Racing WA has renewed its long-standing partnership with HorsePower Australia, continuing to support therapeutic riding programs for people with diverse abilities.
The announcement marks more than $800,000 in funding provided by Racing WA since the partnership began in 2014, providing people with physical, intellectual, emotional or social challenges access to therapy horses.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia CEO Ian Edwards said the funding primarily aimed to make equine therapy more affordable for WA families.
“Families living with physical or mental health challenges often carry heavy therapy and medical expenses,” Ian said.
“By supporting HorsePower Australia, our goal is to remove this barrier so more people can experience the healing power of horses.”
The partnership extends beyond financial support, with Racing WA’s Off the Track WA program playing a key role in identifying and preparing suitable retired racehorses for therapeutic work.
“We carefully select horses with the right temperament to support people with physical, intellectual, emotional and social challenges,” Ian said.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see a retired racehorse learn new skills and find a meaningful purpose in the next stage of its life.”
HorsePower Australia President Janet Allen said the ongoing support from Racing WA helped their programs thrive.
“Racing WA’s support allows us to focus on delivering impactful programs and running inclusive events like the Winter Games—rather than worrying about how we’ll cover the cost of caring for our horses,” Janet said.
The HorsePower Australia Winter Games on Saturday, 12 July in Collie was open to all riders, with options to compete in barrel racing, western bending, flag race and more.