What happens to most prize winning horses when they retire from races,?

Question

I was hoping they get sold to caring people for pets, does anyone really know what happens?

Answer 1

It depends.  If the horses that have done something substantial in their career are not gelded, then they are sent to be either a stud or a broodmare.  The life of the stud basically means that they can run around in their pasture and have a great time, while being bred in the breeding season (the amount depends on the stud).  Broodmares have it okay, but they are pregnant pretty much year round.  

If they are gelded then it all depends on the owner and the horse.  Some horses are made into riding horses for their owners or someone else.  Some just get to have a nice life on the farm.  The top unbreedable horses usually aren't sold at auction and tossed around carelessly.  They've made their owners lots of money, and usually the owners are proud of them and give them a decent life.

Answer 2

Well I don't think that race horses would make very good pets!! They eat a tone and are very hyper. but they get bred and go to stables.

Answer 3

They're gennerally sold to famileys yes,if they're still rideable and clean from desieses and what not.They dont kill them if thats what you're asking,if no on can afford the horse then they give the horse away to a familey,if no one wants him or her then it's like a dog or cat and they hold them for so long then put them down,but generally they're sold or taken.

Answer 4

They may go to a special farm, where they can enjoy the remainder of thier life.

Answer 5

They are retired and are used to breed...Which makes a h**l of a load of money! They are sometimes kept in the racing yard and bring in visitors. They aren't usually sold onto pets because they are used to very demanding exercise regime. Racehorses are used to very little weight on their back aswell.

They only get sold as pets if the horse itself has an injury that measn exercise is to a minimum

Answer 6

They are kept to breed other possible future winners

Answer 7

they become a stud.

and they either get sold..or the become a gelding.

and there colts/foals get sold for a bunch of money.

depends on which breed they are.!!

Answer 8

they become stallions

Answer 9

Sorry, but none of these people know what they're talking about.

The overwhelming majority of American racehorses are not "prize winning", in the way you're probably thinking of the term - i.e. having won races that you have heard of.

There are several hundred thousand racehorses in America today, and the truth is that only about 20 of the colts racing this year will retire to ultimately successful stud careers. This number will be higher for mares, because the average breeding stallion can cover between 30 and 60 mares per season.

As for the remaining horses, many will go on to lead happy, successful, productive lives as hunters, jumpers, and three-day eventers - or even as family pets. I have worked with "OTTBs" (off the track Thoroughbreds) for 20 + years, however, and if there's one thing i can tell you, it's that the process of "bringing down" a racehorse from his high-energy life on the track is long and hard. It requires a tremendous amount of work to bring these horses to a state in which they are physically and mentally fit to move on into life afte racing.

The sad, vast majority of ex-racehorses go to auction when their careers end. Generally, this means that they will go to slaughter. Hay is incredibly expensive lately, and there are other, less high-strung horses available all the time, especially as small farms are downsizing the numbers of horses that they can afford to keep and feed.

Answer 10

They live a happy life and most of them have kids to run in the big races too.

Answer 11

They get bred.

Answer 12

they are bred and colts sold for mega bucks.

males are kept for stud....

Answer 13

The ones that have won plenty of prize money, or have good bloodlines will be sent to the breeding sheds.

Those that were not very good are often rehabilitated and go on to have useful careers as privately owned riding horses.  Some even go on to make top class eventing horses or showjumpers/dressage horses.

Very few are detroyed unless there is something physically wrong with them.

Answer 14

they keep them like a king or queen if you no what i mean

Answer 15

They're shipped off to Burger King

Answer 16

If they are not gelded, or something, they are used for breeding.  They certainly enjoy their retirement!  (Unlike the rest of us old  boys!).  Good luck.