Charities to help retired race horses

Animal Aid have several horse racing campaigns, and their main campaigning goals are (and I quote)

• the establishment of a new, independent organisation with sole responsibility for race horse welfare
• a ban on the whip (for any reason other than safety).

They are pressing the racing authorities to publish full details of on-course Thoroughbred deaths - and also an end to the Grand National. 

Animal Aid report that the 2024 statistics were:" 214 horses killed as a result of racing on British racecourses, 557 abuses of whip regulations, 598 horses with racing industry passports sent to slaughter."  

• Find out about actions you can take about horse racing and Animal Aid's campaign here.
  
• Find out about their Ban the Grand National campaign
• Please see their Ban Jump Racing campaign   and a Ban the Whip campaign
  
• Please also see their Greyhound Racing campaign
  
  

Race horse charities helping retired race horses 

Retired race horses all need somewhere to go after their careers in racing, however successful they've been...  They deserve good homes and the best of care, & there are charities to help them make the career move from racing to their next step.  But the charities listed after these bullets help.

Retraining of Racehorses are dedicated to the welfare of racehorses who have retired from racing.  Many need retraining for new careers.  They are committed to safeguarding the welfare of all former racehorses in different ways. 

Moorcrocft Equine Rehabilitation Centre (formerly Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre) in West Sussex re-schools and rehabilitates former racehorses so that they can have a chance at a second career.  They also help with short-term schooling and rehabilitatino for all horses.

Greatwood in Wiltshire helps racehorses who've been ill-treated and neglected, and it educates and inpsires children with special needs.

The Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre is dedicated "to improving and promoting the welfare of retired racehorses through education, rehabilitation, retraining and suitable rehoming in order to ensure that our Thoroughbreds have a rewarding and valuable life after their racing careers have ended.  Their horses included Hallo Dandy

The Racehorse Sanctuary, in West Sussex, is dedicated to giving retired racehorses a safe haven and a second chance of a new life after racing. 

Heros retrains and rehomes ex-racehorses. Based in Oxfordshire, it is dedicating to ensuring racehorses have a future after their racing days are over. Heroes retrains these former athletes, preparing them for their next careers and pastures new. The charity carefully matches horses to new careers and owners.  Past heroes include Monsignor. It also provides a range of education and training including for young people - find out more here.

New Beginnings retrain and re-home former racehorses.  They are based in East Yorkshire.  They want to provide a safe and secure environment where former racehorses can adjust and be re-trained for their second career following racing.  They have over 30 horses in their care at any one time. 

Next career steps for race horses 

Race horses may have a number of second careers open to them:

• as companion animals, especially for those whose injuries prevent them from being very active
• "happy hackers" with people who simply want to enjoy riding around the countryside 
• show jumpers or riding club horses
• even horses for junior riders
• polo, showing, cross country, eventing

Much depends on the temperatment of the horse & the injuries he or she sustains, if any, as a result of their racing career to date. Opportunities also depend on whether there are the places available with the charities working to help retrain & rehome race horses.

How you can help

• Have a look around the various websites (we've listed race horse charities to the left) & see what sort of help they need.
• You don't need to be a horse expert to lend a hoof.
• For instance, you could treat a horse lover to a gift from a charity's online shop, or sponsor a horse if they have such a scheme.
• You could do fund-raising for them, tell a friend about them, or collect & sell stamps for them
• You could find a spot as a volunteer, perhaps doing office work or helping with the grounds - or get more hands on with the horses. You could become a member of the charity if they run a membership scheme.
• If you want to re-home a race horse, look at the charities' websites and see what their process is, whether it is right for you, and what you need to do to get started.
• Take a look at Animal Aid's horse racing campaigns, spread the word and do what you can to support them.

There's a lot we can all do to make a difference to race horses. They've raced their hearts out for people, so it's good to give something back in return.