A new career rather than pet meat
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (386686)
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.
23 people like this
21 responses
@rebelann (118511)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Jun
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.
4 people like this
@rebelann (118511)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Jun
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.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (386686)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
Many do love their horses but where there is big prize-money involved then some owners are more callous. You can't just turn them loose here. You'd have to take them where there were no fences and all that type of land has little available water and feed.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (124480)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Jun
Nice to know that retired racehorses have found a new life in the Off The Track ranches.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (45065)
•
21 Jun
Imagine selling a perfectly healthy horse for pet meat
That's a disgrace if that does happen
2 people like this
@JudyEv (386686)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
It certainly happens. Straight off the track, racehorses can be too hard to handle for many average riders. There was so much adverse publicity about horses going to the knackery that the industry put up the money to start a retraining facility.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (45065)
•
22 Jun
@JudyEv
Retraining or simply putting them out to grass is better than destroying them
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (386686)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun
@Ineeddentures True but there are too many to rehome just to be put out to grass.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (5069)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jun
i think this is great. i get shivers when i think about the horse meat but some people eat it, what to do.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (5069)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
27 Jun
@JudyEv o, good to hear that.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59971)
• Philippines
21 Jun
Nice to know that these horses are literally getting a new lease in life.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59971)
• Philippines
22 Jun
@JudyEv and that is something worthwhile and something that needs to be celebrated.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (99974)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun
Sounds good to me instead of just being put out to pasture.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223762)
• United States
23 Jun
I agree with rebelann. Why not let them go to a farm somewhere and live their lives out there?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (386686)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jun
You have to find a farm somewhere and they can't just be turned out. They'd be using feed and water that could be going to sheep and cows and, while they'd be alright for a while, they'd need their hooves trimmed, teeth checked and maybe special feeding as they get old and someone would have to pay for it all. There are dozens of them too so all in all it's not very practical.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (211828)
• United States
21 Jun
Glad they can be used for other things than racing
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (386686)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
There are a number of these horses that are now doing really well in other disciplines.
@wolfgirl569 (139429)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Jun
People love to get the trotters and pacers here. They make amazing trail horses
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24201)
• United Kingdom
21 Jun
Brilliant so glad they are not sold off & end up as dog food!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (45233)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Jun
That's a good idea. They should do that everywhere.
1 person likes this
