There are so many stories out there of how Equines have helped, and do help humans on levels other than in ways which benefit humans financially and egotistically. Here is just one of those special horses, along with his very special family. Come on Frank!
Calling all mums and dads of littlies (of the equine variety that is).
CC Miniatures & Small Ponies Shows have just kicked off their first Online Show for the year!
These shows were a great fundraising boost in 2011, raising in excess of $500 over the year towards Quest's work.
What better time of year is there to show off your ponies from the warmth of your computer chair!
Entering your ponies online is super easy, and there are some beautiful ribbons, sashes, and trophies to be won.
Guidelines can be found here on the show site.
Sincere thanks to the show organisers and to last years sponsors. Sponsorship is invited for the 2012 series.
We weren't at the races to witness the beautiful Black Caviar's legendary 20th straight win last weekend, but like most of Australia, we couldn't help but be in awe of this magnificent racehorse's achievements. She will no doubt join other racing legends in becoming a part of Australia's racing history.
While we don't have time to frequent the races, we do actually deal with many many racehorses. We don't deal with the Black Caviars of this world, but with those racehorses who, despite having begun their lives being provided all the care and trappings that Black Caviar enjoys, are now chronically neglected and forgotten. The racing industry actually has a name for this mass of horses, they are termed as "wastage". Non money-earning racehorses most commonly go directly to the knackery truck from their stable, however many are sold through sale yards, a lucky few are taken on by re-trainers.
Ironically, the young racehorse pictured below was brought to our attention on the day that Black Caviar was celebrated all over Australia. The difference between this boy and Black Caviar? She runs faster. Does this justify the life he was leading? We think not.
THESE are the horses we think of on the big race days... the 'wastage'.
I don't think there's anything I enjoy more than watching horses just 'being horses' :)
Those who are involved in charities will have an understanding of just how similar a 'not for profit' actually is to a business as regards sustainability and operating expenses. The first similarity is that the organisation/business can only survive with interest in, and support for its product/services. (Quest's product being second chances for horses, ponies, and donkeys - Quest's services all being directed towards the improved welfare of horses, ponies, and donkeys as a whole). Another similarity between business' and charities is that there is no avoiding the expense of compliance in the form of hefty insurance fees, annual auditing and the like. Much as we all hate to request support, it is our responsibility as volunteers for this wonderful charity to do so from time to time. Just as a business, without support and patronage Quest will not remain viable and will fold. Quest's hard working volunteers are happy to continue their efforts indefinitely, but they do understand that if the wider community does not believe that the organisation offers a worthy or valuable product/service, the charity will not be supported by the community and Quest will be wound down. In a nutshell, Quest's existence is in the hands of each and every one of us. The Quest committee and volunteers are merely servants of Quest's mission and statement of purpose and can only support the organisation financially to a certain extent, the largest proportion of their input being in the form of time, facilities, skills, and expertise. If the organisation could run on passion and good intentions alone we could achieve amazing things! This time of year is always a very tight one for Quest as preparations for compilation of our annual financial statement begin, accounting fees loom on the horizon, and our annual insurance premium falls due. Without due diligence being paid to these tedious obligations, Quest could not exist to perform the many and varied more gratifying and constructive aspects of its work. Times are tough for us all, but if you’d like to see Quest around for another year, please do consider even the tiniest contribution and vote of confidence. If you cannot manage a dollar or two, please share this message amongst those whom you think may like to contribute. For options as to how you can contribute, please visit this page. Thank you so much for visiting our site, and for your interest in Quest’s work. With best wishes to all, Beth – Quest Sec.
Whisky would love to say a huge 'thank you!' to her friends at Horseland for their kind present of a lovely rug to keep her warm and toasty through winter. Lovely fitting rug with a great range of adjustment, quality fittings, and some really well thought out strategically placed padded areas. You can check out Whisky's new WeatherBeeta Orican Freestyle online for more details.
 
 
Whisky's Diary Page
Objective:
Rehabilitate and re-educate Thoroughbred racehorses for recreaction or professional use and care.
Racing NSW have initiated a new Thoroughbred welfare program. The program, known as the "Racing NSW Thoroughbred Retraining Program", aims to secure more certain and productive futures for horses leaving racing in NSW.
