired racehorses make them ideal for equestrian performance disciplines, pleasure riding, companion and therapy animals, as well as working horses,” said Hughes.
“We look forward to showcasing our wonderful retired racehorses to the broader equestrian community at EQUITANA via our Show Horse and Show Jumping demonstrations, exclusively for stud book registered thoroughbreds.
“OTT is an important part of EQUITANA and we encourage participants to witness the ability of these retired racehorses through the various showcases on offer.
“There will also be plenty of information about how to purchase a thoroughbred off the track throughout the festival.”
The OTT program aims to facilitate the placement and retraining of retired thoroughbreds, providing them with a second career in the performance and pleasure horse industries.
The OTT program has close associations with Equestrian Victoria, Pony Club Association of Victoria and the Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria, to ensure that suitable avenues and incentives exist for re-educating and riding of retired racehorses.
A major element of the OTT program is the network of RV Acknowledged Retrainers who re-educate retired racehorses for second careers.
Those within the equestrian industry looking to source a quality thoroughbred for any riding discipline are encouraged to contact an RV Acknowledged Retrainer in their area.