Re-homing ex-racehorses

Horse racing, and in particular the Grand National, has become a major event around the world. Gamblers and racing enthusiasts tune in to watch the fastest and most powerful horses take to the field in the hopes of winning illustrious titles. What happens when a racehorse becomes too old to race though?

Retirement

Many racehorses, once their career has ended, may become studs or broodmares to act as breeding stock in the hope of giving birth/fathering other race worthy horses. Racehorses tend to retire at around 10 years of age, so unless there is a serious issue they have many years left in them.

If a racehorse is not to be used as breeding stock, then they can be rehomed. Due to the athleticism and temperament of thoroughbreds, they can be difficult to retrain for a second career, but they are also highly intelligent and good with human contact, so the benefits are worth the time.

When an ex-racehorse is not used for working, it can still be rehomed as a casual riding horse. Owners and trainers of the racehorses will take a vast amount of time in choosing the right place for their horse to go to once they have retired. There is also a great deal of websites dedicated to finding homes for ex-racehorses.

If you are rehoming a retired racehorse, remember that there may be old injuries in the horse’s history that can reoccur – pulled muscle, bone or tendon damage, ligament strain; all these can impact on your horse and affect his ability to be ridden.

Your ex-racehorse will need a lot of care, but with time and practice you can have him set up and ready for dressage showing in no time – or maybe you’d prefer him to live out his retirement in a large paddock in the sun. If you have the patience to train him properly, then he’ll be happy either way.

Animal Friends Insurance offers a wide range of comprehensive equine cover which you can tailor make to suit you. Phone today on 0844 57 32 100 or email us at info@animalfriends.co.uk and get a quote today.