Spotlight on Salient Equine Trust
Jenny Kain with fellow Trustees Richard Cain, Dr Murray Brightwell and Dr Paul Fraser
The Salient Equine Trust has been a valued supporter of New Zealand’s world-leading horse ambulance initiative from the start and was one of the first entities to contribute to a million-dollar capital appeal in 2020. It was set up in 2017 for the purposes of promoting equine welfare throughout NZ, along with an aim to educate and train people involved in the care and treatment of horses.
The generous benefactor of the Trust is Jenny Kain, with well-known and respected equine veterinarians Dr Paul Fraser and Dr Murray Brightwell and retired teacher, Richard Cain as Trustees.
The name of the Trust is a nod to Salient, a chestnut thoroughbred by Headland II, the first foal of Sovereign Edition mare Kotirotere (1975). Salient gave the Kain family a lot of fun times, being placed or weighing in nearly every time he went to the races, including over the infamous steeplechase course and challenging hill at Ellerslie.
In addition to supporting the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust, the Salient Equine Trust granted a special scholarship for Massey University Animal Science student, Ike Baker to further his education in Europe, and recently funded a Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAR) online course run by the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA).
The course was created in response to an urgent need for NZVA to enhance its preparedness, response, and recovery skills as a profession given the increased risks associated with adverse weather events and natural disasters such as earthquakes in Aotearoa.
Led by Dr Peter Gillespie, there are plans in place to support NZVA’s direction by funding a coordinated national TLAR capability in partnership with FENZ and Massey University. Presently there are only two fire brigades that are set up for large animal rescue – in Kumeu and Silverdale, and nothing in the South Island.
With the support of people like Jenny, the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust can make a difference in improving outcomes for horses in many aspects of their care and welfare.
“Salient may not have been the greatest horse to grace the racetrack, but in lending his name to the Trust I hope he has inspired a legacy for the future,” says Jenny. “It is to all of our four-legged friends that The Salient Equine Trust is dedicated to in one way or another, be it those people who strive to better their welfare or things that make their daily lives more comfortable.”