Racing NSW has secured the services of former police horse trainer, Scott Brodie, to head up their new and exciting initiative. Scott has assembled a team of highly skilled horse people to help in the implementation of his systematic approach to the re education of ex racehorses, honed over the last 25 years though his involvement as police horse trainer and classically trained dressage enthusiast. The Racing NSW team utilise a surprisingly smooth synergy of natural horsemanship techniques along with the practical application of classical dressage to produce quality performance horses with a foundation to set them up for a future in any discipline.
Racing NSW has also formed a partnership with NSW Corrective Services that see's Scott regularly attend the St. Helliers Correctional Centre at Muswellbrook, to train inmates and staff in the skills of natural horsemanship, work in hand, and lunging, in order to ready horses for ongoing training at the program's head quarters at Canterbury  NSWTRT trainees are put through their paces.Race Course in inner Sydney, where stables have been supplied by the Australian Turf Club.
Horses retiring from racing are sourced by Racing NSW and first sent to the St. Helliers facility, where they spell for approximately 6 months before commencing their re education.
The first 6 weeks of their training is carried out at the prison by inmates, under the watchful eye of experienced horse handler/warders educated in the Racing NSW training program. After that 6 week period, horses are rested for a further month to allow them to digest their new knowledge.
Once spelled, the horses move to Canterbury, where Scott and his team go to work polishing them into pleasurable riding partners. The horses are schooled to a preliminary/novice dressage level and are given a calm and sensible introduction to jumping. From here, the horses are put up for sale to suitable homes.
The Racing NSW Thoroughbred Retraining Program is completely not for profit. All money gathered from the re-homing of horses is put back into the training of more horses.
The NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust has been set up as the charitable fundraising arm for the program. Funds donated to the Trust go wholly to the training and care of the many race horses that retire from the NSW industry.
CEO of racing NSW, Peter V Landis, has stated that the ultimate goal of the program would be to see all retired NSW race horses re-housed at the end of their racing careers.
For further information on the purchase of trained horses, or to donate a retired race horse, contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, or go to the NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust on Facebook.
Janis Hobbs ~ Equine Touch™ Instructor & Practitioner is a long-time supporter of Quest's work, and has been an important contributor to the recovery and well-being of many of the equines that we have had through care.
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits and effects of Equine Touch™ body work, please visit Janis' web site.
Janis is based in Central Victoria, but travels all over Australia sharing the holistic approach to hands-on soft tissue body work of Equine Touch™... why not get a group together and invite her to your part of the world!
Click here to download the flyer at left which details dates for March/April.
There is now only one spot available in each of the Western Australian Level 1 courses scheduled.
Do your horse a favour and book yourself a place!
As awareness of Quest as an organisation has grown, so have the contacts from people seeking assistance.. for such a range of reasons. This is great, as this is exactly what we're here for, and in every case we always do all we can within our power, using what knowledge, skills, and resources we have to be of help and to achieve a positive outcome for the horse/s and (sometimes) people involved. Sometimes we succeed in doing this, and sometimes there are reasons/obstacles than mean we don't. Being unsuccessful in achieving a positive outcome in the world of equine welfare often means continued suffering and/or death. Being compassionate people, the effect of these instances is always deeply saddening for us, it never gets any easier. Aside from caring for whatever horses we have in care at our shelter, this aspect of Quest's work is one that is evolving to be one of our primary activities.
The increase in the amount of time spent on the phone/email has meant that we are not able to keep everyone updated as frequently and thoroughly as we'd like, so there is much that takes place on a daily basis that we simply don't have the time to share. We do not begrudge one minute spent on the phone/email to people seeking assistance/support/suggestions/ideas, we actively encourage it, but it does mean that there is a lot happening on a daily basis. The only shame in this is that there is probably a lot to be learned from these many and varied scenarios through sharing them.
The latest call I took today was a perfect example of something that has become very clear to us through our work, and that is that equine welfare is inextricably linked to human welfare. This can be seen in the vast majority of cases where we accept an equine for care, or visit a situation where horses are suffering. The root cause of the condition of horses whose well-being is at risk can more often than not be traced back to a human welfare problem. Some examples of this that we have encountered ourselves are, for example, scenarios where an owner has aged, and adequate up-keep of their horses has become just too much for them to manage - situations where an owner has a mental illness, (sometimes very subtle), which has created a perceived need to continually accumulate horses to an extent that is well beyond reason, and well beyond their ability to cater to their welfare needs - situations where an owner’s domestic or financial circumstances have changed and they no longer have the means to care for their horses. Of course there is  much suffering caused by owners who are simply indifferent to their horse’s welfare, and those who just don’t know any better… but we are finding that in becoming involved in seeking solutions, it is often necessary for us to factor the welfare status of an owner into our problem-solving.
