Victorian racehorse industry-backed group to take over Pinjarra Hills McIntyre Centre Riding for the Disabled

A Victorian-based group which retrains retired racehorses for use in therapeutic riding has been announced as the new operator of a 60-year-old westside riding for the disabled centre.

The McIntyre Centre will now be run by a Victorian-based group which retrains retired racehorses for therapeutic riding. Picture: Chris McCormack

A Victorian-based group which retrains retired racehorses for use in therapeutic riding has been announced as the new operator of a 60-year-old westside riding for the disabled centre.

HELP Enterprises announced on Wednesday morning, March 27, that Racing Hearts Therapy Incorporated would run a reopened McIntyre Centre Riding for the Disabled at Pinjarra Hills.

The charity made the shock decision in May last year to close the popular centre, the largest of its kind in Australia, because rising costs and NDIS funding gaps had made it unviable.

It took over the centre, founded in 1973 by a Kenmore couple, in 2017.

The McIntyre Centre Riding for the Disabled will be taken over by Racing Hearts. File picture: Chris McCormack

HELP transferred trusteeship of the McIntyre Centre on March 25.

It said it would not disclose details of the other groups which responded to its Expressions of Interest campaign, citing commercial in confidence. Lions Brisbane West was one of those to lodge an EOI.

Racing Hearts’ website said it had a complex, lengthy process to retrain, rest and re-equip retired racehorses before choosing only those suitable for therapeutic work.

HELP Enterprises began selling off assets and horses last year after saying they were deteriorating due to the time taken to find a new operator. Picture: Mark Cranitch

It offered programs for children in schools as well as programs for people with autism.

Racing Hearts, which also operated in NSW and the Northern Territory, ran individual therapy sessions and group programs, including equine and art-assisted autism programs.

It would restart equine therapy at the McIntyre Centre within the next six months.

During that time, the charity would offer transitional support to Racing Hearts for the reopening.

Racing Hearts founder Lisa Coffey said she was delighted to be carrying on the legacy of the McIntyre “family’’, which would focus on therapeutic riding but also include rehabilitation of former racehorses and vocational education.

“We want to continue the legacy of the Kenmore family which started it,’’ she said.

“We can’t wait to connect with everyone in the community who is passionate about the centre so we can all work together to make it a huge success.

“Our mission is to ensure a safe and nurturing space for both humans and horses.’’

She said expressions of interest were now on their website inviting former volunteers to reapply to work at the revived centre.

She could not say how many would return but was committed to “utilising the centre to its maximum capacity’’.

Racing Hearts had formed preliminary links to the Magic Millions horse sales and Racing Queensland but would ensure local community groups and volunteers were an important part of its operations.

The charity, set up in 2018, was backed by a swag of major industry players including the Victorian Racing Club, Henry Dwyer Racing and others.

As well as equine therapy, it works with retired racehorses to prepare them for life after racing.

HELP CEO Denver Fresser said Racing Hearts was “best positioned’’ to run the McIntyre Centre.

“They are a highly-regarded organisation with strong financial backing,’’ Mr Fresser said.

“Their passion for their work is evident and they’re deeply committed to helping as many people and horses as possible.”

Mr Fresser thanked all interested parties for their patience while the process to transfer the McIntyre Centre was worked through.

He said the process had taken a long time because HELP had to comply with the McIntyre Centre’s charitable trust obligations and also follow rigorous assessment of the multiple expressions of interest that had been received.

McIntyre Centre volunteers and supports at a protest last year about the closure of the centre.

“This is a terrific outcome for the community, and we are extremely pleased that vital services for people with disability will resume with Racing Hearts,” he said.

Lions Brisbane West president John Williams, whose group has led efforts to restart the McIntyre Centre, said they were willing to work with Racing Hearts despite concerns about the use of retired racehorses.

“We will work with them, we will talk to them, but we reserve our legal rights if it turns out riding for the disabled does not return to the McIntyre Centre,’’ Mr Williams said.

“Therapeutic riding horses are highly trained and we have here over 100 volunteers, many of whom have years of experience with helping people living with disabilities.’’