Second Stride

Second Stride champions the Thoroughbred’s capacity to learn and compete, and also to love. Credit: Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation photo

 

Services: Rehabilitation, Retraining/Adoption

Location: Crestwood, KY

Founded: 2005

Website: secondstide.org

Social: Image result for facebook logo Instagram free icon

Average Number of Thoroughbreds: 125

 


“It’s important that these horses that do so much for us have a good place to go when their racing career is over,” said Louisville, Kentucky-based trainer Dale Romans. “Second Stride does an awful lot for Thoroughbred racing and for these horses. A lot of them leave racing every year and there are homes for every one of them.”

Those words capture the essence of Second Stride’s mission.

Second Stride provides professional rehabilitation, retraining, and placement of retired Thoroughbred racehorses, offering a safe path to a successful new career for these athletes. In 2021, horses came to Second Stride from 20 different racetracks and training centers located in 12 states, and 142 horses were placed with committed adopters.

In spring of 2022, Second Stride initiated Broodmare & Bloodstock, a transitional service for retiring broodmares and yearlings unsuited for the track. Second Stride now serves Thoroughbreds in all phases of life, knowing that the breed’s versatility extends beyond athleticism into careers of the heart: equine therapy, trail-riding and as beloved companions.

Located outside Louisville, Kentucky, Second Stride’s two-campus facility is easily accessible to horsemen and ready to receive horses at all times. Since 2005, Second Stride has built a reputation for being a trusted partner to racehorse owners, trainers, and adopters and prioritizes securing the best possible second career fit for every horse. Second Stride provides services supporting a full range of needs, including castrating and socializing colts, rehabilitating injured horses, breaking horses to ride, and restarting broodmares under saddle in preparation for third careers.

Second Stride invests extensive time and resources in adoptable horses, providing veterinary, farrier, and dental work, as well as highly individualized retraining. As a result, Second Stride horses find success in a wide range of disciplines every year. In 2021, Second Stride horses performed in mounted archery, eventing, dressage, therapy work, barrel racing, hunter/jumpers, competitive trail and more.

Visitors are welcome at Second Stride’s Oldham County, Kentucky farms, with tours available by appointment. Second Stride invites you to come see these amazing adoptable Thoroughbreds preparing for new careers.

 


Second Stride Success Stories

Casey's Lear

Casey’s Lear – The daughter of Musketier (GER) finished last in her first and only start, then made her way to TAA-accredited Second Stride to find a more suitable job. Read more >>

 

Far Right

Far Right – He made a start in the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard before being retired to Second Stride. Read more >>

 

How Divine

How Divine – Never breaking her maiden, the daughter of Divine Park retired Second Stride, but she didn’t have long to wait before being adopted. Read more >>

 

Special Ops

Special Ops – The Mike Maker trainee earned just more than $383,000 and won the 2017 West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup Stakes, but now his strong work ethic is proving useful in the jumper arena. Read more >>

 

Face of Glory

Face of Glory – This charismatic horse much preferred a slower-paced life, fitting right in at Second Stride and being adopted almost as soon as he arrived. Read more >>