By BRIDGET COOK
IT wasn’t too long ago that Anthony Swords had nothing to do with horses.
Now he runs an organisation out of Clyde, with the help of his partner Amber Hendry and volunteers, which rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes retired racehorses into qualified homes.
And it all started for two reasons – his daughter’s bond with the gentle giants and seeing images of neglected and emaciated ex-racehorses.
The We Were Champions organisation was officially formulated in April, but Mr Swords and Ms Hendry have been saving thoroughbreds from death row since last year.
They currently have 18 horses at their Clyde property and have already re-homed a number of others to give them a second chance at life.
The organisation takes in ex-racehorses who have been given to them as well as purchases horses at auctions or the stockyard to save them from slaughter.
Mr Swords said the journey started after Amber’s daughter Pandora Humphries got a pony.
Pandora, who was the face of the Good Friday Appeal, suffers from a undiagnosed condition which causes her red blood cells to attack each other and not regenerate.
She spent the first two years clinging to life in the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“Once Pandora was well enough, she wanted a pony,” Mr Swords said.
“Despite her tiny size, she has such a strong bond with the horses.
“Then from there we got another one, then my partner got one, and then I wanted one.
“I decided I wanted to get an ex-racehorse to give it a second chance at life.
“I went to buy an ex-racehorse and ended up coming home with three.”
Mr Swords said he then started to become aware of how some owners were treating there horses and saw numerous emaciated and abused horses before they were sent to knackeries.
He said a YouTube video about a horse that ended up from the racetrack in a knackery and was subsequently inhumanely slaughtered really struck a cord with him and made him want to do more.
“The organisation went from nought to a hundred so quickly,” he said.
“We quickly ended up with seven horses we got given to us, and then went to Echuca sales and bought another 11 horses.”
Mr Swords said two years ago he never would have imagined he would be running such an organisation.
“I had nothing to do with horses before Pandora got a pony,” he said.
“I would have never envisioned it turning out like this.
“I’ve found a new passion for it and it’s great.”
Ms Hendry said the aim of the organisation was to save the lives of ex-racehorses which were selected to be destroyed and discarded as wastage from the racing industry.
She said they wanted to do this by creating awareness to those who surround the industry on retraining and rehousing healthy animals to be integrated back into the wider horse community.
“Whilst the horse industry is always evolving, education is paramount,” she said.
“One of our many aims is to educate the public and open the lines of communication with co-operation between the racing and rescue communities in a positive manner.
“We Were Champions believe that responsible horsemanship and care should last through the natural life of a horse, whether it be from the breeder, trainer and so forth.
“A horses career should not end at three years of age because it is not fast enough to win races, there are many suitable disciplines for thoroughbreds who’s racing career is said to be over.”
We Were Champions is a volunteer organisation, and Mr Swords urged anyone that could help to do so.
“Not only do we need donations, but volunteering time or food or anything like that would be extremely helpful.
“We are also seeking corporate sponsors to help us create a sanctuary for these majestic creatures that deserve to have a life after racing.”
The organisation has a Lunch with the Legends fundraiser being held at Living Legends on the 15 June at 12.30pm.
Tickets are available at the gate on the day or by contacting Mr Swords on 0428 876 876.
Anyone who can assist or those in the racing industry looking to re-home their retired horses are urged to email keephorses@live.com.
