FEATURE RETRAINING OF RACEHORSES
T he Horse Welfare Board’s Aftercare Funding Review (AFR) released in March 2021 made seven key recommendations to help provide more assurance around aftercare: Funding, Focus, Integration, Traceability, Accreditation, Community, Education and Communication. In order to make the shift necessary to step up and meet this new challenge, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) has recently reviewed its Vision and Mission and is now actively implementing a number of the AFR recommendations with exciting plans to deliver many more. RoR’s Vision is for all former racehorses to enjoy a good life, with its new Mission articulating the key areas where it will focus its efforts. Working with a cohort of trainers, RoR is currently exploring some of the challenges faced by trainers as they look to rehome horses after retirement from the track. It is clear that the vast majority of horses are catered for well, but we also heard that trainers would value some guidance on the
assessment and pathways available to provide a more consistent and structured approach to support the potentially more difficult horses. How those horses on their ‘first step out of racing’ are funded is also a key part of the project, as there are reputational risks related to reliance on charity funding for these horses In parallel, a Retraining Centre Accreditation scheme is being developed so that owners and trainers have more assurance around where best to refer horses for retraining. In addition, RoR is establishing an Aftercare Grant Assessment Panel to help coordinate the distribution of grant funding to the sector. This will help to reduce the complexity for those applying for funding and also give confidence to those who provide such generous support toward aftercare that their funds will have the most impact. Since RoR was founded, it has made a significant contribution to the lives of thousands of former racehorses by providing retraining and welfare advice for new owners, many of whom go on to enjoy lifelong partnerships with their horses. This year alone there have been around 1,000 attendees at RoR clinics and events as part of our educational programmes. RoR also provides a wide range of opportunities for former racehorses to compete on a level playing field in disciplines such as dressage and showing, as well as bespoke series and classes in another dozen activities. This has resulted in a growing demand for these versatile athletes and they are now more popular than ever before. The RoR ‘Source a Horse’ website evidences an increase in average price paid of over 400 per cent in the last five years. A
far cry from the situation not so very long ago when former racehorses were either given away or sold for very little money regardless of their pedigree or value as yearlings. David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, added: “Each year, approximately 2,000 horses leave racing with a non- racing agreement and the vast majority of them go on to lead long and happy lives. However, not every story is a success story and there is more that needs to be done to help provide more assurance around aftercare. The external narrative is changing with concerns about the use of horses in sport and its ‘social licence to operate’. The recent increased support for RoR from BHA and HBLB will help us to increase our ability to lead and coordinate the aftercare sector. Our Mission is to safeguard the well-being of all former racehorses by: • Setting and assuring retraining standards. We support racehorses’ successful transition out of racing and provide training and education for their new owners to develop lifetime partnerships. • Creating an engaged and engaging RoR community. • Increasing demand for former racehorses by promoting their versatility in a wide variety of equestrian activities and providing opportunities for participation in competitions. • On behalf of the racing industry, we keep track of former racehorses and support those in need. We hope that the industry will support RoR to not only build on all that we have done before, but also help us effect the changes necessary to deliver the recommendations of the Aftercare Funding Review.
For more information about the work of RoR, visit ror.org.uk
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