Tableland foster farms gives former race horses a whole lot of love

A TABLELANDS foster farm is giving thoroughbred horses a new lease on life after their last race has been run.

Race horses are being given a second chance at a Tablelands foster farm.

A TABLELANDS foster farm is giving thoroughbred horses a new lease on life after their last race has been run.

Sue Ehrman started FNQ Foster Farm two years ago when she took her first off the track thoroughbred horse named Charlie. The horse was sick, run-down and losing hair.

“I was asked to come and get him or they would have had to put him down,” she said.

“We have 20 horses now and offer a safe haven for all horses and livestock when the current family can’t.

“Life doesn’t stop after the track for ex-race horses, but finding a new home for them can be tough because they need to be re-educated and taught how to behave.

“It’s like getting a soldier to adjust back to civilian life.

“You’ve got to adjust things like how they think, their feet because they cut them back to get a good grip on the ground when they race and what’s going on in their gut because their used to a high grain feed.”

While horses are her speciality, animals of all shapes and sizes call her home run non-for-profit home, including five pigs, three calves and three turkeys.

“We rehabilitate, train and prepare them for adoption,” she said.

“It’s mostly off our own backs but we’re lucky to have local sponsors who help with feed bills.”

You can help FNQ Foster Farm purchase a tractor/slasher by donating at www.fosterfarm.org/donate

Originally published as Tableland foster farms gives former race horses a whole lot of love