CPR: What do they really protect?

If you ask the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses what they do with all their donations – a total income of $24,000 at the end of the year – you might not hear what you had expected to hear.

Judging by their name, you’d first assume that they’re active in finding new homes for ex racehorses. Or supporting some racehorses in transition from track to hack. Or perhaps helping with transport for some to their new homes.

Or perhaps helping out with feed for a few that need it. Maybe saving some from the knackery? The word ‘protection’ certainly conjures many such thoughts.

Investigate a little further though, and you’ll soon realise where their priorities lay.

Truth is, they’d rather sit there with a video camera recording a horse being slaughtered, than stepping in and offering it a chance at a new life.

They are the first to admit that they are not a rescue, they are instead an “Awareness Organisation”. There is nothing wrong with such an organisation, as long as the awareness you’re spreading is factual.

In fact, so non-committed to directly helping horses are CPR, that they spent a mere two per cent of their profit on anything relating to horse type expense.

They spent 13 times more on camera equipment than they did on horses.

So they’re now well equipped to capture and document a horse that needs “protecting” but it might just be out of their budget to actually help that one horse that might need protecting.

Now, those of us with any idea what the cost of the upkeep for one horse is, would know that $313 doesn’t last very long, or stretch very far. So what exactly did that money go towards? Odds are, they can’t tell you, so your guess is as good as mine.

The majority of their expenses goes towards materials used in campaigns and protests that rally together individuals with a common hate for the racing industry. Several of whom ignorantly and regularly call for complete abolishment of the racing industry.

CPR claim to be advocates for better welfare reform within the industry. This transparent industry, the industry that is in the public spotlight 24/7. The industry that provides thousands of jobs Australia wide.

The industry that gives thousands of horses a purpose in life and seeks out homes and careers when their time in the industry comes to an end. The industry responsible for the care of those thousands of horses.

The industry regulated by strict welfare and animal husbandry guidelines, compiled by the best vets, most experienced horsemen and women, and years of statistics, combined with the latest technology and advanced information.

Arguably one of the toughest, unrelenting, humbling and character building industries to etch out a living in. An industry that relies on the horse, to be at its peak health and fitness that can only be obtained by the aforementioned welfare guidelines, in order to keep marching forward.

This outside organisation, CPR, with no experience in the industry, questionable empathy, ethics and morals. Armed with nothing more than their opinions and fabricated figures, want to challenge and change the already fluid, functioning and humane welfare system within the racing industry.

They want to challenge a system built on decades of trial and error, smoothed out by centuries of wealth in knowledge, supported by the best and most up to date research available.

CPR regularly spread blatantly fabricated statistics. They have been corrected and provided with facts to use in their campaigns on several occasions, from several different sources. CPR chooses to ignore the truth and keep spreading their propaganda.

They are calling for a ban on jumps racing, two-year-old racing and the use of whips. Let’s assume for the sake of it, they succeed in any of those things. What’s the next step? Call for an end to racing entirely?

It certainly seems like a logical step for an organisation with ties to PETA, Animals Australia, and Animal Liberation Victoria. All well known extremist activists and advocates for animal rights and abolishing the pet ownership status.

Everyone knows that bad examples exist in every profession, or industry. CPR acknowledges this, they have said that they know the racing industry is “filled with kind hearted people”. But still knowingly choose to label and tarnish the entire industry based on the actions of a mere few, a small minority.

They paint a picture of a miserable and abusive industry that churns horses out, uses them up and cans them for dog food at the end of the day.

They couldn’t be more wrong.

The industry is a fantastic environment for a horse to be born into, the best care and nutrition from day one, every need catered to and specialist care if required. Horses receive ample holiday time to keep them happy and relaxed and create a balance between work life and holiday life, and at the end of it all, the majority are found retirement homes, if not sent stud, with people who use them recreationally, competitively or simply keep them as pets.

There is beyond enough proof to show for it. Ask most anyone in the horse industry what OTT means, and they could tell you.

We, the participants of the racing industry, have had enough of the mistruths and propaganda. We have had enough of being judged by people who know nothing of the industry. It’s time more of us spoke up, counteracted their outrageous claims and got the truth out there.

Where you stand is up to you, but don’t make your decision based on one side of the story. Educate yourselves, always ask questions. Learn about what you’re fighting for. That you might form a more sound, balanced and educated opinion.