Responsible Rehoming: Planning for Life After Racing

Every Thoroughbred deserves a well-planned transition from racing into its next chapter. Whether your horse is destined for an equestrian career, a companion home or retirement, responsible rehoming begins well before its final race.

As an owner, you play an important role in ensuring your horse is appropriately prepared, its future needs are understood and the right arrangements are in place.

This guide explains your responsibilities, the rehoming options available and how NZTR can support a successful transition.

1. Plan ahead for retirement

Ideally, planning for life after racing should begin when you first become an owner.

A horse's racing career can end unexpectedly through injury, performance or other circumstances. Having a plan in place helps avoid rushed decisions and gives your horse the best opportunity for a positive outcome.

Talk to your trainer, racing manager or syndicator about:

• When and how retirement decisions will be made.
• Who will coordinate the rehoming process.
• What type of home or future activity may suit your horse.
• What financial provision is available for its transition.

Remember: While your trainer or syndicator may manage the process on your behalf, retirement from racing does not automatically end your responsibilities as an owner.

2. Prepare your horse for rehoming

Before your horse is presented to a potential new owner or Acknowledged Provider, it should be appropriately prepared for the transition.

As a minimum, owners should ensure their horse has:

• Good body condition: A healthy weight and appropriate nutrition.
• Up-to-date farrier care: Hooves appropriately trimmed or shod according to the horse's needs.
• Current dental care: Any necessary dental treatment completed.
• Routine health care: Appropriate worming, vaccinations and veterinary attention.
• Accurate health information: Disclosure of known injuries, veterinary treatments, behavioural concerns and ongoing management requirements.

Some horses may also require spelling, rehabilitation or additional veterinary treatment before they are ready to begin retraining.

Owners are expected to contribute to these initial care requirements, just as they would while the horse remains in their care.

A well-prepared horse has a better chance of finding a suitable, lasting home.

3. Choose the right rehoming pathway

There are two main options for rehoming your retired Thoroughbred.

Option A: Arrange a private home

You may choose to rehome your horse through your own contacts, equestrian networks or a suitable private buyer.

Before transferring ownership, take time to understand the prospective owner's experience, facilities and intended use for the horse.

Provide accurate information about your horse's history, health, temperament and management requirements, and complete a written transfer agreement.

Option B: Use an NZTR Acknowledged Provider

NZTR works with Acknowledged Rehomers and Retrainers who help Thoroughbreds transition into suitable new homes.

These providers can assess your horse, identify any additional care or retraining needs and assist with finding an appropriate future owner.

You can find an Acknowledged Provider through Beyond the Track.

Contact your chosen provider before arranging transport to discuss availability, suitability, acceptance requirements and any anticipated costs.

4. Understand the assessment and initial costs

When a horse is presented to an Acknowledged Provider, it will undergo an intake assessment to determine its condition, suitability for retraining and any additional care requirements.

This may identify the need for:

• Spelling or let-down time.
• Veterinary treatment or rehabilitation.
• Farrier or dental work.
• Additional feeding or condition improvement.
• Specialist handling or preparation.

Where additional initial care is required, there is an expectation that the horse's connections will contribute to these costs before NZTR-funded support is considered.

The amount will depend on the individual horse's circumstances and should be agreed with the provider in advance.

Transferring a horse to a rehoming provider should not simply mean transferring the cost of its initial care.

5. Access additional support through NZTR

NZTR recognises that not every horse will be ready for rehoming immediately.

Some horses may require additional rehabilitation, spelling, retraining or time to find the right home, even after their initial care needs have been addressed.

Where a horse meets the eligibility criteria, an Acknowledged Provider may apply for support through NZTR's funded aftercare programmes.

If approved, NZTR will fund eligible ongoing care and retraining with the provider to help achieve a successful rehoming outcome.

Where the horse is formally accepted into an applicable funded programme, ownership is transferred to the retrainer through a documented agreement. This releases the previous owner from future care and associated financial obligations from the agreed transfer date.

NZTR funding is not automatic. Each horse is assessed individually, and owners remain responsible for agreed care and costs until formal acceptance and ownership transfer are completed.

6. Complete the paperwork and update your horse's details

Good recordkeeping protects the horse, its previous connections and its future owner.

Before completing the transition:

1. Notify NZTR of retirement. Your trainer must officially retire the horse through the appropriate NZTR process. This records that the horse will no longer race but does not transfer ownership or remove the owner's responsibilities.
2. Provide relevant records. Share veterinary history, known injuries, farrier and dental information, medications and any ongoing management requirements.
3. Complete an ownership transfer agreement. Use a written agreement that clearly identifies the new owner, the horse's history and any relevant disclosures. You can find an example here.
4. Update traceability information. Ensure ownership and location details are updated through the appropriate NZTR processes and Beyond the Track.

Beyond the Track provides practical resources to assist, including the Horse Gifting, Disclosure and Transfer Agreement and Thoroughbred Transition Assessment.

7. Make financial provision for life after racing

Just as owners budget for training fees, veterinary expenses and racing costs, planning for retirement should be part of the overall cost of Thoroughbred ownership.

As a general guide, NZTR encourages owners to consider setting aside an aftercare contingency of $3,000–$5,000 per horse.

This is not a mandatory fee or standard rehoming charge. Some horses may require considerably less, while others needing extended rehabilitation or specialist care may cost more.

Your provision may need to cover:

• Transport and initial assessments.
• Spelling and routine care.
• Veterinary, farrier and dental treatment.
• Rehabilitation and professional retraining.
• Where appropriate, humane euthanasia and end-of-life care.

Setting aside $100 per month over three years would create a $3,600 aftercare provision.

Syndicators and racing managers may also consider incorporating an aftercare provision into their ownership arrangements.

What about the industry's 1% Welfare Levy?

The 1% Welfare Levy supports a broad range of Thoroughbred welfare initiatives, including targeted aftercare programmes and assistance for horses with more complex needs.

It is not intended to replace normal owner responsibility for preparing and transitioning every horse from racing.

By planning ahead, owners help ensure industry funding can be directed towards horses and circumstances where additional support is most needed.

8. Recognise when rehoming may not be appropriate

Not every Thoroughbred will be suitable for another ridden career or companion home.

A horse's physical condition, long-term prognosis, temperament, behaviour and quality of life must all be considered when determining its future.

Where a horse has significant health, behavioural or welfare concerns that cannot be appropriately managed, humane euthanasia may be the most responsible decision.

Responsible ownership does not mean rehoming at all costs. It means making informed decisions in the horse's best interests, including providing a dignified end of life when necessary.

Beyond the Track provides an End of Life Guide for Thoroughbreds to help owners navigate these decisions.

Your responsible rehoming checklist

Before your horse leaves your care, make sure you have:

• Discussed and agreed on a retirement plan with your trainer or racing manager.
• Assessed your horse's suitability for its next home.
• Ensured appropriate body condition and routine health care.
• Disclosed relevant veterinary, behavioural and management information.
• Identified a suitable private home or Acknowledged Provider.
• Discussed and agreed on any initial care or rehoming costs.
• Completed the necessary retirement notification and ownership transfer paperwork.
• Updated your horse's ownership and traceability information.

Every Thoroughbred deserves a responsible next chapter

Responsible ownership doesn't finish at the horse's last race.

By planning ahead, preparing your horse appropriately and working with your trainer, racing manager or an Acknowledged Provider, you can help give your Thoroughbred the best possible opportunity for a safe and successful future.