Programs
Horse SA has a number of program areas in which members take an interest:
Recreation and Sport on Public Land
Horse SA works with governments to help horse riders access public land, including beaches and parks, for running club activities, exercising horses and cultural heritage events. Installation of horse friendly public facilities such as horse trailer parking areas and horse yarding are also promoted.
Increased urban growth and the changing use of land around Adelaide and regional towns – from farming to housing and industry – have made this particular field of work important to ensure that horses continue to be a valued part of our community.
The Kidman Trail and the Tom Roberts Horse Trail are also important community assets to which Horse SA has regular input. Horse SA volunteers contribute time to keeping an eye on trail condition, minor maintenance and trail promotions.
Road Safety
Promotion about safe use of public roads by horse riders is strongly linked to increased urban development and use of cars.
A dedicated website HorseRoadSafety contains information to help riders and vehicle drivers.
Supporting Research and Best Practice
Horse SA has established “The Australian Horse Industry Research and Development Trust”, an Ancillary fund to help raise public funds for investment back into our own horse industry and community through research, public education and sharing information about
better ways to care for horses. The scope of works includes environment, business management and the human-horse bond.
As part of this endeavour, Horse SA has formed a strong partnership with the University of Adelaide Veterinary School as it moves to build a state-of-the-art equine hospital.
Donations over $2 to the fund are tax deductible.
Keeping Horses
Horse SA works with horse owners, Local Government, Natural Resources Management Boards and organisations to promote good keeping practices. Horse Keeping in many parts of South Australia, including the Adelaide Hills, requires special permission from Council. This means that it is important not only to keep the horses healthy but to care for the land on which they live through planned property management.
This program area is named HorsesLandWater A dedicated website contains lots of useful information for horse owners who own or manage land. Horse SA organises or promotes field days and courses which may be of interest to horse property owners.
Heritage and Culture
Horse SA promotes the richness of our State’s horse heritage by celebrating horses in the arts, the written word, poetry and story -telling.
The Adelaide Fringe, SA Living Artists, Barossa Vintage and History SA Festivals that often feature on the Horse SA annual calendar along with the promotion of street parades and community event participation in community cultural and heritage celebrations.
Our members are advocates for cultural heritage, participating in trail preservation projects, cultural educational & ceremonial opportunities.
Heritage & culture is also recognised through contributing to public policy documents e.g. national park management plans.
Careers and Training
Horse SA has attracted funding for vocational training programs which have, over the last six years, seen placement of around 45 young people into the work force, mainly in the thoroughbred racing industry. The program provided participants with free training at the TAFE SA Morphettville Horse Skills Centre.
A day “behind the scenes” for school based career advisors is one of many other activities organised in partnership with racing and educational organisations to promote careers that involve working with horses.
Horse SA networks with a range of training providers, has organised two national racing industry vocational training conferences and was the lead author for the Racing Industry Employers Toolbox.
Horse Health
Horse SA considers the health of the collective “state herd”. This involves regular meetings with the South Australian Government Chief Veterinary Officer and Biosecurity SA to share information and undertake work to help keep the herd of horses owned by South Australians healthy.
Information is shared with horse owners and organisations on ways to keep horses free from exotic & endemic animal disease.
Horse SA also undertakes to understand how the government would respond to an emergency disease or major natural disaster, and what happens to horses in this event.
General information for horse owners in relation to bushfires can be found here.
Welfare & Wellbeing
In 2011 Horse SA played a key role in facilitating the development and adoption of the Australian Horse Welfare Protocol. Horse SA is a signatory to this document.
South Australia, unlike many other states, currently does not have a Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses.
Advocacy and Lobbying
The Horse SA Board and Executive work state-wide and at all levels of government. There is a focus on the Local Government councils where high numbers of horses are kept near urban areas, such as Onkaparinga, Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker.
This involves regular communication with government departments involved with sport & recreation, planning, transport, vocational training, environment & research.
Important relationships are also maintained with the Environment Protection Authority, Natural Resources Management Boards and other not-for-profit groups with some similar community goals.
Horse SA participates in government consultation opportunities that affect horse owners, organisations or businesses, such as:
- State Government level consultation e.g. Department for Environment & Natural Resources State Visitor Strategy and
Park Management Plans - Local Government level consultation e.g. Development Plans and by-law reviews
Horse SA takes a strong interest in legislative and regulatory aspects that may affect horse owners, which means that communication and visits with Members of Parliament takes place on a regular basis.
Updates on the work of Horse SA are shared in the weekly e-news. Join today!