A cross-sectional survey to describe practices associated with retraining and rehoming of former racehorses in Great Britain

Abstract

The fate of Thoroughbred racehorses leaving the horseracing industry is one of the primary public concerns about the sport. A Thoroughbred’s racing career typically represents only a small fraction of their potential lifespan. Rehabilitating and retraining former racehorses for post-racing careers in the non-racing equestrian sector is a key strategic focus of many racing jurisdictions globally. In Great Britain, the racehorse aftercare sector is highly fragmented and currently unregulated. This study aimed to improve understanding of the aftercare sector for former racehorses in Great Britain. An online cross-sectional survey of individuals and organisations located in Great Britain and involved in retraining, rehoming and/or selling former racehorses was conducted (n=57). Respondents had spent a median of 10 (IQR 5–20) years retraining, rehoming/selling former racehorses. Responses highlighted the considerable variation in practices within this sector, particularly in how respondents described themselves and their work with former racehorses. An individual horse’s circumstances and their specific requirements informed decisions taken around rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming/selling; 61% of respondents had had former racehorses that they were unable to rehome/sell. Most respondents in this study worked with small numbers of former racehorses on the side of their main focus of employment, typically taking a tailored approach to suit each individual horse they worked with. While the lack of standardisation has reportedly been a concern of the racing industry, it is possible that such a tailored approach is advantageous for the individual horses involved, providing them the best opportunity to succeed in a career outside of racing.