A new career rather than pet meat
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382917)
Rockingham, Australia
June 20, 2026 8:31pm CST
Around 2014, an organisation called Off The Track (OTT) began with the goal of re-educating and re-homing retired racehorses and trotters/pacers. In 2020, a property was purchased as a retraining and welfare facility for such horses.
All these horses knew was how to race but, with re-education, most became suitable mounts for other equestrian disciplines, such as dressage, combined eventing, show-jumping and endurance. Some won their owners a lot of money on racetracks while others never actually raced. Now, instead of being sold for pet meat, they have new careers.
At a recent Combined Training Event which would include dressage, cross-country and show-jumping, 115 of the contestants were OTT horses. More and more OTT horses are being entered for endurance rides. Many are ex-pacers/trotters as they have a very calm temperament and are as tough as nails.
The photo is mine.
15 people like this
15 responses
@rebelann (117322)
• El Paso, Texas
12h
Why can't people just let them go wild? I don't know anyone who has a horse but all the stuff I read about people who own them gives me the impression horses aren't really pets, they're only good if they do something to win money for the owners then they're sold to someone else as if they weren't important.
I do know mylot has a horse lover who was much more loyal to his horse but he is rare from what I've been able to read about.
3 people like this
@rebelann (117322)
• El Paso, Texas
2h
I'm not really sure if that would be a good idea @Fleura but it sickens me to think that a horse that was used for racing to win money for its owner is then sold to a slaughterhouse.
I have a soft spot for horses, if I had the knowledge and money I would want one but I would be loyal to that horse for it's whole life just like I am to my dogs and cats.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122472)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
11h
Nice to know that retired racehorses have found a new life in the Off The Track ranches.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (36063)
•
13h
Imagine selling a perfectly healthy horse for pet meat
That's a disgrace if that does happen
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136238)
• Marion, Ohio
1h
People love to get the trotters and pacers here. They make amazing trail horses
@garymarsh6 (24170)
• United Kingdom
3h
Brilliant so glad they are not sold off & end up as dog food!
