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All Posts & News Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post Inspector Spotlight: Diana McClure Inspector Spotlight: Diana McClure By: Alexis Arbaugh April 10, 2025 Inspector Spotlight Tags:Accredited Facility, Accredited Organization, Inspection, Inspector, Inspector Spotlight, Thoroughbred Aftercare, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, TRF To qualify for accreditation and receive a grant from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, every facility within an organization must undergo a comprehensive inspection. These inspections are carried out by either Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance staff or one of many approved inspectors located across the country. Site inspectors are Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s eyes at every facility. They include veterinarians and other equine professionals. Inspectors have prior experience in animal care and Thoroughbred aftercare, which makes them well-equipped to assess facilities seeking accreditation. During an accreditation inspection, the facility and everything that goes into running it is under review. This includes the staff, equine management and care practices, fields, barn/buildings, cleanliness standards, maintenance protocols, and financial management, among numerous other factors, taking pictures as they go. When an inspector visits a facility, all these elements are thoroughly examined. Diana McClure has been a long-time and dedicated inspector for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Since 2021, Diana has served as an inspector for the organization, focusing primarily on facilities in Virginia and Maryland. Her involvement began through the encouragement of Dr. Pug Hart and his wife, Susie Hart—a former board member—who motivated Diana to explore the opportunity to give back to the racing industry by becoming an aftercare organization inspector. Shortly thereafter, Suzie Oldham, Inspections Administrator at Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, reached out to Diana to discuss her background in Thoroughbred aftercare. That conversation deepened Diana’s understanding of the organization’s mission and led to her first facility visit. In her interview, Diana emphasized again and again that “accredited aftercare is so very important to provide a safe landing for any Thoroughbred.” Over the years, she has been an invaluable member of the team, sharing her expertise and passion for aftercare. Diana has devoted most of her life to horses. She grew up competing in Hunters and Equitation, but her love for racehorses began with Secretariat. His story sparked her interest in racing and inspired her to shift her focus from showing to the track. Her enthusiasm eventually convinced her parents to buy her a pony to ride in pony races. During high school, she connected with a neighbor who allowed her to help break his racehorses. She would travel with him to Charles Town Races near Washington, D.C., serving as an exercise rider and assisting at the starting gate during races. “When I meet facility caretakers who know every horse by name and can tell me about their personalities and who their friends are, my heart wants to explode with joy for the horses and with gratitude for the caretakers.” Diana McClure In college, Diana met an assistant trainer and began traveling with him to Monmouth Park in New Jersey. After gaining valuable experience on the track and obtaining her trainer’s license, she returned to Virginia and began training out of the Middleburg Training Center. It was there that she met her husband, a former steeplechase jockey. The couple married and worked hard to purchase a 100-acre field in Berryville, Virginia, where they built their training facility. Beginning in 2006, they developed a large clientele and trained both flat and jumping racehorses. Today, they focus exclusively on training and breeding flat racehorses. They personally break all their horses, using a methodical approach that incorporates walk, trot, canter, and cavaletti work to ease their transition into second careers. All of Diana’s homebred horses are guaranteed a place on her farm should they no longer be wanted after their racing careers conclude. With daily exposure to Thoroughbreds and a few retirees living on her farm, Diana possesses a deep and practical understanding of the breed. Her experience as a trainer gives her insight into the life of a racehorse, while her role as an aftercare provider highlights the specific accommodations Thoroughbreds require after the track. She emphasizes the importance of knowledgeable caretakers at aftercare facilities, noting, “… make sure they [Thoroughbreds] receive proper nutrition and care, especially as they age.” Photo at Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Accredited aftercare plays a vital role in the racing industry. It provides peace of mind to owners and breeders, knowing their horses will receive the highest standard of care once their racing careers end. For adopters, accredited facilities uphold defined practices and standards, creating a trustworthy environment in which to make adoption decisions. These safeguards not only protect the welfare of the horses but also strengthen the integrity and sustainability of the racing community. In her three years of conducting inspections, Diana has developed a list of personal best practices she hopes to see at every facility. At the top of her list is a well-managed herd. She enjoys observing horses that coexist peacefully, forming a cohesive and friendly group. Her next priority is proper nutrition. Diana appreciates facilities that prioritize and continuously improve their horses’ nutritional programs—providing balanced diets with grain, hay, and access to pasture. She also underscores the importance of complementing nutrition with annual dental care and regular hoof trimming to support each horse’s health and happiness. Diana’s favorite inspection memory comes from her first-ever visit to a Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation facility. Aimee Leach, who managed the facility, gave Diana a warm welcome and a full tour of the barns and pastures. “Their horses were some of the best I have ever seen,” Diana recalled. She was impressed not only by the horses’ excellent condition and calm demeanors, but also by the individualized attention each received. Diana was particularly touched to see that the senior horses were housed closest to the barn so Aimee could keep a close watch on them. Each horse was fed individually to ensure they had time to finish their meals. Diana vividly remembers being amazed to learn that one

All Posts & News Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Inspector Spotlights Previous Post the long road home The Long Road Home By: Alexis Arbaugh August 22, 2024 Success Stories Tags:accredited aftercare, Accredited Facility, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Success story, Trail Ridig Lora Eike was familiar with Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA) as she had previously adopted a 2009 grey gelding, Crafty Noble, in 2019. In 2022, Lora was enlisted to help a friend find an off-the-track Thoroughbred, so she reached out to Kelley Stobie, Co-Founder, Secretary, and Executive Director of CTA. Lora’s friend was looking for a horse suitable for a 13-year-old girl in a training program. Kelley recommended Trust in Russ, a 2015 Kentucky-bred dark bay gelding. In his four-year career from 2018 to 2022, Trust in Russ had 71 starts and earned $68,731. Lora’s friends decided to adopt a different Thoroughbred from CTA, which left Trust in Russ open for adoption. Kelley was adamant that Trust in Russ (Rico) would have been perfect for a 13-year-old girl because of his kind and sweet nature. “I knew he had to be good, and so I wanted him for myself,” Lora wrote. Lora planned to ship Rico from Puerto Rico to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Unfortunately, during his layover in Ocala, Florida, he ran into a fence and injured himself badly. “He is doing amazing now,” Lora wrote. After getting him home to Virginia and healing from his injuries, Rico is a happy and healthy horse. Rico spends his days “living his best life” by taking inexperienced riders through the mountains of Virginia. He takes perfect care of everyone who rides him and is “truly a gem and a complete gentleman.” Lora is immensely grateful for CTA and all that they did for Rico so that she can care for and love him for the rest of his life. “From the flight to Miami and the vet bills from the injury at the layover barn, I’d like you to know that this horse is worth every penny spent, and a whole lot more,” Lora wrote. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission