SAQ Annual General Meeting – 1st November, 2025
It is my pleasure to present the Horse Placement Report for the past year and to share the activities, achievements, and challenges faced by the SAQ Horse Placement Program.
Over the past 12 months, SAQ has proudly rehomed 21 horses through our adoption program. Each horse was individually assessed and carefully matched with an adopter to ensure a safe and supportive transition into their new home.
This year, we have seen a noticeable shift in the types of horses coming into our care. Increasingly, we are assisting horses who have sustained injuries that ended their racing careers or older horses who no longer have a role in breeding or training. While these horses often require more time, care and understanding to prepare for adoption, we continue to be inspired by the adopters who open their hearts to give them the chance at a comfortable and meaningful life beyond the track.
Finding homes for these horses can be particularly challenging, but through the commitment of our volunteers and the generosity of our community, we have once again been able to make a tangible difference. Since the inception of our program in 2002, a total of 1,323 Standardbreds have been successfully placed into loving homes, a milestone that reflects over two decades of dedication to the welfare of this incredible breed.
While our program continues to operate without formal funding support from the racing industry, we remain proud of the contribution we make in helping transition horses from racing to retirement. Through creativity, community collaboration and careful management of limited resources, we have continued to provide a vital safety net for horses that may otherwise have limited options.
We also recognise the growing network of accredited retrainers within the Queensland Off The Track (QOTT) program who are doing important work re-educating and rehoming sound, younger horses leaving the racing industry. Our role complements these programs by focusing on those horses who may require rehabilitation, rest or simply a softer landing into retirement, ensuring that every horse, regardless of age or soundness, has a chance at a safe future.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to strengthening our partnerships, exploring new funding opportunities, and continuing to promote the value of Standardbreds as versatile and kind companions.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our volunteers, adopters and supporters who make this work possible. Your dedication, compassion and persistence are what allow us to continue offering these horses a genuine second chance.
Together, we have achieved much this year, not just in numbers, but in the lives changed.
Thank you for your ongoing trust and support.
Melissa Bell
Horse Placement Officer, Standardbred Association Queensland
