Aftercare Editorials

By: NYRA Press Office For Stacie Clark Rogers of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), there are several ways to measure progress in aftercare. One is concrete: following up the TAA’s […]

TAA-Accredited Organizations Found Way Forward in 2021 By: Alexandra Kokka As another year comes to a close, it’s only natural to feel compelled to reflect on the past 11 months, […]

The first, and crucial, step toward a successful, responsible post-racing retirement for a horse is finding the right place for the horse to land off the track. And that’s where triage programs working together with TAA-accredited organizations come in.

As the aftercare movement grows, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations especially are gaining momentum. Three in particular have attributed their TAA accreditation status to helping this expansion.

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man” is ringing true more than ever in Thoroughbred aftercare.

Successful Thoroughbred aftercare organizations run like well-oiled machines. Wanting to help horses is one thing, but having the industry knowledge and business acumen to effectively place racehorses safely into new homes while being efficient with funding is quite another.

Over the past few years, the Thoroughbred aftercare and pro-off-track-Thoroughbred movement has exploded. Not only have the post-racing lives of racehorses become more top of mind for industry participants, but aftercare organizations have also been expanding their facilities, allowing more horses to be served.

Is it possible to teach humans how to be compassionate caretakers of horses?

That’s what Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited Equine Advocates near Chatham, N.Y., is working on. The 22-year-old nonprofit organization operates as a sanctuary and rescue, serving all breeds of equines, with an emphasis on humane education. 

NYTHA’s TAKE THE LEAD works with TAA-accredited organizations to facilitate a safe transition off the track and into new homes and careers.

Maryland’s Beyond the Wire program facilitates a safe first exit from racing for horses and places them at Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations for retraining, rehabbing, and rehoming.