Can you actually adopt a retired racehorse?

Yes, through organizations that specialize in rehoming, like New Vocations or RoR — but you'll need to pass a screening of your facilities and experience. Requirements vary by organization, so check the official guidelines before applying, and make sure you can cover the long-term cost of feed and veterinary care.

What do retired racehorses typically do afterward?

Some move into dressage, eventing, or leisure riding, while others, like the horses at Old Friends, need lifetime sanctuary care instead. It depends on the horse's injuries and temperament, and retraining organizations make that call after an individual evaluation.

How do you support or visit one of these organizations?

It depends on the group — some, like Old Friends Equine, run visitor programs, while others, like TAA, focus purely on accreditation and grant distribution. Visiting and support options can change, so check the organization's official website for current details.

10 Aftercare Groups Caring for Retired Racehorses

After the Finish Line: 10 Organizations Giving Retired Racehorses a Second Life

Good aftercare isn't about finding a new owner fast — it's about traceability and a funding structure that lasts.

Behind every winner's circle photo, a retiring racehorse doesn't step straight into an easy life. Bodies and minds tuned to race rhythms need time to unwind, and that transition needs an organization built to see it through. This list gathers ten groups across North America, the UK, Europe, and Japan that actually handle rehabilitation, retraining, adoption, or accreditation — and sorts out what role each one plays.

Knowing a name matters less than knowing what it does. Whether a group is an accrediting body, a hands-on sanctuary, or a rehoming network changes how you'd approach it for support or adoption. If one catches your interest, treat this list as a starting point and check that organization's current official guidance before reaching out.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

TAA isn't a shelter that adopts horses out directly — it's the umbrella body that vets and accredits aftercare facilities across North America and distributes grant funding. If you're considering adopting through any organization, checking whether it appears on this accreditation list is a solid first step toward trust. Look past a single facility's reputation and into its accreditation and audit history.

Retraining of Racehorses RoR

The official welfare charity of British racing, RoR supports retraining and competition pathways that move retired horses into dressage, eventing, or leisure riding. Not every horse follows the same second career, so an individual assessment of temperament and soundness comes first. For UK-based leads, start with the list of RoR-approved trainers.

Godolphin Lifetime Care

Limited to horses that raced under Godolphin's ownership, this regional program links retirement, recovery, retraining, and rehoming under one continuous line of responsibility — starting well before a horse ever retires. Adoption procedures and eligibility differ by region, though, so check the rules for the specific region you're interested in.

After the Finish Line: 10 Organizations Giving Retired Racehorses a Second Life

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

Retraining of Racehorses RoR

Godolphin Lifetime Care

Old Friends Equine

New Vocations

Maker's Mark Secretariat Center

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

Retired Racehorse Project

CANTER USA

Old Friends Japan

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

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