Let’s be clear, our horses are retired in good health

We wish to correct any misleading impression that may have been given by certain passages in the letter from Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre chief executive Mary Frances (September 15).

We do not address any points which Mary makes about funding, but we cannot allow to pass unchallenged the underlying implication of such sentences as the one which reads: “If the retired racehorse can be rendered reasonably pain-free and not suffering ongoing pain, at Moorcroft we have been successful at finding these old warriors, who have given their life to racing, a good home where they can live out their life and enjoy a well-earned rest.”

Horses who are sound, pain-free and ready for reuse in a variety of different spheres retire from racing in swathes every year and, ignoring the many we have sold or which have been retired for breeding, the three of us, who represent just a small fraction of professional trainers throughout Britain, have successfully rehomed well over a hundred horses.