Dear Stakeholders,
We are now well into 2025 and following a busy few months for the Welfare & Sustainability Team, it is time to report on the second quarter of the 1% Welfare Levy spend.
This quarter captures the 1% allocation for November through to the end of January.
At the completion of the second quarter, we can confirm we are tracking according to our budget with the total spend during this period being $223,120. The total spend for this term to date is $446,791, with our budgeted total for the 2024/25 season at $1,051,192.
The key spend for the second quarter was the operational support of the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust. This nation-wide, purpose-built fleet is an amazing asset for the thoroughbred industry and wider equine communities. The funding provided by NZTR covers the basic costs of attending all thoroughbred race days and trial meetings as well as a selection of equestrian events and is something we can be incredibly proud of.
Another focus area this quarter was the increased support of our valuable Acknowledged Retrainers network. The viability of the network has been under considerable pressure due to various reasons, so we budgeted accordingly. The value of this network and what it does for our industry cannot be underestimated.
It has been pleasing to see several up-to-date initiatives gain traction. The introduction of the Know Your Thoroughbred Education Clinics has gained momentum with 130 horse and rider combinations having participated in clinics nationwide already this season. We are looking to provide this opportunity to a further 200 combinations by the end of this term.
As part of our commitment to providing traceability opportunities for all thoroughbreds, including those who have retired from racing and breeding, we have partnered with Companion Animals Up-to-date Zealand to offer free lifetime registration on the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR).
Each of the allocation areas focus on putting the welfare of the horse first and as a result, has a positive effect on the sustainability of the industry.
We enjoy receiving stories and photos showing how passionate people are about giving thoroughbreds a quality life after racing and the partnerships they develop with their horses. It’s evidence the 1% Welfare Levy is being put to good apply and supporting the horses and those who have chosen them as they embark on their second careers.
We are always looking to improve and ensure the levy is helping horses and riders from the grass roots and up, your feedback is appreciated as we continue to work together for the betterment of our thoroughbreds.
Justine Sclater
NZTR Head of Welfare and Sustainability
Acknowledged Retrainers Funding
Second Quarter Spend: $69,683 (TTD: $154,276 – Season Allocation: $300,000)
This season we introduced a veterinarian check on arrival at an Acknowledged Retrainer’s. This has helped educate industry participants around expectations when horses are sent to an Acknowledged Retrainer and identifies horses that are not in a suitable condition to begin retraining. If a horse is unable to begin retraining we try to work with owners and trainers to find a solution.
We have increased the oversight of the network which has seen a higher number of completed paperwork submissions.
This season 123 thoroughbreds have been rehomed via the Acknowledged Retrainer network.
The allocation of funds for NZTR Acknowledge Retrainers can be broken down into the following areas:
Retrainer Fees (Arrival and Traceability fee): $27,400 for completed traceability paperwork.
Leg Up Grant (Arrival checks, farrier, teeth and injury): $36,819
Annual uniform allocation: $4,980
Safety Gear Grants and miscellaneous: $166
Participants in the Know Your Thoroughbred Christchurch clinic. Photo: supplied
Know Your Thoroughbred Clinics: $13,398
Know Your Thoroughbred clinics have been held in the Waikato, Canterbury and Southland (Gore) this season.
Thoroughbreds entering the sporthorse space are full of promise moving into their second career, and with the support of passionate horse people like Donna and Elise Edwards-Smith, Tracey Kovac, Corey Miln and Pam Norton, horse and rider combinations can navigate the challenges to set themselves up for success.
To the end of January, the 1% Welfare Levy has supported clinics for 130 individual horse and rider combinations in both the North and South Island giving access for those who have chosen a thoroughbred to attend a subsided education clinic specifically designed for thoroughbreds.
The clinics are designed to improve horsemanship and knowledge for those who decide to re-train a thoroughbred off the track creating awareness, promoting thoroughbred versatility and further developing understanding of the breed including pedigrees and racing performance.
The clinics have proven popular and have been fully booked on each occasion. We are committed to holding further clinics and have dates in place for the remainder the season.
Participants in the Know Your Thoroughbred Christchurch clinic. Photo: supplied
TiES (Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sports): $16,700
Established in 2014 to demonstrate the versatility of thoroughbreds and escalate their uptake into equestrian sports, the TiES series has become a well-known and competitive series on the equestrian calendar run in partnership with Equestrian Sport Up-to-date Zealand (ESNZ).
Thoroughbreds gain points in eligible classes across the season. The disciplines included in the Series are eventing, dressage/para-dressage, show jumping, show hunter, and endurance/competitive trail riding (CTR).
