IFAR

Supporter Feature: Aftercare Partner IFAR Brings Global Conversation to Lexington
Supporter Feature: Aftercare Partner IFAR Brings Global Conversation to Lexington

All Posts & News Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous Post Supporter Feature: Aftercare Partner IFAR Brings Global Conversation to Lexington Supporter Feature: Aftercare Partner IFAR Brings Global Conversation to Lexington By: Jay Privman April 16, 2025 Supporter Feature Tags:Aftercare Partner, IFAR, Industry Stakeholder, International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses, supporter, Supporter Feature, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Supporter The growing realization of the need for sustained Thoroughbred aftercare has become of worldwide importance in recent years, and this year the biggest event in the space, the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR), is coming to the United States, to Lexington, Ky., April 24-26. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will have a significant presence at IFAR, whose opening-day panels will be held at Spy Coast Farm’s Equine Education Center on Newtown Pike, north of downtown Lexington, adjacent to the Kentucky Horse Park. The event will overlap with the prestigious Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, held the same weekend in Lexington. “This is a great opportunity for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to have a presence, to demonstrate that Thoroughbreds are versatile, adaptable, and sought-after, to highlight their successes, and raise awareness that they are great options for sport horses,” said Kristin Werner, the deputy general counsel and director of industry initiatives for The Jockey Club — one of the founders of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance — and the chair of the conference committee for IFAR. “During the three-day event, Thoroughbreds will be highlighted for their top-level versatility. It’s a cool opportunity to see Thoroughbreds doing something other than racing — see them going over jumps, see them doing dressage, see why it’s so important to recognize what they can do as sport horses,” Werner said. Four-time Olympian Boyd Martin will be the keynote speaker on opening day at the event, which in subsequent days will include on-site visits at accredited aftercare facilities in the area, and a social gathering during the cross-country portion of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Jen Roytz, co-owner of Brownstead Farm and active Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance supporter, will serve as moderator for the conference. Stacie Clark-Rogers, operations consultant for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, is among the panelists on the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-sponsored panel “Connections Through Thoroughbreds,” which will focus on sourcing and preparing horses for therapeutic services. Martin pictured with Thoroughbred Blackfoot Mystery at a past Kentucky Three-Day Event. PC: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Erin Halliwell, executive director of the Thoroughbred Charities of America, and John Nicholson, president and chief executive officer of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited Old Friends, are on a panel focusing on “Sustainable Business Practices in Aftercare” for non-profits, including succession planning and preparedness for emergencies. Dr. Bryan Waldridge, a veterinarian for Old Friends, and Ashley Watts, owner of Liftoff Equestrian, which houses and trains horses for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited Canter Kentucky, are on the panel “Challenges in Aftercare: On-Track to Second Career,” which will address challenges horses face transitioning from racing to second careers. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s Dr. Jeff Berk, and Anna Ford, Thoroughbred Program director of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited New Vocations Racehorse Adoption, will opine on “Post-Racing Veterinary Evaluations,” focusing on best practices in post-racing assessments to identify horses suited for second careers, including those with less visible vulnerabilities. Kirsten Green, executive director of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-sponsored Retired Racehorse Project, is on the panel “Raising Awareness Through Events,” which will discuss leveraging horse shows and other events to raise funds and awareness for Thoroughbred aftercare globally. “This year the focus will be on two objectives — sharing best practices for aftercare, and promoting the versatility of Thoroughbreds.” Kristin Werner Deputy General Counsel and Director of Industry Initiatives for The Jockey Club IFAR is an independent forum that recognizes geographical and industry differences among racing countries and is designed to enhance Thoroughbred aftercare worldwide. It has previously conducted forums in conjunction with the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Sapporo, Japan in August 2024; the 39th ARC in Melbourne, Australia in February 2023; the 38th ARC in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2020; the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation’s General Assembly in Oslo, Norway, in May 2019; the 37th ARC in Seoul, South Korea, in May 2018; and the Pan American Conference in Washington, D.C., in May 2017. Virtual conferences were held in 2021 and 2022 owing to the pandemic. “This year,” Werner said, “the focus will be on two objectives — sharing best practices for aftercare, and promoting the versatility of Thoroughbreds.” The overlap with Defender presents additional opportunities for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to engage with an even wider audience. “Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is going to have a major presence at Defender, because it’s the largest concentration of horse shopping opportunities you can find,” Werner said. PC: Suzie Picou-Oldham Learn more about Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s supporters: Industry Stakeholders Share This Article

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TAA to be Included in 2021 IFAR Virtual Conference
TAA to be Included in 2021 IFAR Virtual Conference

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) announced today its lineup of topics and speakers for its fifth conference, which will be held as a series of four virtual sessions on April 6, 13, 20, and 27.

