HorsePower Australia gains support for horse welfare and participants
Community TAB of Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) has committed another $80,000 to support the service HorsePower Australia provides to individuals with disabilities throughout Western Australia, with this year’s contribution subsidising costs for participants as well as supporting volunteer training and horse welfare.
HorsePower Australia is a voluntary association of centres providing equine facilitated programs for people with disabilities utilising the power of horses to develop new skills and discover new abilities.
Community TAB’s contribution will go towards scholarships to assist participants to continue their therapy with HorsePower Australia, the Help Our Horses welfare program supporting upkeep of the therapy horses, training and supporting volunteers, and the organisations fundraising events.
HorsePower Australia Executive Officer Kelly Mansfield said HorsePower welcomes the continued partnership with Community TAB, especially throughout the COVID-19 period.
“Our partnership with RWWA via their Community TAB and Off the Track programs is very important to us. Their support, particularly during these difficult times provides an added boost to our centres and volunteers in caring for our horses and providing ongoing therapeutic programs for people with disabilities across our state,” Ms Mansfield said.
“Many families in our community were already doing it tough before COVID-19, Community TAB’s continued support of the Hearts and Horses participant scholarships will provide those in need of financial assistance, support to benefit from our programs.”
“Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining health, well-being, and quality of life. Through our partnership with Community TAB we can offer individuals with disabilities across the state the opportunity to simultaneously experience, benefit and enjoy physical activities in an outdoors setting, which might not otherwise be available to them.”
RWWA Chairman Jeff Ovens said the partnership with HorsePower Australia and Community TAB is important to RWWA as well as the racing industry.
“HorsePower Australia not only assists Western Australians with disabilities, but also supports the rehoming of ex-racehorses through their program, training them to be therapy horses in their post-racing careers,” Mr Ovens said.
“We are proud to support the organisations upkeep and welfare of their horses and subsidise costs for participants through our scholarship program, especially for those in regional and rural areas where access to HorsePower therapy services is vital.”
“Community TAB recognises how important and unique the service HorsePower offers to the WA community, hence why we value being an ongoing supporter.”
There are 14 HorsePower centres in WA including, Albany, Margaret River, Collie, Hills, Peel, Swan Valley, Denmark, Mid-West, Mandurah and Brigadoon.
Community TAB and HorsePower Australia have been in partnership since 2014, with Community TAB having contributed $480,000 to the organisation in total.