Animal care initiatives
Horses and greyhounds are the stars of the sport and it’s important for them to have a rewarding retirement after their racing careers.
Horses
Retired racehorses are versatile and highly intelligent animals, able to impressively adapt to retraining and alternate lifestyles.
Off the Track WA is our main program to support horses after they leave the care of the racing community. We have a range of initiatives to help racehorses make the transition to life as companion, leisure or competition horses.
Responsible rehoming
The Rules of Racing in WA require owners and trainers to make a demonstrated effort to responsibly rehome horses. There is strict criteria for what constitutes a demonstrated effort and among them is the requirement for owners and trainers to undertake at least two of the following options:
- Advertising the horse in no less than two recognised media platforms for at least six weeks.
- Applying to re-home the horse through a credible animal adoption or re-homing agency.
- Consigning the horse to a public auction.
- Consigning the horse to an industry auction.
Off the Track WA retraining program
The Off the Track WA Retraining Program encompasses the Off the Track WA Estate and a network of retrainers with the expert knowledge to give retired racehorses the skills and experiences needed to transition from racing to second careers as pleasure or performance horses. Horses accepted into the program are assessed on arrival at the estate before being allocated to a retrainer, where they begin re-education ready for sale. The program is designed to complement already established pathways for rehoming retired racehorses, with priority given to horses which may be more challenging to rehome, such as those located in remote areas.
Off the Track WA Estate
The Off the Track WA Estate is a multipurpose racehorse welfare facility, which helps facilitate the retraining and rehoming of racehorses through the Off the Track WA Retraining Program. It is also available for any emergency welfare cases should they arise and has capacity for up to 40 horses at any time.
Off the Track WA passport
An Off the Track WA Passport is available for all retired thoroughbreds and standardbreds to help us understand their lives and locations after racing. It also provides an opportunity to provide ongoing advice and support for those who take on retired racehorses, including access to educational clinics and discounts and offers from a range of local and national equine businesses
Off the Track WA sponsorship & events
Off the Track WA hosts a number of educational clinics across the state, including both regional and metropolitan locations, to assist retired racehorses and their new owners. Off the Track WA also provides sponsorship for events to encourage the attendance of thoroughbreds and standardbreds.
Off the Track WA website
The Off the Track WA website is a one-stop shop for all things relating to retired racehorses. The website has a free buy and sell platform to advertise retired racehorses, as well as information about upcoming events, sponsorship opportunities, educational material and more.
Supporting others
Through the Off the Track WA program, the racing sector is proud to support community and not-for-profit organisations which value retired racehorses as essential members of their programs.
Racing WA Research Fund
The Racing WA Research Fund supports projects that enhance the health, welfare and safety of racehorses as well as those that assist horses to move on to lives of ongoing purpose and good health after racing.
Through this fund, Racing WA supports scientific advances leading to better lives for people and horses. Welfare standards are constantly being enhanced and good research provides the foundation for effective and measurable advances in animal care.
In its first funding round, three projects secured funding which cover injury prevention, racehorse nutrition, and racing performance’s impact on post-racing careers.
Applications are currently closed. For more information contact - animalwelfare@rwwa.com.au
Off the Track WA Community Fund
The Off the Track WA Community Fund aims to nurture innovation and wider opportunities for retired racehorses.
Off the Track WA is well known for sponsorships and support programs to assist horses making the transition from racing into a range of activities such as dressage, jumping, eventing or adult riders.
The Off the Track WA Community Fund builds on the range of resources by targeting non-riding activities and new ideas for engaging the various talents and abilities of former racehorses.
The Fund also provides support for not-for-profit organisations providing a lifelong safety net to retired horses that may require care later in life.
The funding round is now closed.
For more information, contact - offthetrackwa@rwwa.com.au
Greyhounds
We have initiatives and programs in place to help greyhounds make a successful transition from life in racing to new homes as pets.
Our Greyhounds as Pets WA program promotes, encourages and facilitates greyhound pet ownership to the wider community in Western Australia.
Responsible rehoming
In WA, the Rules of Racing ensure all greyhounds are responsibly rehomed, including those that don’t race. Unless there is a medical or behavioural reason determined by a veterinarian or qualified animal behaviourist, all greyhounds bred for racing must be rehomed. All statistics around the number of greyhounds entering the industry or retiring from it are openly reported in RWWA’s Annual Report.
Our Greyhounds as Pets (GAP) program rehomes approximately half of the retiring greyhounds in WA every year, with the remainder being rehomed through pathways which include:
- GAP and other third party rehoming groups
- Trainer or owner keeping the greyhound as a pet or to breed
- Trainer rehoming the greyhound privately
Greyhounds as Pets WA
Greyhounds as Pets WA (GAP) is funded by the racing sector and matches retired greyhounds with their forever homes. GAP has dedicated animal behaviourists who use their expertise in canine behaviour to assist greyhounds adjust from life as an athlete to life as a pet. A tailored plan is created to suit the individual needs of each greyhound. The behaviour assessment is used to gather information about a greyhound’s needs and requirements in line modern rehoming practices.
Working together
The racing sector works with other greyhound rehoming groups to maximise rehoming and foster care opportunities for retired greyhounds.
The last registered owner or person responsible at the time of a greyhound’s retirement must ensure that the greyhound has been surgically sterilised and undergone a dental treatment, consisting of at least a complete dental scale and polish, by a veterinarian before the greyhound is rehomed. This helps to ensure both responsible rehoming as well as alleviate any financial pressure on rehoming groups for these treatments.
Animal care & welfare course
Greyhounds as Pets WA (GAP) has partnered with Applied Vocational Training (AVT) to facilitate a short-term intensive course in animal care and welfare. ATV’s nationally recognised course, ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Animal Health and Welfare), provides training for students seeking a career in animal care. The course is based both on-campus at the AVT Bentley training facility, at the Cat Haven in Shenton Park and at the GAP kennel facility in Southern River.