Retired Racehorse Project
The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is an organization that gives thoroughbred race horses a second chance at a new career after their racing career is over.[1] They have lots of sponsors who raise awareness through the horse world and donate money to this cause. Their main purpose is to make an increased demand for thoroughbreds and build bridges to a second career.
This organization is a 501c3 non- profit which allows for federal tax exemption.
The organization headquarters is in Davidson, Maryland.[2]
This organization is connected to many animal welfare organizations, and is similar to the Greyhound adoption organization that rehouses greyhound dogs after racing.
| Retired Racehorse Project | |
|---|---|
| Founded in 2010 | |
| Steuart Pitman |
History[edit]
The project was founded in 2010 by Steuart Pittman in the state of Maryland. The organization was designed to help find new careers and homes to ex-racehorses. The organization is trying to prevent the shipment of horses to slaughterhouses. Hundreds of thoroughbreds fail at racing each year, so the project aims at providing trainers as well as the horses a chance to train in a different discipline. The Project tries to showcase to the public the positives the thoroughbred breed that is meant to compete and work[3]. In 2010 the organization applied for its nonprofit status[4].
Horse racing industry issues[edit]
Maryland is home to the Preakness Stakes[5] which is a race that happens every spring, lots of track horses come there to compete. Racing allows betting on horses for each race, so there is a lot of money at stake. Some of the race horses sell for thousands of dollars, but if they fail at racing they usually get auctioned off to slaughter[6]. Roughly half of the foals born for racing end up at slaughter farms, so the organization tries to introduce the horse into a new career. Thoroughbreds are often stereotyped as being hot headed and are not the most commonly desired horse. Steuart Pitman has been quoted stating, “Fifteen thousand or so Thoroughbreds are retired from racing each year"[4], which leads to their strong need for rehoming.
The average age of a thoroughbred once it is done racing is 4[3].
New careers[edit]
Elisa Wallace is one of the most commonly known event riders in this country and in 2018 she and her OTTB successfully took home the 100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover prize.
Phillip Dutton successfully competed and won the Makeover Challenge in 2014[7] on OTTB horse, Icabad Crane.
According to the RRP Press Release [8] the following disciplines have been chosen for the Makeover Challenge
- Barrel racing
- Competitive trail
- Dressage
- Field hunters
- Eventing
- Freestyle
- Polo
- Show hunter
- Show jumper
- Ranch work
Sponsors[edit]
The organization also partially relies on donations to help fund events.
Classic sponsors include[9]:
- Thoroughbred Charities of America
- Hagyard
- Triple Crown
- Cosequin
- Masters of Foxhounds Association of America
Events[edit]
In 2009 the organization hosted their first event, The Retired Racehorse Training Symposium[9].
2013 brought about the first Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium occurred at Pimlico Race Course.[10]
The Thoroughbred Makeover Event is the organizations biggest event they host every year. The Makeover showcases happens every fall in Lexington, Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Park.[11] The Makeover is open to professionals, amateurs, and junior trainers if their application is accepted to participate[8]. Horses sold here typically sell for around $1,000 to $25,000[5].
They also host numerous horse expos each year, a thoroughbred trainer challenge, and a 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge in Maryland.
Success[edit]
The first ever event in 2009, Retired Racehorse Training Symposium, lead to the creation of this organization[4]. The RRP has a big audience through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram[11]. They have successfully launched their own magazine, titled Off The Track Thoroughbred Magazine[9]. They have successfully re-homed over a few thousand thoroughbreds since its opening out of the approximate 150,000 thoroughbred owners nationwide. The 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover Challenge brought out 509 horses with 578 trainers to Kentucky; following with 100 entered in the sale and resulting in 22 official sales[8].
References[edit]
- ↑ "Retired Racehorse Project Concludes". Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ↑ "Thoroughbred Makeover with Retired Racehorse Project in Davidsonville, MD, United States." Hire College Students. Web. 24 Oct. 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kull, Katie. "Cheyenne Woman Works to Retrain Retired Racehorse." TCA Regional News, Apr 01 2018, ProQuest. Web. 23 Oct. 2018 .
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Howling, Kelly. "The Retired Racehorse Project." Equine Wellness Magazine". N.p., 15 Mar. 2017. Web. 23 Oct. 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mirabella, Lorraine. "New Careers for Ex-Racehorses." The Baltimore Sun, Oct 05 2014, ProQuest. Web. 23 Oct. 2018 .
- ↑ Hopkins, Jerri A. "These Racehorses Gallop into their Retirement." Capital, Oct 01 2016, ProQuest. Web. 23 Oct. 2018 .
- ↑ Maynard, Tik. "Retraining a Thoroughbred-no Shortcuts." Practical Horseman 11 2016: 22,22,24. ProQuest. Web. 23 Oct. 2018.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Press Release. "Applications Open for 2018 $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover." United States Eventing Association, Inc. - US National Combined Training, Horse Trials: Dressage, Cross Country, Show Jumping. 01 Dec. 2017. Web. 23 Oct. 2018.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Retired Racehorse Project." Retired Racehorse Project.Web. 23 Oct. 2018.
- ↑ Petersen, Vicki. "Horse from Harwood Stable Competing in Thoroughbred Makeover Event in Kentucky." Capitalgazette.com. 06 Oct. 2018. Web. 29 Nov. 2018.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Thoroughbred Makeover." Thoroughbred Makeover -Retired Racehorse Project. Web. 23 Oct. 2018.
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