OFF THE RECORD #87

Hope Made Visible
Backing The Cause That Transforms Equine Lives

Above: Charity promotion details 

When every cent is carefully stretched to make a difference, few causes resonate as strongly with the racing community as the Highveld Horse Care Unit (HHCU). On Saturday, 6 September, Turffontein hosts a special charity race day in their honour — a chance to support the Unit’s tireless work in rehoming and providing veterinary care for retired and rescued racehorses, donkeys and other equines, giving these noble animals the second chances they deserve.

Above: Dorrie & Mark Sham with their grandkids (photo: supplied)

This charity drive has been spearheaded and realised by lifelong horse lovers Dorrie and Mark Sham, who also assist the Eastern Cape Horse Care Unit (ECHCU) and staged similar successful initiatives while Dorrie was training in Gqeberha, and after she’d retired.

Dorrie said that a record R420,000 was raised at their most recent function, held at Fairview in March, made possible by a large, surprise contribution from an anonymous donor. “There are always a handful of kind, anonymous givers,” she said. “Each donation, large or small, helps to make the end result all the more meaningful.”

The ECHCU is further assisted by Tracy Schoeman, who runs the ‘ECHCU Auction Room’ on Facebook, where items as trivial as beer glasses are sold for as little as R10, but which adds up to help horses in need, somewhere, every year. “Tracy raised over R50,000 last year by selling literally anything on her auction page,” Dorrie said.

Occasionally, special items come along that can significantly boost auction yields. Not long ago, Dorrie was given the original shoes of Nureyev, the legendary sire of sires. “They came from the Von Schwarzkoppen family, who were active in South African racing many years ago. The shoes were still block-mounted and in good condition, and we first offered them to Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, where Nureyev was born. In the end, they were sold to Hollywoodbets, who made a more generous offer.”

Hollywoodbets will be one of the race sponsors on 6 September. The others are Top Bets, Mining Pressure Systems, Gary Mann Estates, Bryanston Auctioneers, Ridgemont Stud and Glistian Events. They’ve each put up between R20,000 and R30,000 and will receive naming rights to a race. Early donations include a consignment of boutique wine from Fred and Manuela Crabbia’s Blue Crane Vineyards. “There are two races open, we hope that sponsors will come forward,” Dorrie noted.

Dorrie and Mark’s novel idea this year is the ‘Wall of Welfare’, for which two custom-made fibreboard walls will carry the names of individuals who donated R2,000 each to buy a ‘brick’ in the wall. But unlike the futile, metaphorical bricks in Pink Floyd’s 1970s hit song, these bricks will carry real meaning and identity.

Dorrie explained: “We decided on R2,000 per brick because we felt it was an affordable amount, and 60 bricks have been sold so far to owners, trainers, and jockeys. We approached about 95% of trainers in Gauteng, and every one donated without hesitation. We already have R120,000 in the pool from the bricks alone, and there’s potential to sell more. The money will go a long way, and each brick will carry the name of its donor.

“We’d like to see more jockeys involved. So far Gavin Lerena, Calvin Habib, Kabelo Matsunyane, Ryan Munger and Callan Murray have made donations. Callan will be adding R500 for every winner he rides on the day.”

Ten small items will be auctioned during the afternoon in the Aquanaut Room, where 11 tables — seating ten people each — have already been sold at R4,000 per table, with room for more. “We don’t have anything in the Nureyev horseshoe league this time, but there will be some interesting items on offer, which we hope will boost the final figures. Our overall aim for the day is to raise R250,000. Maybe we can get to R270,000.”

Theresa Hodgkinson, who has managed the HHCU for the past six years, welcomed the prospect of a mid-year fundraising boost. She explained: “We have 30 to 40 horses in our care at any given time, along with 22 dedicated staff, plus maintenance, travel, and veterinary costs, to name just a few. As a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), we rely solely on donations to manage the unit and care for our equines as best we can.

