ReRun–a Thoroughbred adoption organization whose mission is to rehabilitate, retrain, and find adoptive homes for Thoroughbred racehorses when their careers on the track are over–has launched its "Transitioning off-the-track Thoroughbreds" project, made possible by a Rescuing Racers Initiative grant from the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

According to Jacque Schultz, senior director of the ASPCA Equine Fund, the Rescuing Racers Initiative grant was awarded to those groups that have demonstrated a dedication to promoting equine rescue and welfare, and the ASPCA is proud to help them responsibly build their capacity and save more racehorses.

ReRun has spent 25 years helping retired racehorses avoid the possibility of slaughter and instead pursue second careers in new adoptive homes. But according to Christine Orman, PhD, ReRun’s resource development director, finding well-matched homes for these horses has become harder than ever.

"The equine adoption market has changed dramatically in the past few years, primarily due to the economy, and this has put Thoroughbred ex-racehorses at a distinct disadvantage because they, unlike non-racing horses, need to go through a period of transitional training to unlearn being a racehorse and learn how to be a riding horse," she explained. "This takes time, energy, and often money, which today’s potential adopters have much less of than in previous years. As a result, the onus falls on us to provide our horses with basic re-training, and that requires a level of commitment, consistency, and skill that hasn’t been possible to achieve with our limited financial and human resources