Cover image courtesy of Equimillion
Following the announcement in August of funding from AgriFutures Australia, Racing Australia has launched the National Thoroughbred Demand and Pathways Survey, which aims to undertake the most extensive study of retired Thoroughbreds ever attempted.
The survey will play a pivotal role in a landmark national research initiative in collaboration with Hartpury University, the University of Sydney, all Australian principal racing authorities, and independent equine welfare consultant Jennifer Krawczyk.
The goal is great homes for life
The project, led by the Equine Genetic Research Centre’s Dr Natasha Hamilton, Racing Australia’s General Manager – Equine Welfare and Traceability Karen Day, and Professor Jane Williams of Hartpury University, will eventually culminate in the development of a National Thoroughbred Aftercare Demand Strategy.
“The great thing about this project is it reunites everyone with something that we all want to do,” said Dr Hamilton. “We all have the same goal - to try and ensure that these horses have great homes for their entire lives.”
"We all have the same goal - to try and ensure that these horses have great homes for their entire lives." - Dr Natasha Hamilton
Natasha Hamilton | Image courtesy of Equine Genetic Research Centre
"The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program supports investment across four priority areas,” AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Manager Caitlin Smith said. “One of these priorities is Thoroughbred horse welfare, workforce safety, and environmental sustainability - and that’s exactly where this project fits in.”
Key objectives
Key objectives are to assess the current and projected demand for retired Thoroughbreds across Australia, identify the key industries, disciplines, and communities that engage with ex-racehorses, and analyse the supply-demand balance and potential barriers to successful rehoming. By engaging with stakeholders nationwide, the project aims to progress towards evidence-based solutions to support and uplift the current rehoming economy.
The national survey is just one of the first steps towards developing a country-wide framework that comprehensively addresses the various challenges facing Thoroughbreds of all kinds after their racing and breeding careers.
“A key part of the formulation of the survey questions was that it was a collaboration between all of the welfare and post-racing teams from each principal racing authority,” said Krawczyk.
Jennifer Krawczyk | Image courtesy of The Victorian Wakeful Club
“The project has three main goals; the first is to assess the demand for retired racehorses, the second is to assess the demand strategies currently available, and the third is to develop a broad strategy to improve demand.
"A key part of the formulation of the survey questions was that it was a collaboration between all of the welfare and post-racing teams from each principal racing authority." - Jennifer Krawczyk
“The survey is predominantly targeting that first goal. It's very much about understanding who's out there that either has a thoroughbred or doesn't have a thoroughbred, and what are their drivers to have another thoroughbred, what puts them off thoroughbreds, what would make them get a thoroughbred.
"We want to really understand how people choose their horses, and then we can look at addressing any barriers to people choosing to have thoroughbreds.”
Pinpointing the appeal of retired thoroughbreds
The survey questions explore individual choices and restraints on owning Thoroughbreds, as well as horses in general, what respondents are attracted to and avoid in selecting Thoroughbreds, and, if the respondent is involved in rehoming of any kind, what influences rehoming outcomes.
“The aim of the survey is to get a really well-rounded idea of the actual demand for thoroughbreds after racing and the capacity (to own them),” said Dr Hamilton. “We are asking questions about how much people are paying and whether they think they have the capacity to take on more horses, whether they would like to take on more horses, and if yes or no, their reasons why. Also then, looking into what they like about thoroughbreds, what people dislike about thoroughbreds, and so on.
“If we get an idea of the ideas of what people have about thoroughbreds, particularly things that we think are not correct, then we can address that in our strategic plan by creating promotional and educational material, as well as targeted support for the areas where people do need some help with off-the-track thoroughbreds.
"If we get an idea of the ideas of what people have about thoroughbreds, particularly things that we think are not correct, then we can address that in our strategic plan." - Dr Natasha Hamilton
"The project aim is to provide the industry with robust information to support evidence-based decision-making, ultimately enhancing the welfare of retired thoroughbreds,” said Smith. “This initiative was partly driven by the recommendations of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group report, which highlighted the need for a sustainable and long-term national plan for thoroughbred breeding and racing.”
Learning from the wider horse community
Released in 2021, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group’s report made 46 recommendations, with a national safety net chief among them. The report also highlighted the challenges currently facing the rehoming world, particularly with Australia's scale and the independence of the PRAs. A national framework could unite and strengthens the aftercare efforts already made by each state.
"Despite anecdotal evidence of demand for retired Thoroughbreds and various private and industry-funded initiatives to increase this demand, it is crucial to formalise and significantly enhance these efforts,” Smith added. “Developing and implementing a national strategy to rehoming is essential to effectively address the demand for Thoroughbreds exiting racing and breeding.”
“We all think we know the answers to everything in the survey, but you don't learn anything by just talking to yourself," Dr Hamilton said. "So we really need to be talking to the wider horse community and get their ideas.”
Krawczyk will also be conducting interviews with 20 stakeholders in the project, including the welfare teams from each PRA, Thoroughbred retrainers, racing industry participants, and equestrians. All Thoroughbred industry participants have been sent unique survey links to record their responses.
“We're pulling together the results from the survey and from the interviews that Jennifer is undertaking, and we'll analyse those in conjunction with some internal analyses of numbers in our retirement data to make sure everything aligns,” Dr Hamilton said. “From that, we'll be developing the strategic plan.”
The National Thoroughbred Aftercare Demand Strategy is scheduled to be delivered during the Autumn Carnival in 2026. The survey is open to all, and closes on November 18.
