NSPCA says Race Wild Coast ‘shouldn’t happen’
Organisers deny vets are unsuitably qualified, among other claims
The National Council of SPCAs said this week that a 350km horse-race through the Wild Coast “should not happen”, over concerns that the animals were being exploited and that the vets employed to monitor the animals were not suitably qualified.
But the race’s organisers have hit back‚ not just denying the claims made by the NSPCA but also claiming that the statement’s contents were “very different” from comments made after the race.
The NSPCA said on Monday that it had monitored the “Race the Wild Coast” endurance event‚ which took place from October 16. The race takes four to five days to complete.
“Four horses had to be disqualified due to injuries sustained during the race‚” said Arno de Klerk‚ the NSPCA’s special projects manager.
“The race organisers had employed six veterinarians‚ not all of whom had equine experience.
“There were concerns surrounding the conduct of some of the veterinarians which may have impacted on their ability to thoroughly examine the animals.
“The terrain was also inaccessible by vehicles and the only way to assess the conditions would be by helicopter.
“However‚ any lameness or welfare issues would be difficult to see from the air. This made instant intervention impossible and the only time that the horses could be properly assessed by anyone was at the various veterinary check stations.”
There were also concerns about some of the riders who took part‚ ranging from some being “unfamiliar with the track provided”‚ some who “lacked compassion when handling the horses” that some were “not competent to swim the horses”.
De Klerk said that late start and late finish times resulted in night racing on unfamiliar and dangerous terrain‚ “placing the horses and the riders at risk of injury”.
Speaking via e-mail on Tuesday, event organisers Rockethorse Racing denied the claims that the vets employed were not suitably qualified.
“The team of six qualified veterinarians on site all have equine experience and are led by a head vet‚” the organisers said.
“Many of the veterinarians on site are international veterinarians who have vetted other endurance events‚ such as the famed Mongol Derby‚ a race which is much longer than Race The Wild Coast.”
The organisers said the horses used were specifically bred for endurance racing – and that a team from the Moolmanshoek Endurance Horses breeders accompanied the horses during the race to see to their wellbeing.
“Each rider rides three horses during the race. Each horse covers approximately a third of the total distance‚ which is straddled by a 12-hour rest period for each horse,” they said.
“In addition‚ there are 12 vet checks during the race‚ which at an average of 29km between checks‚ is far more stringent than endurance riding norms around the world.
“The input we received from the NSPCA inspectors on the ground during the race was very different in tone to the statement issued after the race.” They added that‚ as far as they were aware‚ the NSPCA inspectors were not equine vets.
The organisers claimed there were a “number of false or misleading statements:
● All river crossings were successful and without incident;
● There was no intervention by NSPCA inspectors in the race;
● There was open discussion between race director Barry Armitage‚ head vet Dave Gibbs‚ Wiesman Nel of Moolmanshoek (the breeding farm) and the NSPCA inspectors on site;
● The NSPCA inspectors were welcomed and assisted by the Rockethorse Racing team.
It also claimed three horses were vetted out of the race‚ not four‚ as claimed by the NSPCA. All had recovered well
The team of six qualified veterinarians on site all have equine experience and are led by a head vet