Supply, Meet Demand
Producing horses with exceptional speed inherently produces many more lacking that singular talent. Everyone in the business knows this by-product is the primary cause of the aftercare problem.
The volume of over-supply is enormous. Visibility, awareness and legitimate concern over what happens to these unwanted horses grows constantly. The social license implications of this dilemma are intensifying into a serious threat to an industry already buffeted by other storms and controversies. Everyone understands these facts and many feel this intrinsic challenge may be insurmountable.
Yet fundamentally, the solution to the aftercare problem is simple. Create a corresponding demand for these horses.
To be effective the demand must accurately match thoroughbreds, requiring their distinct blend of speed, stamina and agility, except not overly favoring a subset of the population such as gender, physique or disposition. The demand must be at least equivalent in scale and have varied preferences to match the number and diversity of horses. It must also be enduring, giving horses a lifelong purpose including residual value when their athletic capabilities decline in later years.
A demand with these criteria can only come from an equestrian sport.
The State of Equestrian Competition
Regrettably there are no traditional equestrian sports that favor the full-thoroughbred horse. Western disciplines much prefer the short range speed and cow-sense of the quarter horse. English disciplines want the impressive movement and predictable disposition of the Warmblood. A quarter century ago, the sport of eventing did lean toward the thoroughbred because the cross-country component played a far greater role in the competition. Warmblood breeders and special interests will be sure eventing does not reverse course.
Furthermore, virtually all traditional disciplines have become very exclusive, shutting out the vast majority of equestrians and barring access to new-comers that lack the substantial resources needed to participate. This exclusionary mixture is why efforts to incentivize thoroughbreds in traditional sports have found a hard ceiling. However, it also points to an enormous untapped resource that can be converted into the critical piece missing from thoroughbred aftercare.
Indeed, both horses and people are looking for a new competitive opportunity.
Connecting Horses and People
Unwanted thoroughbred horses and burgeoning exclusivity in equestrian disciplines were catalysts for creating the first new horse sport in a half century. Cross Country Equestrian (CCE) is a purpose-built remedy for both predicaments, connecting two sides by filling the void between them.
CCE is an objectively scored competition based on cross country jumping. Competitors score points by jumping obstacles and incur penalties for errors and time faults. Speed and stamina are important so thoroughbreds have a distinct advantage. CCE has unique flexibility and innovative optionality that make it friendly to all levels of experience, significantly safer than comparable sports, and exciting for everyone including spectators.
After years of development, CCE was launched in late 2023. This year saw over two dozen competitions in eight states and developing the framework of a sophisticated internet based sport management system. The 2025 schedule has several large-scale competitions as CCE progresses toward an international debut. CCE is exciting, fun and prioritizes the partnership that is the foremost attraction of riding sports. It has proven itself to the first group of equestrians and they want more. CCE is set to expand. That is where the thoroughbred industry can step up.
Mutual Benefits
Hoping a systemic problem will fix itself or an outsider will clean up the mess is unrealistic. As the entity responsible for generating the unwanted supply of horses, the entire thoroughbred industry should do whatever is needed to develop a corresponding demand.
Rider in a CCE competition | courtesy Nick Larkin
Accountability is important and righteous, but there is a tremendous hidden opportunity that goes far beyond virtue signaling or leveraging good deeds for positive publicity. The solution to the aftercare problem can also alleviate and potentially resolve several major issues confronting thoroughbred racing. To see how, requires stepping back to get a wider perspective and thinking differently.
Fundamentally, racing must grow a significantly larger audience if it and the affiliated businesses behind racing are to thrive. On a similarly elemental level, where to look for an audience interested in horses is patently obvious–people that already like horses. A thoroughbred-centric equestrian sport that harmonizes with racing would merge the thoroughbred world with a multitude of displaced and disenchanted equestrians looking for a new home. That would fill the follower deficit with the best type of fans–enthusiastic, knowledgeable people that actively support everything thoroughbred.
Broadening the definition and image of thoroughbred sport will naturally widen exposure and appeal. Observing regular people actively involved with thoroughbreds makes the entire scene relatable and inviting. Authentically focusing on the horse, showcasing their engaging life-stories, displaying perpetual compassion and providing immersive experiences is compelling and retains fascination.
The potential benefits to the existing industry are open-ended. Collaborations where racecourses and training centers function as CCE incubators for horses and people, rather than laying dormant between meets. Extending revenue, employment and relevance between seasons. Some venues will open their track, infield and surrounding areas to competitions, filling grandstands, restaurants and even betting windows. Wider exposure will likely generate unexpected outgrowth such as track-based therapy programs or additional entertainment-based opportunities. The infrastructure is already there. Why not use it to advance and enlarge the thoroughbred enterprise?
A Bright Future
Imagine an expansive thoroughbred industry that involves the horse well beyond the first few years of speed. Retirement and vocational programs are comfortably overseeing the horses unable to perform in active roles. Horses are sought after and valued, in all their variety. The organizations and small businesses that form the aftercare pipeline are no longer backlogged as the demand matches or exceeds the supply.
The upstream and downstream advantages are countless. The optics are overwhelmingly positive and the public majority supports the business that fully embraces and revolves around the central figure – the thoroughbred horse.
CCE and the Cross Country Equestrian Association are ready to make this happen. Are you?
There are numerous ways to support CCE and end the aftercare problem. Get involved by joining, participating or sponsoring competitions, courses, and ongoing development.
Visit www.CrossCountryEquestrianAssociation.com or contact us at contact@CrossCountryEquestrianAssociation.com
Nick Larkin, a native of New Zealand now living in Lexington, Kentucky, is a world-class event rider, instructor, trainer and the pioneer of CCE, with experience organizing and competing in equestrian sports, breeding, racing and steeplechasing. He has been hands-on, full-contact horses for almost four decades.
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