Horsezone & Equestrian Australia to Conduct Stallion Service Auction for Flood Victims

Horsezone.com.au in conjunction with Equestrian Australia are calling for offers from stallion owners to donate services to be auctioned, with the proceeds used to help those horses and their owners affected by the recent floods throughout Australia.

The stallion services will be auctioned on Horsezone.com.au from February 14-18. All funds raised will be donated to a trust account being established by EA.  The funds will be distributed by an independent committee of industry figures to a wide range of horse people affected by the floods. Other than financial transaction fees where applicable, no administration costs will be taken from the proceeds.

Equestrian Australia’s Deputy Chair, Natalie Nichols is optimistic of the goodwill in Australia’s horse industry “Last time around the proceeds from the fire and floods auction conducted by Inglis in 2009 reached just a shade over $130,000. This time around so many more people are affected. We need as much help as possible.”

Last week Equestrian Australia and Equestrian Queensland launched the Flood Emergency and Recovery Assistance Website which is focused on providing as much immediate assistance to those affected as possible. Further to this there is going to be a great financial need to get people, their properties and horse venues back in working order.

Commenting on the auction, Horsezone’s Business Manager Haylie Martin said this morning, “After seeing the heart-wrenching footage and hearing of the total devastation from this disaster, it’s a no-brainer for us to jump in and help out as much as we can.”

“Bringing it even closer to home, one of our team members, Jo Johnson, has been right in the middle of it.  Jo’s been so brave having been isolated for five days without power in rural Kilcoy and taking in horses to help others out.”

“However she’ll admit that what she’s been through is just a fraction of what others have endured.”

“This is our chance to chip in and recognise the courage and goodwill that’s prevailed amongst the equine community.”

"The iconic photo we are using for the Stallion Service Auction, of Warregold Cindy being rescued (photo courtesy of Warregold Horse Stud and Australian Stock Horse Society) symbolises the extent of the tragedy that has affected so many people and horses." Click here to read more about Cindy's amazing rescue.

New Zealand horse owners have also been touched by the plight of their Trans-Tasman cousins and have rallied to send tonnes of surplus horse gear and supplies to Queensland with the help of IRT and Qantas. For more information on this click here.

The Horsezone.com.au concept itself was born from the infamous fire and flood auction back in 2009 and each stallion represented in the auction will receive a years’ free stallion listing on the site.

Click here to submit your stallion donation online and here to view the Terms and Conditions. For more information contact Haylie Martin: haylie@horsezone.com.au or phone 04 2804 2126. Donations for stallion services are due by February 7.

Click here to view stallions already registered for the auction.