People often ask, "When should I retire my horse?" There is no one answer to the question of when to retire a horse, as it depends on a number of factors, including the horse's age, health, breed, and workload. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you to make this decision.
Age is not always a reliable indicator of when a horse should be retired. Some horses can continue to perform at a high level well into their 20s, while others may need to be retired at a younger age due to health problems.
Health is the most important factor to consider when making the decision to retire a horse. If your horse is suffering from health problems that are affecting its ability to perform or its quality of life, it may be time to retire it.
Breed can also play a role in deciding when to retire a horse. Some breeds, such as Thoroughbreds, are known for their athleticism and can often perform at a high level for many years. Other breeds, such as draft horses, may need to be retired at a younger age due to their size and weight.
Workload is also a factor to consider. Horses that are working hard, such as race horses or show horses, may need to be retired at a younger age than horses that are used for less strenuous activities, such as trail riding or pleasure riding.
Here are some signs that it may be time to retire your horse:
- Your horse is no longer able to perform at its previous level.
- Your horse is reluctant to work or shows signs of discomfort.
- Your horse has health problems that are affecting its ability to perform or its quality of life.
- Your horse is recovering from a serious injury.
- Your horse is old and frail.
If you are unsure whether or not it is time to retire your horse, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian or an experienced equestrian professional. They can help you to assess your horse's health and fitness and make a recommendation based on your individual circumstances.
Retiring a horse can be a difficult decision, but it is important to remember that you are doing what is best for your horse. By retiring your horse at the right time, you can help it to enjoy a long and healthy retirement. This page includes organizations to contact for places to retire your horse.
Featured Listings - Retirement
1616 H Street, NW 7th Floor Washington, DC 20006
ph: 202.296.4031
The mission of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare through education and industry collaboration.
United States | International (click here) | Charities & Information
Arizona
- After The Homestretch-Arizona, 3939 W. Mariposa Grande, Glendale, AZ 85310
- All God's Creatures, P.O. Box 54824, Phoenix, AZ 85078-4824
- Apache Junction Horse Rescue, P.O. Box 7797, Apache Junction, AZ 85278
- Arizona Equine Rescue Organization, 34522 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite D-7, #168 Scottsdale, AZ 85266
- Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary, P.O. Box 1685, Green Valley, AZ 85622
- Healing Hearts Animal Sanctuary, 3317 S. Higley Road, Suite 114-481, Gilbert, AZ 85297
- Horse'n Around Rescue Ranch & Foundation, P.O. Box 698, Hereford, AZ 85615
- New Beginnings Paso Fino Horse Rescue, 29009 N. 152nd Drive, Surprise, AZ 85387
- Sacred Grounds Rescue Ranch, P.O. Box 967, Wikieup, AZ 85360
- Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary, 27115 N. 45th Street, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
- Triple R Horse Rescue, 6206 E. Rockaway Hills Drive, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
- Whisper's Sanctuary, 2160 E. Fry Blvd., #342, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
- WildHorse Ranch Rescue, P.O. Box 415, Gilbert, AZ 85299-0415
California
- After the Finish Line, 10153 Riverside Drive, Suite 397, Toluca Lake, CA 91602
- ARRO Farms Horse Ranch, 20494 E Acampo Rd, Clements, California 95227
- BIG Heart Ranch Animal Rescue, Box 1003, Malibu, CA 90265
- CANTER California, 260 Las Miradas Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95032
- CCR Farms-Horse Retirement, 29443 Highway 33, Los Padres National Forest, CA 93252
- Emergency Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 2462, Ramona, CA 92065
- Equus Farms,3535 La Porte Road, Marysville, CA 95901
- GEVA Inc., P.O. Box 2101, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
- Happy Endings Animal Sanctuary, P. O. Box 873, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
- Horse Plus Humane Society, P.O. Box 6108, Oroville, CA 95966
- Little Wings Stables, 6043 Kozy Lane, Dixon, CA 95620
- Murray's Equine Services, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
- Saddle Creek Farm, 39948 Deluz Road, Falbrook, CA 92028
- Saffyre Sanctuary, Inc., P.O. Box 921708, Sylmar, CA 91392
- Templeton Farms, 1799 Templeton Road, Templeton, CA 93465-8309
- The Golden Carrot, 44700 Tule Canyon Road, Anza, CA 92539
- TIER - True Innocents Equine Rescue, 8920 Limonite Ave, #123, Riverside, CA 92509
Colorado
- CANTER Colorado, 7586 S. Williams St., Centennial, CO 80122
- Front Range Equine Rescue, P.O. Box 307, Larkspur, CO 80118
Connecticut
- Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, 300 East Haddam Road (Rt. 82), Salem, CT 06420
- Spindlebrook Farm, 57 East Cornwall Road, Litchfield, CT 06759
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
- Challis Creek Ranch, P.O. Box 1220, Challis, ID 83226-1220
