Are you looking to adopt an ex-racehorse? Find information here on owning responsibly, the cost of horse ownership, how to transition and rehabilitate the retired racehorse, what to expect from your ex-racehorse, how to train him for a second career, and more. From the Unwanted Horse Coalition, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), The University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Council and The Jockey Club, New Vocations, CANTER and LOPE.

Questions to Ask When Adopting an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred (PDF)

The Problem of the Unwanted Horse:  Own Responsibly (Unwanted Horse Coalition)
What it means to act responsibly regarding the long-term needs of your horse.

Own Responsibly - Questions to Consider Before Buying a Horse (Unwanted Horse Coalition)
Questions to consider before you buy a horse.

What to Expect When Owning a Horse (AAEP)
Questions to ask before making the commitment of horse ownership.

Cost of Owning a Horse (University of Kentucky eXtension Initiative)
Discussion of costs associated with horse ownership.

Rehabilitating the Neglected Horse: A Caregivers’ Guide (Unwanted Horse Coalition)
Basic care guidelines for rehabilitating the neglected horse.

Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit (The Jockey Club)
2010 Panel: Transitioning Thoroughbreds to Second Careers (video)

Transitioning the Retired Racehorse (AAEP)
Guidelines for equine practitioners, adoption organizations and horse owners regarding physical assessments and costs of housing, retraining and rehoming the ex-racehorse.

Introducing a New Horse to the Herd (New Vocations)
How to minimize injuries and stress when introducing a new horse to the herd.

Basic Life Skills and Socialization (New Vocations)
Teaching your ex-racehorse how to eat, drink and interact with other horses.

Feeding the Newly Retired Racehorse (New Vocations)
Advice on the dietary risks involved in transitioning your ex-racehorse to pleasure horse.

Shoeing for Soundness (New Vocations)
Shoeing techniques and your ex-racehorse.

Trailer Loading (New Vocations)
Basic techniques for easy loading and shipping.

Bitting (New Vocations)
A discussion on this highly effective training technique.

Standing and Walking Quietly While Mounted (New Vocations)
The importance of fundamentals in early lessons.

Trotting and Cantering (New Vocations)
Advanced fundamentals.

From Harness Racing to Pleasure Driving (New Vocations)
The challenge in transitioning Standardbreds from racing to pleasure driving.

What to Expect From an Ex-Racehorse:  Bringing Your Horse Home (CANTER)
Insights on how to help your ex-racehorse adjust to his new home.

What to Expect From an Ex-Racehorse: What Your Horse Knows (CANTER)
Your racehorse’s ex-life, and what’s new for him now that he’s off the track and in his new home.

What to Expect From an Ex-Racehorse: A Bit on Shoes and Your Horse (CANTER)
What’s up with your ex-racehorses’ feet?

Beyond the Homestretch, Lynn Reardon (LOPE)
Lynn Reardon shares her experiences in transitioning more than 800 ex-racehorses into new homes.

Retraining Racehorses: Back to the Basics with Tom Curtin, DVD (LOPE)
In this DVD, Tom Curtin works with ex-racehorses in demonstrating key principles in helping the horses adapt to new careers.

Beyond the Track – Retraining the Thoroughbred From Racehorse to Riding Horse (New Vocations)
Anna Morgan Ford offers training tips to help prepare the off-the-track Thoroughbred for a new career.

A Guide to Understanding and Retraining Your Off Track Thoroughbred (Thoroughbred Placement and Rescue, Inc.)
Kimberly Clark offers a detailed guide aimed at providing a better understanding of your ex-racehorse.