Thousands of thoroughbred racehorses leave the racing industry each year in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Their welfare transitions from high-performance athletic careers to second careers, retirement, or — in the worst cases — premature slaughter, representing one of the most visible welfare challenges in the equine world.
Ex-racehorses transitioning from racing face abrupt changes: from intensive exercise regimes, high-energy diets, and constant attention to retirement without structured activity. Stereotypic behaviours developed during racing stabling persist after retirement. Horses sent to slaughter — typically at young ages — represent welfare failures of the aftercare system. Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) and Racing Welfare work to rehabilitate horses for eventing, show jumping, hacking, and leisure careers. Physical welfare concerns include gastric ulcers, joint disease from training, and respiratory issues. Welfare monitoring requires both physical health assessment and behavioural adaptation evaluation during retraining.