What happens to race horses that can't race anymore?

Question

I heard that they are sometimes euthanized or sold to slaughter houses?! what in the world?!

Answer 1

Most thoroughbreds are sent off to become farm animals. Some go to stud, others become exercise horses. I know several TBs that haven't won a single race and are living on nice Virginia farms for the rest of their days. Usually they aren't put down for no reason or turned into meat (very low demand for it, last I checked), but the occasional horse might be eventually sent to the glue factory (although this doesn't actually occur legally unless the horse died of natural causes or was humanely euthanized).

Edit: Thank you, Majestic Warrior.

Edit: And thanks to all of those other people who want to push their cruel anti-horse propaganda so they can stop horses from doing what they love to do, be it on the farm or the racetrack. You've done some REAL good today, people.

And I would love this thing to blow over as well. I'm almost as upset by this as the actual incident.

Answer 2

Yep they kill them or send them away to the slaughter.

Answer 3

Many people have opinions and facts about this matter and some of them are even right.  There is a bit of truth to the fact that many horses are sold for slaughter and many of them are retired to stud or a life as a show horse.  As to the exact numbers either way I believe we really won't ever know due to the deliberate mis-information people give you based on their personal interests in this matter.  I don't give a hoot about PETA or the Horse Racing Industry.  I care about animals that are bred for mans pleasure to race and create excitement for those who are selfish.  You can take it however you want to.  I respect all opinions.  It would be nice if people could respect mine.

Answer 4

Ya, they do sometimes. But they can also sell them to people, but they are usually very high-strung. We had an ex-racehorse mare, but had to sell her because she was to hard to handle, even at an old age.

Answer 5

I know! It's disgusting isn't it!

I totally HATE horseracing. It's all about the money sadly. http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/news?slug=ap...

I saw a horse break it's legs once and it was horrific. The fact that they're 'euthanised' when they break their legs speaks volumes. I mean a broken leg isn't necessarily fatal to a horse but it DOES mean that they can't earn money for their owners anymore. Hence they are killed... Sick...

Answer 6

Would you people like to do some research about the sport before offering your opinion.  Honestly, the number of ignorant answers here is alarming.  You people see a horse break down and then bullsh*t starts coming out of your mouths in a flurry of verbal diarrhea.  Certainly those of you who are talking about slaugherhouses and glue and dog food are not horse owners or racing fans.  If you don't know, do everyone a favor and don't answer.

Excuse me SUKI??  You are exactly what I'm talking about here.  You're ignorant.  You idiots come here and start talking.  I'm one of the regulars of this category... I've never seen you here before.  That says to me that this isn't a horse racing fan... you're an idiot who came here to express an opinion on what you know nothing about.  FYI, I'm not a racehorse owner.  I'm not a trainer.  I'm not a jockey.  I am a horse fan.  I love all horses and I happen to know a lot about the sport after following it for years.  I have gathered my knowledge of the sport from years of experience of watching racing.  I have no "vested interest" in the sport in the sense of earning money from it.  I spend a lot of time around horses... I own some show horses... I started out teaching lessons when I was younger and now I own a barn that has training, boarding, and a lesson program.  I retrain a lot of off track thoroughbreds and I start their show careers and then I sell them to loving homes or use them in our lessons for the advanced riders.  Maybe you'd like to share with us how you know anything about me or the sport of horse racing.  It's one thing to be ignorant, but god, accept it and admit it instead of pushing forth with your uninformed opinion.  Get a brain.

Answer 7

dog food

Answer 8

I am assuming that you are asking because of the recent Derby tragedy and loss of "Eight Belles".  Check out this link.  Hope that it helps.

http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/Fact...

Answer 9

Horseburgers

Answer 10

i dont know about the USA,

in Australia colts and mares go to the breeding barn....... geldings go to the paddock to live out there days........ although there are exceptions i have seen many ex race horses go into show jumping and dressage others can become stock horses rounding up cattle ect. in Melbourne there is even a farm/ museum were some ex races horses go to live out there days

Answer 11

Majestic Warrior has a vested interest - that's even more depressing than if his answer came from the heart.

Very sad.

Answer 12

they are sold to the glue factory.

jk.

there are places that adopt them sometimes.

otherwise, sadly, they are often euthenized.

Answer 13

If they are good they become pimps... no seriously they are kept for breeding stock and s***n is sold cross country

Answer 14

One of the nicest horses I ever owned was a mare who came off the track after her owners decided she was 'too crazy' to race, as she was fast but had a very nasty habit of crashing into rails, other horses, gates, and anything else she could get close to.  After 6 months in a field learning how to be a horse again instead of a speed machine we started training again from the ground up, and she turned out to be a wonderful hunter/jumper and did very well for years in competitions.  I've had many friends who have had success stories with off the track racehorses in almost every discipline you can think of.

Answer 15

That could be the case.  They are high strung animals that don't make good riding horses for the casual rider.  If it is a gelding there is no future for it as a stud horse and few stables can afford to have "retired" horses hanging around, eating their heads off, needing farriers and vets several times a year.  Where do you think the horsemeat in dog food comes from?

Answer 16

That is true, sorry.

A lot retire to become studs or mares or just get sold as ex racers to horse lovers. Some not so loving... But yeah. It's a sad life for some. I used to work at a race track for 2 seasons and that was enough to ruin it forever for me. I still feel guilty I couldn't rescue them all. Some really nice horses got put down too for stupid reasons. One hurt his leg, could have went on to be some kids little pony but instead they shot him. His name was Flash and I loved him... He was only 3.

Answer 17

not really anwsering the questino but horses are uthanised because their bones dont heal and usually serve no purpose if a bone is broken, but ever once in a while a horse like Barboro is saved because the owner invests alot of money in a around the clock vet and for the amazing attention a injured horse needs

Answer 18

they are killed after they make all the money they can for their greedy owners

Answer 19

If they're lucky, they're put to pasture to make colts. But usually it's how you say.

Answer 20

A lot of the top level horses spend the rest of their years treated like royalty at a breeding farm.  The stallions are turned out every evening and brought in every morning and cared for very carefully.  The mares are turned out every morning and brought in every evening.  They never have to work... they spend most of their lives in a field.

For the ones that weren't talented racers, are geldings and can't breed, don't have very good breeding... they are sold to normal horse owners who retrain the horses to be show horses or ordinary pleasure and trail horses.

They are not euthanized or sold to slaughter houses.  The only reason a horse would be euthanized is if it has a serious painful injury and they wouldn't be able to recover.

I can't wait for the Eight Belles thing to die down so that we can continue on this category with the horse racing fan regulars.  It's a shame that Eight Belles' tragic death has to be marred by stupid arguments like this.  Why can't we just celebrate the amazing horse instead of acting like stupid war mongering people??

Answer 21

It varies widely.

Some horses, such as 1978 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Affirmed, are placed at a stud farm after retiring from racing. Affirmed spent many years there until becoming seriously ill with the disease laminitis and was euthanized in 2001 so he would not suffer from his inevitable death.

Ferdinand, the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner, was not as successful after retirement and was sold to Japanese horse breeders who eventually sold him to a slaughterhouse.

Answer 22

Some are adopted and some are sold to slaughterhouses for meat.