- Idaho Horse Rescue, 947 E. Winding Creek Drive, Eagle, ID 83616
Illinois
- Big Heart Ranch Illinois, 2304 W. Morley Road, Elizabeth, IL. 61028
- CANTER Illinois, 7290 Princeton Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63130
Indiana
Kentucky
- Arondel Equestrian Center, 270 Browns Mill Road, Lexington, KY 40511
- Aurora Farms, 329 Ford Road, Shelbyville, KY 40065
- CANTER Kentucky, P.O. Box 2996, Louisville, Ky. 40201
- First Light's Run, 3223 Flint Knob Road, Cave City, KY 42127
- New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, 4787 Haley Road, Lexington, KY 40516
- Old Friends Inc., 1841 Paynes Depot Road, Georgetown, KY 40324
- Our Mims Retirement Haven, 2810 Millersburg Ruddles Mill Road, Paris, KY 40361
- Weber's Retired Horses LLC, 1013 Dripping Springs Road, Princeton, KY 42445
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
- Little Tree Farms, 58424 Ridge Road, Wooldridge, MO 65287
- Seven Springs Farm, 3740 Missouri 5, Mansfield, MO 65704
Montana
New Mexico
New York
- Arrowhead Ranch, 461 Cooley Road Parksville, NY 12768
- Horse Heaven Stables, 1654 County Road 43, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
- Infinity Farm, Glenville, NY 12010
- Long Shadows Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 161, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
- Meadow View Thoroughbreds, LLC, 143 W. Ames Road, Canajoharie, NY 13317
- Old Friends in New York Cabin Creek Farm, 483 Sandhill Road, Greenfield Center, NY 12833
- Springfield Farm Enterpries Inc., 101 Rockwell Road, Newfield, NY 14867
- SquirrelWood Equine Sanctuary, 1994 State Route 17K, Montgomery, NY 12549
- Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, P.O. Box 3387, Saratoga Springs, New York, NY 13866
North Carolina
Ohio
- CANTER Ohio, 9277 Baldwin Road, Mentor, OH 44060
- Ledge Hollow Stable, 982 Ledge Road, Medina, OH 44256
- Windhorse Farm, 9084 Simons South Road, Williamsfield, OH 44093
Oregon
Pennsylvania
- CANTER of Pennsylvania, 445 Spangler Road, New Oxford, PA 17350
- Last Chance Ranch, 9 Beck Road, Quakertown, PA 18951
- Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, 1710 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465-8806
- Verida Farm, 1100 Woodside Avenue, Mertztown, PA 19539
- Windy Ridge Farm, 401 Swope Rd Bethel Pa 19507
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
- Ferrell Hollow Farm, 5323 Ferrell Hollow Road, Readyville, TN 37149
- Finish Flag Farms, 7750 State Route 200, Henderson, TN 38340
- Gentry Creek Equine Retirement & Rehabilitation, 111 Pete Greever Road, Laurel Bloomery, TN 37680
- Paradigm Farms, P.O. Box 162, Lynnville, TN 38472
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
- Black Horse Farm, 6311 Back Horseman Lane, Midland, VA 22728
- Cullenstone Farm LLC, P.O. Box 81, White Post, VA 22663
- Fountain Greene Farm Inc., 1892 Wake Road, Wake, VA 23176
- Long Branch Plantation, P.O. Box 241, Millwood, VA 22646
- Painted Oaks Retirement Horse Boarding, 16845 Branches Road, DeWitt, VA 23840
- Rugby Creek, 1314 Rugby Road, Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363
- Throwleigh Farm, 52 Throwleigh Lane, Boyce, VA 22620
- Welbourne Farm, 22314 Welbourne Farm Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117
Washington
Wisconsin
- Bronken Creek Performance Horse Retirement, E8431 1015th Avenue, Colfax, WI 54730-4800
- Refuge Farms Inc., P .O. Box 195, Spring Valley, WI 54767
Retirement - International
Retirement - Australia
- Glenshea Equine Retirement, Victoria, AUS
- Living Legends, 207 Oaklands Road, Greenvale, Victoria 3059, AUS
Retirement - United Kingdom
- Greatwood - Caring For Retired Racehorses & Children With Special Needs, Rainscombe Hill Farm, Clench Common, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4DT, UK
- Heros (Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme) The Swallows, North Farm Stud, Fawley, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9NJ, UK
- National Horseracing Museum, 99 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8JH, UK
- Racehorse Relief Glenview Farm, Wheal Buller, Redruth, Cornwall, TR16 6ST, UK
Charities & Information
- A Home for Every Horse
- Animal Welfare Institute, 900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003
- Australian Horse Industry Council
- Belmont Child Care Association, 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Gate 6, Elmont, NY 11003
- Blue Grass Farms Charities, 340 Legion Drive, #20, Lexington, KY 40504
- Charity Navigator - the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities
- Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, 777 Delaware Park Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19804
- Equestrian Aid Foundation, 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd, Ste. 10A-377, Wellington, FL 33414
- Equine Rescue Network, 370 Middleton Road, Boxford, MA 01921
- Fleet of Angels - Transportation Network for At-Risk Equines
- Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, P.O. Box 32294, Washington, DC 20007
- Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, 821 Corporate Dr., Lexington, KY 40503
- Groom Elite Horsemen's Education Program, 870 Corporate Dr., Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40503
- Horse-Protection.org
- Horses 4 Heroes
