Digitise or "Didge" to his friends was born into the racing industry in 1998.  A Canberra based racehorse, Didge was fast enough to make it to the racetrack - thousands do not.  Even though he did manage to race, he was, like most other racehorses, not successful and he had a short career - placing last, last and second last in his three racing starts. 

In our society, we often only view animals based on the purpose humans have given them.  For horses, this is amplified, and horses are bred to meet the needs of a variety of human-based interests.   We breed some with traits that favour the movements of dressage, some with features we think look good whilst towing carts, we breed them as small as we can as miniatures, and in the case of thoroughbred, we breed them to be able to run fast to win us money.  It is a very rare thing to come across a horse, even a much-beloved companion, who isn't in some regard viewed on the basis of what they can provide their owner.  The breeding of animals for our purposes not only sets them up for all sorts of health issues, but it also sets them up for disaster when we humans decide that our use for them is done.

Didge, like most of his brothers and sisters, was not cut out for racing. He found himself rehomed as a riding horse.  With little regard to any connections he was making with other horses or humans at each location, Didge found himself moving from home to home as people had difficulty with him, or he wasn't suitable for what they wanted to use him for.  A lifetime of being used for the purpose of riding left him with ongoing back issues.  A horse, unable to be ridden, no longer useful to humans, faces very few options.

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We took dear Didge into the sanctuary in 2015. For five years we have watched this fellow grow in confidence and watch his character blossom as he experienced ongoing, rich relationships with his human caretakers and his herd mates.

Whilst it took the majority of Didge's life to find somewhere to value for who he is rather than what he can provide, he has now found sanctuary.  A sanctuary that we wish we had started years before.  We spent most of our lives being the people who love animals but at the same time, exploit and hurt them through our choices.  We changed, it was late, but 100% better late than never.  Because of our action, horses like Didge can find a place where they are free to be themselves, and where their story can help others like them.