Supermodel backing elderly racehorses

Kylie Bax Poros and husband Spiro say racehorses deserve the best care when they retire. Photo / Richard Robinson

Supermodel Kylie Bax Poros has set up a retirement fund for racehorses.

"Looking after these retired animals is very expensive and these horses deserve the very best care," Bax Poros said this week.

" People have made a lot of money from these horses and we can't let them be forgotten."

The KiwiSaver-style fund will allocate money for vet bills and feed to farms caring for retired champions.

Bax Poros, the New Zealand Racing Ambassador, and husband Spiros Poros set up the New Zealand Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation charity to run in conjunction with their new company Hermes Syndication. Hermes Syndication allows people to part own or lease shares in a horse.

Bax Poros said there had been cases where previously high earning animals were neglected when they retired and their hooves grew so long they couldn't walk.

She said the charity was a way to give back to the industry that had given her so much enjoyment.

"It is an expensive sport but you also get a lot out of it.

"There is no reason we should ignore our champions when they have finished racing. That is wrong."

Spiros Poros said animals in Europe were celebrated in their twilight years and the couple wanted to see the same happen here.

www.hermessyndications.co.nz