- Kentucky Equine Management Internship, P.O. Box 910628, Lexington, KY 40591-0628
- Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy, P.O. Box 324, Simpsonville, KY 40067
- Man O' War Project at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA), 500 Redland Court - Suite 105, Owings Mills, MD 21117
- National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, 191 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs NY 12866-3566
- Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, IL 60126
- PINK Horse, Inc., Lope For Hope - breast cancer assistance
- Race Track Chaplaincy NY, P.O. Box 66, Elmont, NY 11003
- Race Track Chaplaincy of America, Pennsylvania Division, P.O. Box 1000, Bensalem, PA 19020
- Racing Industry Charitable Foundation, RICF Administrative Office, 8600 W. North Ave., Maywood, IL 60153
- Racing Welfare, Robin McAlpine House, 20B Park Lane, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8QD, UK
- RedRover, P.O. Box 188890, Sacramento, CA 95818
- Rescue and Retirement Guidelines
- Retired Racehorse Project
- Saratoga War Horse, P.O. Box 461, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
- Saving America's Horses: A Nation Betrayed
- Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 353 Sweetmans Lane, Suite 101, Millstone Twp. NJ 08535
- The Backstretch Education Fund, Inc., 459 Columbus Avenue, Box 253, New York, NY 10024
- The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, 240 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924
- The Homes for Horses Coalition
- The Horse Farm Workers' Education Assistance Fund, 2938 Four Pines Drive, Lexington, KY 40502
- The Race for Education, 1818 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY 40504
- Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, c/o The Jockey Club, 821 Corporate Dr., Lexington, KY 40503
- Thoroughbred Charities of America, P.O. Box 910668, Lexington, KY 40591
- Thoroughbred Connect
- United States Equine Rescue League, USERL Corporate Office, 1851 W. Erhinghaus St. Suite 146, Elizabeth City, NC 27909
- Unwanted Horse Coalition
- World Horse Welfare
Painting Horse Raises Thousands for Charity
By Jennifer Wentz
Two years have passed since Dot Morgan opened an email from a Gettysburg artists saying he wanted to donate proceeds from painting he sold to her racehorse rescue, New Vocations.
But the artist didn't paint those pieces. His horse did.
"I was like, 'Well, this is interesting,'" Morgan recalled with a laugh.
Two years, countless media appearances and more than $63,000 in donated funds later, Morgan said that email was a godsend.
Retired racehorse Metro Meteor has created dozens of one-of-a-kind abstract pieces since his owner, Ron Krajewski, first taught him to hold a paintbrush in his mouth. The horse has racked up more than $120,000 in sales from his paintings, has a line of horse-related supplies in the works and his own limited-edition wine — Metrose — at the Adams County Winery.
Painting isn't just a hobby for Metro Meteor — it probably saved his life.
Metro Meteor's painting career started about two years ago, not long after Gettysburg residents Ron and Wendy Krajewski adopted him off the Penn National racetrack.
The first-time horse owners couldn't have picked a more difficult animal to start on. Metro had a huge, stubborn personality and, the Krajewskis soon learned, congenital knee problems that had grown worse over the course of his racing career.
Before long, they could not ride him at all, and their vet gave them the worst news possible: within the next couple years, Metro's knees would lock up completely. He would just lie down and never get back up.
That's when they took off Metro's saddle and gave him a paintbrush.
Ron Krajewski already had a successful art career of his own, painting race cars and pet portraits in his Gettysburg home. When he was looking for ways to spend time with the unrideable horse, and he noticed Metro's tendency to bob his head out of boredom, he wondered what would happen if he taught Metro to hold a paintbrush.
Using Metro's favorite treats, including Twizzlers, he coaxed the strong-willed thoroughbred into touching brush to canvas. Before long, they were selling their abstract art online and at Gettysburg's Gallery 30.
"He's got his own successful career. I'm just riding on his coattails," Krajewski said.
Half of the proceeds from his paintings, as well as a portion of the sales of his other products, goes to New Vocations, a group that takes in about 400 retired racehorses each year and adopts them to willing families, said Dot Morgan, the nonprofit's executive director.
Metro even has a few stalls named after him at the charity's Hummelstown stable, which can take in horses that need extensive medical care thanks to Metro's donations.
As for the rest of the proceeds from Metro's art, they go toward Metro's medical care. Kim Brokaw of Walkersville Veterinary Clinic in Maryland developed an experimental treatment for the bone growth in Metro's knees, which has helped make him rideable again.
That means Metro can continue painting and help rescue other racehorses for years to come. It's also good news for his owners, who can look forward to more time with their equine artist.
"Painting with him is one of the biggest thrills in my life," Krajewski said.
There are more interesting stories in our section on Recreation & Lifestyle.