This series also awards the TiES Accumulator Best Performed thoroughbred.
The first payment for the series of $16,700 was made to ESNZ for the series in the second quarter.
Since the inception of the TiES series in 2023 we have seen significant escalate in thoroughbred eventing numbers, a discipline they naturally excel in and therefore will be looking to further support this discipline in the future accordingly.
Polo: $26,665
We continue to support our thoroughbreds in Polo, awarding the Best Playing Thoroughbred at Tournaments throughout the country.
Thoroughbreds are a sought after breed for polo players of all levels and are internationally recognised as some of the best in the sport.
During this quarter the fund supported Best Playing Thoroughbred awards for several major events including the Savile Cup, NZ Open and Ladies Tournaments.
Other Sponsorship: $12,400
$12,400 was used this quarter to support thoroughbred sponsorship at independent events such as Puhinui Three Day Event, Eventing Wellington and Eventing Central Districts.
The spend included supplying branded rugs, including summer sheets and prizes. We also continued our support of AnnaRehab who provide a non-athletic pathway for thoroughbreds in equine assisted therapy.
NZTR’s Kristin Boyce, Donna & Elise Edwards-Smith and Kerryn Waugh at their Waerenga, Te Kauwhata property during the Know Your Thoroughbreds Clinic. Photo: Supplied
Welfare Assistance
Second Quarter Spend: $1783 (YTD: $29,694 – Season allocation: $50,000)
Assistance was provided on several occasions to MPI and the RIB for the support of thoroughbreds in need, including transport and feed. We are continuing to monitor the drought situation that has impacted regions in particular the North Island and are conscious there may be a shortage of supplementary feed availability.
Research
Second Quarter Spend: $3,959 (YTD: $7,805 – Season Allocation: $65,000)
The key spend in this area has been the Equimetre subscription for wearable technology. This is currently being used by several trainers at Awapuni and Cambridge for Massey University to collect Collection on metrics on the surfaces. This will examine variability in stride and ground surface.
This information will assist in gaining a better understanding of what parameters can be used to describe the consistency of the stride and variation in gait associated with different training surfaces.
Traceability
Second Quarter Spend: $9,853 (YTD $20,853 – Season allocation: $45,000)
An amnesty promotion in December showcased NZTR’s commitment to lifetime traceability by covering the cost of retired racehorses signing up to the Companion Animal Register (CANZ). This was well-received by the equestrian community and to date we have had 250 registrations. This ensures we are leading the way towards a National Equine Database.
In August 2025, the Up-to-date Zealand Equine Health Association (NZEHA) are launching the National Equine Identification and Traceability (NEIT) system. CANZ is providing the back-end software for NEIT.
Our “Know Our Numbers” Population Analysis has been completed and key findings are currently being internally reviewed to ensure it is cross-referenced before releasing.
Horse Ambulance
Horse Ambulance at NZ Polo Open. Photo credit: Selena Wright Imaginative
Second Quarter Spend: $61,905 (YTD $123,459 – season allocation: $246,192)
In the first half of the season, a horse ambulance has attended over 189 thoroughbred race meetings, trials, and jump-outs. A horse ambulance has been deployed on 25 occasions for an injured thoroughbred, including assisting with an SPCA response.
On several occasions, a horse has been injured at the barriers, being late-scratched, and the ambulance has safely transport the horse off-course.
To date this season, a horse ambulance has attended seven equestrian events when sponsored by NZTR, including Horse of the Year, the NZ Polo Open, and the Springbush Horse Trials.
The NZ Horse Ambulance Trust has demonstrated its purpose to interested groups, including pony clubs, the NZ Equine Academy and Massey University vet school students. The focus is on promoting the positive equine welfare benefits that the fleet provides across the country for our equine athletes.
The NZ Horse Ambulance Trust is to engage racing clubs for fundraising opportunities and continued support of the fleet, which provides a service like St John for our equine athletes, at no cost to the clubs.
Communication and Education
Second Quarter Spend: $6,653 (YTD $8,312 – Season Allocation: $95,000)
The introduction of our Thoroughbred Ambassadors Donna and Elise Edwards-Smith has proved to be a worthwhile investment. They both have extensive experience producing thoroughbreds and are the driving force behind the success of our Know Your Thoroughbred Clinics.
Donna and Elise’s values around thoroughbreds finding suitable second careers align with ours, and we share a vision that will ensure riders who choose a thoroughbred as a sport horse are given the opportunity for professional support.
This quarter we also produced an edition of the Thoroughbred Welfare Advocate and engaged professional photographers to capture images used to promote off the track thoroughbreds.
Your feedback is always welcome.
Please email Justine Sclater at [email protected].
