My interest in the racing industry came from my father’s love and passion for horses. He arrived from Holland by boat as a 12 year old boy and saved enough pocket money to buy his beloved ‘Smokey’. He then continued his passion through his children and bought us two horses which we rode, loved and cared for, for many years.
When we came upon salt therapy we knew there was a possibility we could help trainers, owners and of course the horses themselves, to train and perform better. As animal lovers, the fact that it was an all-natural, holistic approach appealed to us most.
The Australian government’s crackdown on antibiotic use in livestock will see a greater need for natural medication free treatment methods. http://ow.ly/TYGdJ . Welfare of the horse is key and the Australian Government together with racing industry’s peak bodies are starting to make some changes in order to rectify the tarred perception of the industry. This is proving to come at a cost with the recent shooting of Racing Victoria’s chief steward Terry Bailey’s home. Terry has vowed to keep going in his quest to improve the industry but is it enough?
We need to start offering the players in the industry alternative solutions to the ongoing problems rather than simply putting regulatory measures in place. Regulation alone will only go so far. Trainers and owners need a level playing field.
In years to come, we hope to see Equine Salt Therapy go from strength to strength along with the industry it operates in. Racing is deemed as the ‘Sport of Kings’ in this country and has been for over 200 years and we are proud and privileged to spend each day improving the on and off track performances of some of the greatest equine athletes in the world. It is my hope that Equine Salt Therapy can be offered to all horses competing in the racing industry, if not just for their improved performance, but for the lifelong health benefits they receive. It is also my hope to have the perception changed of the industry to one that is fitting of the work that trainers, jockeys, strappers, handlers, trackworkers and club officials put into it. Not forgetting the one true champion of this industry – the horse!