Yesterday’s call really brought this home to us. It was from a person not much older than myself who has recently been given the news that they have a terminal condition.. their time remaining is unknown. They have been told that it could be a week, it could be a six months. This person visited our shelter a couple of years ago… a wonderful human being, and staunch advocate for animal welfare. They have many animals of their own, care for them beautifully, and love them as family. In fact, the animals are the only family that this person has. This person was calling us as they are methodically going through the process of making arrangements for all of their much loved animals, so that when they pass, the horses/dogs/cats all have good homes to go to and their future well-being is assured. They wanted to discuss their horses with us, (which of course we will help them with), and I will be visiting this person soon. We will ensure that their mind is at rest re the future care of their horses. This person’s main concern seemed to be the actually physical parting from their animals. When I have visited, we will have a chat about how we can possibly maintain the horses and ponies at their property until such time as their owner is no longer there. A tragic human welfare situation which, to this person’s mind, puts the future well-being of all of their animals at risk and is causing them a lot of stress.
Please keep this person in your thoughts, and take a look at the ‘problems’ that you think you have. Doing so may help you to not waste any time in your life with pre-occupations that actually mean nothing. I know my conversation with this horse owner really sat me on my ass, and put a lot of my ‘problems’ in perspective. It is very disarming to discuss somebody’s death with them in a matter of fact manner and plan for it with them, but I so admire this person’s practicality and their devotion to their animals.
So, I guess a few things can be taken from my ramblings… one of them being that if you are aware of some horses who appear to be struggling and un-cared for, in some cases, you may be able to improve their welfare by reaching out a helping hand to their owner.
Another point to think about is the reality that life is full of surprises and the unexpected… set plans in place for the care of your animals in the case that you should you not be around to care for them, make provisions for them now while you are well and present. The person I spoke to yesterday has time to make plans, this isn’t always the case.
The increasing contacts from people who are needing help with their ‘human’ problems in order that their horses do not suffer neglect has also prompted our committee to consider that there may be a need for at least one of us to undertake some training that will equip us better to respond appropriately in these cases, beyond what our basic compassion and care provides us with.
Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan
Recently, the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh, launched the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan. The Plan is an important part of the Government's response to the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission, which highlighted that improvements could be made in the coordination of emergency animal welfare to enhance public safety and reduce animal suffering.
Please view the Plan and supporting information here.
'My Treasures do not Clink Together or Glitter ~ they Gleam in the Sun and Neigh in the Night'
Is this not the most magical art work you've seen? This compelling painting was created by one of our talented 'Quest ladies', Tracie Grimwood, of Tracie Grimwood Illustration. We were so struck by the elements of this painting, which so embody the spirit behind Quest's work.
To us, the compassion, warmth, playfulness, and forgiveness in the nature of the majestic equine shine through from this precious painting.. all in the most mystical way. Tracie has been kind enough to part with 'Treasures' and sell her to Quest's President.
We hope you love 'Treasures' as much as we do. We will be looking into creating prints of this unique art work, to enable us to share her with many. (You can click on the image if you would like a closer look at 'Treasures').
 Do you know a professional within the equine community who consistently goes beyond the scope of their role in the interests of equine welfare? Someone who freely gives of their time, expertise and /or resources to contribute to the well-being of horses, ponies and donkeys? We know these quiet achievers are everywhere, and we'd like to acknowledge their efforts, and say 'thank you'!
Eligible nominees could include any professional from, for example; a Vet, an Equine Dentist, an author, an individual RSPCA Inspector, a trainer.. through to an owner or employee of an equine related business. As long as the nominee is engaged in an equine related occupation as a means of livelihood, they are eligible.
Please visit the Equitarian Award page for further information and to nominate your individual for their 'good works'. Please do join us in acknowledging and encouraging these un-sung equine welfare advocates, supporters and contributors.
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*Award winner's name to be added to crystal after judging.
