For many of us, those New Year’s resolutions we made so sincerely will be forgotten before the tinsel comes down. Perhaps that’s because most resolutions—tidying the garage, saving a little more rigorously, or resolving to lose some weight—primarily benefit ourselves.
We are always told that giving is better than receiving and I must admit that it’s something I have only really come to appreciate as I’ve got older – whether it’s an unexpected gift under the tree, or simply making a cup of coffee or taking out the rubbish without being asked. However, it is always most rewarding when we help those who are most in need.
As we are still in the festive season, I hope you will indulge me in a little four-footed feel-good story.
I was intrigued to read a recent thread on the ScotFreeRacingWebsite that Steve Reid had had a run-in of sorts with an on-line bookmakers called World Sports Bet. I am not what one could call a hard core punter, so the story didn’t interest me particularly, but it was a slow day at the office and so I ended up reading it anyway.
The story went that Steve had held an account with World Sports Bet for approximately a year. A few months ago he decided to request a withdrawal from his account and in order to have his transaction processed was required to produce the necessary FICA documentation. There was a small administrative hiccup which convinced Steve that he wanted to close his account and cease doing business with WSB and he therefore requested his account to be closed.
So far, so run of the mill. However, to quote Steve ‘it was actually just the beginning of what has to be comfortably the best service I have ever received from a bookie’. In a rather unexpected turn of events, WSB took the trouble to investigate Steve’s complaint, apologize for the administrative oversight and asked how they could rectify matters. Steve was adamant that he wanted the account closed, but WSB’s Warren was equally determined not to let the matter rest and promised to give it some thought and revert to Steve.
Not long afterwards, Steve received an email from Warren documenting his disappointment at how things had worked out and offering a complimentary betting voucher by way of apology. Steve’s protestations were matched by Warren’s insistence. Eventually Steve asked whether Warren would consider putting his money where his mouth was and invest the money in a worthy cause like the Highveld Horse Care Unit. Warren was eager to accept and pledged to make a donation of R2000 to the HHCU. I am pleased to say that Steve decided not to close his account after all.
The story has an even happier ending. Warren has not only donated the original R2000 as promised, but committed to donating the same amount to the Highveld Horse Care Unit on a quarterly basis. The first payment reached the HHCU in December, just in time for the festive rush.
Christmas may be the time for giving, but particularly with the current recession, for a lot of people it also means giving up their animals and welfare organizations are overwhelmed with an influx of animals each festive season. The HHCU received a total of 17 horses at the Unit in the first few days of November alone.
Bev Seaborne established the Highveld Horse Care Unit in 1991 on small premises at the back of the Vereeniging SPCA. Initially their focus was on working horses in townships, but due to demand, their remit quickly expanded to include horses on private premises, riding stables and auctions. By 1993 their workload had outgrown their premises and the racing industry came to the rescue by purchasing and donating what is now Highveld Farm, just outside Meyerton.
The facilities are based on 32 acres of ground with 30 stables and a specialised equine medical block to hospitalise horses and donkeys needing special care. The staff compliment has swelled to 17 in Meyerton and 3 staff man the satellite unit which opened in Port Elizabeth 3 years ago.
Not only do they cover a huge area geographically, but the workload is varied as well and ranges from abattoir inspections, illegal bush slaughter, monitoring security horses, auctions and stud farms, along with more ‘everyday’ complaints regarding neglected and abused horses on private premises.
While the focus is on treatment and education, there are occasions when animals need to be confiscated to prevent further suffering. Many of the horses and donkeys who are taken to the Unit are rehabilitated and re-homed and every animal that is adopted out is monitored by the unit for the rest of its life. Sadly, not all get a happy ending. Those which are beyond help are humanely put to sleep at the Unit.
The core focus of the HHCU remains to help the large population of working horses and donkeys in townships, where they try to improve the lives of the animals and their owners through education and assistance. They teach the correct way to feed and care for the working equine, assist with medical treatments, de-worming, vaccination and sterilization. A major problem is that a lot of the harness equipment used (often old car chassis) is not safe or comfortable for the animals. Although it is not currently possible to regulate the vehicles used, the inspectors do try to effect improvements where possible. One of the dedicated township inspectors has learnt how to repair and manufacture harnessing and passes this knowledge on to the carthorse owners he works with.
The animals that make their way through the clinic are many and varied and a recent intake included a group of Thoroughbreds from a polo yard in the Midrand. The fact that one of them, a pitifully emaciated bay called Summerwood, shares a sire with one of my own horses brought the story far too close for comfort.
Sitting in the parade ring on a sunny day watching strings of well fed, fit and shiny horses pass me by, it is easy to forget that they have cousins, probably not very far away, who are a lot less fortunate.
The racing industry produces a huge number of horses each year (I believe the stats for 2008 were an all-time high of 3738). As we know, not all of those make it to the track and even fewer make it into the winner’s enclosure.
With the current recession and the fact that the pleasure riding community is increasingly switching to other breeds, there are fewer homes than ever out there for Thoroughbreds coming off the track, and the sad fact is that horses like Summerwood do not always get the retirement home they deserve.
There is a saying that ‘all horses deserve to be loved by a little girl at least once in their life’ and hopefully Bev and her team can find a little girl out there for Summerwood.
So I can only add my voice to Bev’s in thanking Warren and all the guys at WSB for stepping up to the plate and supporting this incredibly worthy cause. I know you have provided a lot of comfort this Christmas and am sure your on-going donations will help Bev and her team to keep up this incredibly difficult, but important work.
For anyone who would like more information on the Highveld Horse Care Unit, please check out their website at www.hhcu.org.za. I can vouch that they are incredibly friendly and welcoming.
