A Heartfelt Letter from a CPR Writer to our Agriculture Ministers

Dear Minister,

As horses cannot put words on paper but have a lot of stories to share, I am writing you from them. My small herd of four horses live happily in the Perth Hills on 35 acres. Every day when I walk amongst them, feeding them & interacting with them, they show me and teach me how to live in the moment. I observe them sunbathing, playing with each other in the rain, running, resting under a tree, grooming each other or enjoying the wind in their mane while stretching their bodies. Some days I take one of them out for a ride around the bush and whilst we walk, I feel so grateful to have these friends in my life to share these precious moments with. And I know they feel the same. As their lives were very different before they arrived here.

These loving, humble and kind horses came into my life six years ago when I just arrived in Australia from Holland. I was unaware of the large amounts of ex racehorses that were being sent off to the knackeries and slaughterhouses every year until I was introduced to Vee, a nine year old ex-race mare (on the far left in above picture). She was rescued from the knackery truck and placed in a paddock of a friend. This is how I found her (below picture).

I could not believe that this beautiful country that I called my new home, was capable of letting this happen.

I started doing some research and could not believe my eyes. I was – and still am – devastated to see the extreme and systemic suffering of ex racehorses caused at knackeries and slaughterhouses. It didn’t take me long to find neglected, malnourished and suffering horses that were in need of a home. Over the last six years I have taken four of the thousands (!) under my wing. I just didn’t know what else to do other then to bring them home. But even though I can give these four horses a better life, that is not going to change the situation for all these thousands of others. And CHANGE is what needs to happen.

I am writing you to please take action and create an EFFECTIVE HORSE TRACEABILITY REGISTER for ALL horses. This is an integral part to achieving better horse welfare outcomes.

Those horses that have put their heart, soul and all their physical energy into racing, deserve to be retired with dignity.

Myself, Vee, Cricket, Vegemite, Dodge – and so many others – request that you please recognize the desire for new or updated animal welfare standards and agree that you will work towards prioritising particular standards. And that your consideration of the final report does ensure a comprehensive, lifelong national horse traceability for all horses.

I am looking forward to a better future for these incredible creatures.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email and to allow yourself a moment to let this information in.

With warmest regards,

Lara Akkermans

‘’ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’’
Mahatma Gandhi