Welfare

New Zealand Bloodstock is committed to ensuring the welfare of all horses sold through its sales and supporting various organisations, events and programmes for the wider rehoming and retirement of racehorses.

New Zealand’s horse welfare programmes administered by the Ministry of Primary Industry, Harness Racing New Zealand, and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have been designed to monitor and protect the welfare of horses in racing and breeding environments, along with standards set for all horse owners.

From a Sales perspective, we ensure that all horses are sold to genuine racing and breeding purchasers who are equipped to purchase and care for horses from both a financial and behavioural perspective. We also introduced an online auction platform gavelhouse.com, enabling owners to trade horses when it suits them, so retired horses don’t have to wait until the next physical auction to find a new home be it a racing home or pleasure home.

Horses that attend Sales here at Karaka and at our Christchurch sale grounds are well looked after in a professional and safe manner. They are well cared for – fed, watered, stabled and are carefully loaded onto transporters using purpose built loading ramps with experienced loading staff. The entire complex from the auction ring, through to walkways and barns was purposely designed with the safe movement of horses in mind.

NZB actively support a number of rehoming and retirement programmes including Beyond the Barriers, EventStars, Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sports, Thoroughbred Spring Fair, along with sponsoring specific sport horse classes to promote the thoroughbred and standardbred breeds at Equifest, Show Horse Council of New Zealand shows, and Horse of the Year.

In addition, we sponsor the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust, and our Airfreight division works closely with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to rehome retired racehorses sold in Australia and New Zealand to Hong Kong-based buyers.

All of these programmes we’ve implemented and support have merit and promote the versatility of both breeds. The many horsewomen and men in the New Zealand racing and breeding industries for both thoroughbred and standardbred codes are nothing but passionate about horses with the utmost love and care for them, which shows in the treatment and nurturing of every horse.

For more information regarding the welfare of thoroughbreds and standardbreds, view the links below.

NZTR Thoroughbred Welfare
HRNZ Standardbred Welfare
Kick Up for Racing – Addressing Misinformation About Racing