As we are into another breeding season in New Zealand, our breeders are yet again being left to fend for themselves in a market which is slowly killing off it participants.
The number of live foals born each season continues to drop and the viability of the industry as we know it is in real doubt.
Anyone reading the Harness Racing New Zealand board notes will know that this issue has been high on their agenda for a few years now but what action have they taken to date – Zero
The time is well past for having another committee meeting about it and for action to be taken.
One only has to look over the Tasman to see what can be done to help breeders and try to halt the annual reduction in mares bred.
Harness Racing New South Wales have had the "Colonial Stallion" fee in place for a while now.
Any breeder in New South Wales who breeds to a colonial bred sire receives a $500 rebate off the service fee paid for by Harness Racing New South Wales.
This week the Harness Racing New South Wales Club (the equivalent of NZMTC) announced they would pay for the registration of all foals born in New South Wales from this years breeding season.
And both HRNSW and the HRNSWC are working together to bring more initiatives to fruition to help the average breeder stay in the industry.
As I have discussed previously there are so many alternative schemes to help breeders stay in the industry and these are prevalent all over the world.
Just not in New Zealand.
As we progress into the smaller crops that have been bred in the last few years, some clubs are going to struggle to attract enough horses to hold a race meeting.
The time for action is well past but I don't hold out much hope for any positive moves on this matter going by the performance of HRNZ to date.
JC