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Virtual International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses Series

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will be hosting its fifth forum as a virtual series on each Tuesday during the month of April. The sessions, which will include a combination of prerecorded content and live discussions, will be held on 6, 13, 20, and 27 April at 12 p.m. GMT and will each last approximately one hour. The timing has been selected so that people can dial in wherever they are in the world – evening for the Australasian time zones, middle of the day for the European time zones, and early morning for the American time zones. All sessions are free, but registration is required. Recordings of each session will be made available on the IFAR website. For more information about the conference and to register, click here. 27 April, 2021: Aftercare for Racing Industry Participants: Owners, Breeders, and Trainers Moderator: Francesca Cumani (U.K.) – Mark Fisher: Kotare Bioethics Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand – Dr. Eliot Forbes: Chief Executive Officer, AniMark Ltd. (AUS); member, IFAR Steering Committee – Tom Reilly: Chief Executive Officer, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse – Dr. Christopher Riggs: Director, Equine Welfare Research Foundation; Chief Advisor, Veterinary Science, The Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Virtual International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses Series

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will be hosting its fifth forum as a virtual series on each Tuesday during the month of April. The sessions, which will include a combination of prerecorded content and live discussions, will be held on 6, 13, 20, and 27 April at 12 p.m. GMT and will each last approximately one hour. The timing has been selected so that people can dial in wherever they are in the world – evening for the Australasian time zones, middle of the day for the European time zones, and early morning for the American time zones. All sessions are free, but registration is required. Recordings of each session will be made available on the IFAR website. For more information about the conference and to register, click here. 20 April, 2021: Global Insights on Aftercare (Aftercare Providers, Equine Charities) Moderator: Donna Brothers (U.S.) – Stacie Clark: Operations Consultant, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (U.S.) – John Osborne: Director of Equine Welfare and Bloodstock, Horse Racing Ireland – Dr. Ignacio Pavlovsky: Veterinarian, Owner, and Breeder (ARG) – Lisa Coffey: Founder and Director, Racing Hearts Equine Assisted Therapy (AUS) – Kristin Werner: Senior Counsel, The Jockey Club (U.S.); Administrator, Thoroughbred Incentive Program

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Virtual International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses Series

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will be hosting its fifth forum as a virtual series on each Tuesday during the month of April. The sessions, which will include a combination of prerecorded content and live discussions, will be held on 6, 13, 20, and 27 April at 12 p.m. GMT and will each last approximately one hour. The timing has been selected so that people can dial in wherever they are in the world – evening for the Australasian time zones, middle of the day for the European time zones, and early morning for the American time zones. All sessions are free, but registration is required. Recordings of each session will be made available on the IFAR website. For more information about the conference and to register, click here. 13 April, 2021: Aftercare for Racing Administrators and Regulators Moderator: Caroline Searcy (AUS) Panelists: – Martin Burns: General Manager, Welfare & Sustainability, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing – Simon Cooper: Director, Weatherbys, General Stud Book (U.K.) – Dr. Anna Smet: Manager, Animal Welfare, Racing and Wagering Western Australia

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Virtual International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses Series

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will be hosting its fifth forum as a virtual series on each Tuesday during the month of April. The sessions, which will include a combination of prerecorded content and live discussions, will be held on 6, 13, 20, and 27 April at 12 p.m. GMT and will each last approximately one hour. The timing has been selected so that people can dial in wherever they are in the world – evening for the Australasian time zones, middle of the day for the European time zones, and early morning for the American time zones. All sessions are free, but registration is required. Recordings of each session will be made available on the IFAR website. For more information about the conference and to register, click here. 6 April, 2021: Aftercare in 2021 Moderator: Nick Luck (U.K.) – Jessica Harrington: Racehorse Trainer (IRE) – Tik Maynard: Eventer (U.S.) – Graham and Anita Motion: Owners, Herringswell Stable (U.S.) – Nemone Routh: Racing Office Manager, Aga Khan Studs (FR)

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