EX-RACEHORSES SAVED FROM SLAUGHTER
TWO racehorses have been saved from the slaughterhouse after one woman’s long battle with their previous owners.
Dolly and Ziggy were due to become pet mince before being taken in by Emma Haswell from the Brighton Farm Sanctuary.
Ms Haswell said Dolly’s owners initially refused to hand her over to the sanctuary because of her notoriety as an animal activist.
“They didn’t want me sharing her story with you (the media), but if they’d just given me the horse there would’ve been no story,” she said.
“It was a quick, simple, easy fix to have her shot.
“They have no morals or ethics when it comes to the animal once it is no longer of use.“
After a lengthy appeal process with the Office of Racing Integrity, the owners handed Dolly over to the sanctuary.
An ORI spokesperson said the past owners had previously tried to rehome Dolly, but with no success.
“The animal had been deemed by the trainer to be unsuitable for racing due to its size and temperament,” the spokesman said.
“Previous attempts had been made to re-home the horse however these were unsuccessful.”
The other thoroughbred, Ziggy, was a retired racehorse who had been sent to
live with a family as a riding horse.
Ziggy proved to be a difficult riding horse, one day biting the owner and prompting them to call in the dog meat man.
However, Ms Haswell intervened at the final hour, paying the $200 meat price and taking Ziggy back to the farm.
She said Ziggy was initially scared and underweight, but that she and Dolly were gradually easing into life at the sanctuary.
“They’re both very fond of people. Dolly is incredible. She’s a big dog, really,” Ms Haswell said.
“If you stand in front of her she’ll put her great big head on your shoulder so she can have a neck massage.”