What happens to racehorses post retirement?

Racehorses retire from racing at various ages and what happens to them afterwards depends not just on their age, but also on other factors including their physical condition, sex, breeding potential, the financial goals of their owners and so on. On the Flat, many horses are retired to stud, as stallions or broodmares, at three or four years of age. Of course, if a colt has been gelded breeding is no longer an option, so many geldings go on racing much longer. In National Hunt racing, in which colts are customarily gelded in any case, horses typically reach their peak at seven years of age, or older, and may go on racing into their teenage years.

Breeding aside, post-retirement options may include racing, abroad, or in point-to-point races, retraining in another discipline, such as showjumping, dressage, three-day eventing or polo, or, if a horse is physically unfit, a retirement home. It is worth noting that, in Britain, owners who wish to prevent their horses from racing again cam register a so-called ‘Non-Racing Agreement’ with Weatherbys, which assists the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) under contract.

As far as second careers are concerned, Thoroughbred racehorses typically adapt well to retraining in other disciplines. Recent success stories included the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River, who qualified for the 2024 Horse of the Year show at his first attempt, and the 2015 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Annacotty, who continues to excel in showjumping as a 16-year-old.