
Jockey Laura Cheshire has described her pain as she watched her former racehorse, War Ends, be slaughtered on national television.
On Thursday night, ABC’s 7:30 aired an investigation that found thousands of Australian racehorses are being sent to slaughterhouses.
The horses, filmed using hidden cameras, were abused, shocked, kicked and killed.
Cheshire’s former racehorse, who she rode for 18 months and believed she had found a “forever home” for, was one of the horses filmed being brutally mistreated before killed by an abattoir worker.
In a social media post, Cheshire recalled trying to rehome War Ends on multiple occasions but was ultimately unsuccessful.
“The racing industry is failing racehorses. I have failed a racehorse. My heart is so broken.
“War Ends I tried to do the best thing for you after you were passed on and on and on. And tonight I watched you get a captive bolt to the head. My heart feels dead.”
She continued: “I watched a horse I rode every day for years get a bolt to his head. And so many others get treated in the most disgusting way when all they did was try to please.”
In the report, an abattoir worker is shown screaming at the horse “f***ing stupid c***” before kicking it, after it had died.
Cheshire has asked for those wanting change, to write official complaints to the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission via their ‘report something‘ page.
“Currently there is nothing in place in QLD to protect horses after their career has ended. NSW is TRYING!” she wrote.
Speaking on The Project on Friday night, Cheshire told the panel she was unaware War Ends was going to be featured on the program.