Colorado State University Thoroughbred Aftercare Program

Have you ever wished there was a class where you could learn how to re-train an off the track thoroughbred?  Good news – there is. 

The aftercare of Thoroughbreds within North America is a rapidly growing field, with immense benefits that both serve the race industry in addition to equestrians. It is believed that upwards of 50% of all thoroughbreds will need aftercare at some point in their life, and because of that, multiple incentive programs exist for this unique population.  This includes adoption/rescue agencies such as New Vocations, competitive awards such as the Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), and facilities that are devoted to the retraining of these horses.  Over 65,000 thoroughbreds are enrolled in the T.I.P system, indicating just how many OTTBs are being retrained as competitive partners. With such significant numbers, a need for education of the next generation of Equine Industry graduates is paramount.

At Colorado State University, we have created a program to do just that. 

In 2019 we created a team in which students were allowed the opportunity to retrain an OTTB over a 10-month period, and then compete in the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park. Since then, we are on track to complete a curriculum devoted to educating these future trainers.  Over two and a half semesters, the students learn about different training techniques, develop their own training strategies, take their horses to local competitions and off property experiences, and eventually develop the marketing plan for their assigned horse after the Makeover event. Over the last several years including 2024, there have been 26 students and 13 horses involved.  The learning opportunities for the students in this program are vast, and it is incredibly rewarding to watch them grow, both in their horsemanship and as individuals.

Given the obvious need for this program, and the past successes our students have had, we are looking for support to reach our increasing goals. In the future, we hope to add two new classes to the curriculum, increase the number of accepted students, and impact an increasing number of OTTBs, so that we may address this very important issue and produce the next generation of equine professionals.

Aftercare is essential to our Thoroughbreds, but we need competent horsemen and women to assist these animals. Help us at CSU create a path for those future trainers. 

All donations to this project will benefit the CSU Thoroughbred Aftercare program through the Right Horse Program fund.