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A delegation from the Equestrian Federation of Singapore (EFS) spent half a day at the Singapore Turf Club on Saturday as part of their new programme of retraining ex-racehorses.
The 11 persons including riders, coaches and technical experts were taken on a guided tour of the veterinary clinic, the equine pool as well as trainer Michael Clements' stables.
In partnership with Longines and the world governing body of Equestrian sports, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), EFS is conducting a new course based on the FEI Solidarity Retraining Techniques of ex-Racehorses (RTR) which basically aims to equip riders and coaches with better skillsets and tools in retraining more effectively retired racehorses from horse racing to equestrian sport.
The Equestrian Federation of Singapore (EFS) delegation with Singapore Turf Club Assistant Vice President (Racing Operations) Steven Tan (right), Head (Racing Development) Gene Tan (middle, doing thumbs-up sign) and Association of Racehorse Trainers Singapore Operations Manager Debbie Hawkins (at the back).
As such, a visit to the Singapore Turf Club was slated into one of the three modules making up the course in order to grasp a better understanding of the sport, the racehorse's conformation, the physical stress they undergo every day, including trackwork and racing, as well as the related injuries sustained in the course of their racing life.
Besides Clements who spoke to the EFS delegates about racehorses and their training regimen, Singapore Turf Club's Head of Veterinary Department Dr Koos van den Berg gave an insight on the detection and treatment of typical racing injuries while K Phillip Thomas from Tracks showed them the physical and therapeutic benefits of the equine pool.
Ms Debbie Hawkins, Operations Manager of the Association of Racehorse Trainers Singapore, was also on hand to touch on other salient points about horse racing operations.
The EFS, through its General Manager, Ms Shirley Khaw, is certainly delighted they had touched base with the Singapore Turf Club, with a view to further collaborations down the road, all geared towards one common goal – to ensure the welfare of racehorses past their racing lives and a smooth and seamless transition as they embark onto a new equestrian career.
"Every year, hundreds of racehorses are retired from racing. Few lucky ones will get nice, proper retirement." said Ms Khaw.
"In the good old days, a good number of retired racehorses were given a precious second lease of life after being retrained as school horses in Singapore by local riding clubs.
"After retraining, many of them turn out to be superstars well-loved by their riders in the riding schools, and also winning ribbons and accolades in the jumping and dressage arenas too.
"As the National Sport Association for Equestrian sport in Singapore, we share the same vision and objectives as Federation Equestre Internationale, which is to gift these ex-racehorses with the right education and have the opportunity to excel and live well.
"The most effective way to achieve that is to educate the people who are working with them - the coaches, the trainers, the riders, the horse owners, riding clubs, grooms etc.
"We are delighted to have the Singapore Turf Club as partners to help us reach out to the local racing community and hopefully to be able to empower more horsey people with the right set of knowledge, skills and tools to improve the welfare of horses in Singapore."
