Did you know that May is the National Adopt a Horse Month? That’s right, not only can you adopt furry friends such as cats and dogs, but also horses of all breeds, ponies, and mules! Here at Horse Country, we have five member locations that serve as aftercare facilities for horses looking for their forever home.
Kentucky Equine Adoption Center
Located just outside of Lexington, the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center sits on 72 acres of green pastures and rolling hills, home to equines of all kinds. Here, you can find horses, mules, miniature ponies, and even donkeys! The Kentucky Equine Adoption provides a haven for horses while they explore new careers and find their forever home. They operate with the same goal in mind as they did during their conception in 2006, that every horse gets adopted.
Currently, there are 35 horses residing at the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, waiting to find their forever home! Whether you are looking for a companion for your four-legged friend in their pasture, or an athlete ready to compete, the adoption center has a horse for you.
This month, KYEAC is featuring two of their adoptable mares, Cashew and Snickers. Cashew comes from Eastern Kentucky, where she once lived along the strip mines. Now, she is learning to be saddled, and is excited for adventures with a new best friend. Snickers is a Bay/White Pinto mare. At the age of 23, she has spent her life as a pet and is gaining confidence with her training here at KYEAC. Snickers is looking for an experienced trainer to continue learning with or could serve as a non-ridable companion for your friends at home!
The Kentucky Equine Adoption Center offers tours seven days a week, with public and private tours available for groups to choose from! Learn more and book your visit here.
New Vocations
Come visit New Vocations, the nation’s largest racehorse adoption program. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, New Vocations has expanded across the country to rehabilitate, retrain, and find new homes for both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds with loving adopters. Founded by Dot Morgan in 1992, New Vocations is still operated under her vision and now with the help of her two daughters. Since ’92, they have found new homes for over 9,000 retired horses from the track.
New Vocations is currently working with 12 off-the-track-Thoroughbreds at their Lexington farm, providing rehabilitation and retraining, so they can succeed in their second career. One adoptable horse, Largent, is sired by Into Mischief, who you can visit at Spendthrift Farm with Horse Country! At New Vocations, there is a horse for everyone, whether you are looking for your next trail-ride champion, companion in the fields, or a new competitor in your hunter-jumper barn.
You can visit New Vocations throughout the year on a public tour, hosted on Wednesdays and Fridays at 1pm, or on a private visit, hosted six days a week at various times. Learn more and book your tour here.
Second Stride
Since 2005, over 1600 retired racehorses have found their new homes through Second Stride. Located just outside of Louisville, half an hour from the infamous Churchill Downs, Second Stride provides professional rehabilitation and retraining of retired thoroughbreds to find new homes following their career on the track. In addition to racehorses, they also work to rehome broodmares and bloodstock.
Second Stride offers horses for every discipline, whether you’re looking for a young filly to train and begin showing, or an older thoroughbred gelding to be a well-mannered trail-riding companion. Each Thoroughbred listed on their site is ready to be adopted, and you can learn all about their unique personalities and individual training by reading their profiles.
Second Stride opens their doors to guests Monday through Saturday throughout the year, where you can meet their adoptable retired racehorses and learn more about how aftercare and the Thoroughbred industry go hand in hand. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your new best friend!
Secretariat Center
The Secretariat Center has dedicated themselves to retraining and rehoming Thoroughbreds after their time on the track since 2004. Offering an unparalleled rehabilitation program, the Secretariat Center teaches off-the-track Thoroughbreds a wide variety of skills and training that can be used for many disciplines in the equestrian world. In addition, they are exposed to diverse experiences to become accustomed to life post-racetrack, such as what to expect at a horse show, or what they may encounter on a trail ride! This unique process prepares each horse for their next career and evaluates both their strengths and personality to place them with the perfect forever home.
The Secretariat Center sits on 20 acres of land located on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park. At any time, you can find ten to twenty horses participating in the retraining program, all of whom are up for adoption! While the Secretariat Center is not offering tours at the moment, we look forward to re-opening their gates to visitors soon.
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Sanctuary Farm at Chestnut Hall
Over the past 40 years, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has established themselves as the oldest and largest Thoroughbred rescue in the United States. When a Thoroughbred can no longer race on the track, TRF takes them in with the promise of a lifelong and peaceful retirement, safe from possible neglect, abuse, or slaughter. Their mission is one-of-a-kind, providing a sanctuary for those who cannot be retrained, and rehabilitating those who are ready to begin their second career. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation currently provides haven for 425 horses, across 15 farms, spanning through 8 states, including our very own Bluegrass State!
Nestled in the rolling hills of Prospect, Kentucky lies TRF Sanctuary Farm at Chestnut Hall, home to 10 retired racehorses on a beautiful 25 acres. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation established this sanctuary farm in 2021, where the horses serve as ambassadors to our sport’s aftercare beyond the track. At the sanctuary, the horses live out the rest of their lives in a safe place while educating visitors about the Thoroughbred. TRF welcomes visitors each day to visit their beautiful land and retired horses. Click here to learn more and book your tour.