“The HHCU has survived for 34 years and we’ve been able to provide our services thanks to a number of loyal patrons and sponsors. But the smaller donations from the public are essential for keeping the operation running smoothly and for dealing with the unexpected. We’ve responded to call-outs as far afield as Noupoort and Kuruman, and the quality of our response depends entirely on our cash flow. We have a commitment to never say ‘no’, but it’s never easy when financial constraints come into play.”

Established in 1991, the HHCU’s original focus was on rehoming retired racehorses. As demand grew, their role expanded. Today, as South Africa’s leading equine welfare organisation, their services include owner education, investigating cases of neglect and cruelty, and hospitalising horses and donkeys whose owners cannot afford treatment.

The rehoming programme is built on the HHCU’s unique ‘Adoption’ model. Horses are in effect leased to thoroughly vetted and approved owners for a once-off fee ranging from R4,500 to R8,500. They remain the property of the HHCU, are routinely monitored for health, safety, and progress, and are returned when deemed necessary.

“We have rehomed over 500 horses since 2020, and our return rate is very low,” Theresa said. “We try our utmost to match horses to the right owners, to ensure that they find the best possible homes or second careers. Thoroughbreds are very giving animals, they make great companions and competitors. We have a detailed database, community forums and inspectors who perform checks and furnish reports on the well-being of our equine family.”

The fees payable by adopted owners depend on each horse’s level of ability. Theresa explained: “Every incoming horse receives a full veterinary check as well as an assessment by a trainer to determine its suitability for different disciplines. We then match them to prospective owners. A normal riding horse will be at the lower end of the scale, while those with strong jumping or sporting potential will be priced higher. The fees usually just cover our administrative and veterinary costs.”

The Unit’s education programme extends not only into former townships and rural areas, but also into more affluent communities. “We teach equine owners how to dip and deworm their horses, how to shoe them properly, and how to repair tack and equipment. The response is invariably positive, and people make genuine efforts to improve their levels of care,” said Theresa.

Above: Rural horse gets a brush (photo: HHCU)

The HHCU also runs a Support Outreach programme, where specific needs are identified, costed, and then shared with the public. “Procedures like dentistry or gelding come with fixed costs, so we highlight them on social media, and the response is always positive. Many donors appreciate knowing exactly how their contributions are being used. Our Facebook following has grown from 30,000 to nearly 40,000 over the past few years, and with it we’ve seen an increase in donations from that platform, which is encouraging.”

There are times of economic stagnation or decline — as South Africa is experiencing now — when the demand for assistance rises significantly. “Many owners reach out to us for help simply because they can no longer afford to care for their equines. These animals pull carts, carry water, and even transport coal in the winter, but their owners are often struggling just to feed themselves. It’s not a lack of care or concern, it’s sheer hardship. That’s where we step in to provide relief, and to rescue both horses and donkeys from desperate circumstances, while offering compassion to the people who depend on them.”

Above: Jacob the Percheron with inspector Solly (photo: HHCU)

On occasion, an equine comes along that steals the hearts of the Unit’s staff and management and are kept instead of put up for adoption. ‘Stevie’ (named after Stevie Wonder) is a blind donkey who has lived on the premises for 20 years, and Jacob is a white Percheron who has become the Unit’s official mascot.

Above:  Silva and Stevie, looking stylish in their new fly masks (photo: HHCU)

Having dedicated most of her life to equine care, Theresa reflected that the moments of heartbreak are always tempered by moments of profound reward. “Some horses arrive little more than shadows of themselves—emaciated, their eyes dull and vacant and their spirits nearly gone. But with care, patience, and love, you watch them come back to life. Their eyes begin to shine again and their steps grow lighter. Horses once thought broken have gone on to find new purpose. Some find love in the care of young riders, others blossom as showjumpers. To see them thriving when we visit them in their new homes, is something beyond words. It is hope made visible.”

Above:  HHCU Adoption, Golden Malibu, first in the 70cm Equitation at the SANESA Finals (photo: HHCU)