TRAINING OF HORSES BY OWNERS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1579, 29 July 1920, Page 9

TRAINING OF HORSES BY OWNERS.

BETTERMENT OF CONDITIONS FOR APPRENTICES. Among the important matters discussed at the New Zealand Racing Conference were the training of horses by their owners, and the betterment of the conditions in regard to apprentices. After consideration, the following rule was substituted for Rule 3, Part 21, on the motion of the president: “Any owner who has never received payment for training or riding a horse may train his own horse without a trainer’s license, provided such horse is trained under his personal superintendence, and that he has obtained from the district committee

written permission to train such horse; and, further, that no trainer or an owner (who has obtained written permission from the district committee to train his own horse) shall, without the previous consent in writing of the district committee, employ any person whose last application for a license to train or ride has been refused by any district committee; such consent may at any time be withdrawn by the district committee.” A number of requests from the jockeys and from various clubs were considered relative to a betterment in the general conditions of apprentices. Rules were amended making it no longer possible for apprentices to be apprenticed for more than four years without their full consent first being obtained to any extension; and, further, in order to protect the lads from unscrupulous trainers it was resolved that “after a lad shall have been apprenticed for his -full term the right of the employer to retain one-half of his fees shall terminate.” Provision was also made ensuring that in future all apprenticeships shall be subject to revision by the president, and may be cancelled at his option. At the instance of the Wanganui Jockey Club the conference adopted safeguards in order to ensure apprentices, on proof of ill-usage or neglect, securing redress and, if necessary, release from their obligations.