By Brendan Rees
After struggling to find the right home, Chatsfield, a 13-year-old gelding, is enjoying greener pastures.
The former racehorse was surrendered to the Pearcedale RSPCA centre from a private home in 2019 but thanks to Racing Victoria’s new pathway program for thoroughbreds, Chatsfield has an opportunity to start a new life.
The pilot program called RESET – Racehorse, Evaluation, Support, Education and Transition – is aimed at supporting horses that have struggled to find a new home after the end of their racing careers.
Chatsfield, who finished last in his only career start at Echuca in 2011 before being retired the next year, is one of the first horses to receive a leg up through the program.
He is now being retrained in Garfield by RV Acknowledged Retrainer, Amanda Porter, who says she is “looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together”.
“There will no doubt be ups and downs as there is retraining any horse for a new career, but I’m confident we can reset Chatsfield for the next phase of his life after racing,” Ms Porter said.
RSPCA Victoria head of operations Tegan McPherson said Chatsfield was one of 43 horses that came into the care of RSPCA in the 2019-20 financial year.
“There are hundreds of horses like Chatsfield across the state needing homes,” she said.
“Retraining programs like the RESET Program provide an opportunity for a fulfilling second career in a different discipline.”
The program, which was announced on 16 July, will initially welcome 10 horses, with an additional 20 to join within the first two months.
