Thoroughbred Aftercare Charities Host Brainstorming Event In Newmarket

The thoroughbred aftercare charities in Ireland, France and Britain-Treo Eile, Au-Delà Des Pistes and Retraining of Racehorses-met earlier this month in Newmarket with the aim of bolstering the care racehorses receive upon retirement. 

RoR managing director David Catlow, Au-Delà des Pistes executives Carole Desmetz and Mégane Martins and Vice President Alix Choppin, and Treo Eile executive Anne Connor and co-founder and director Caoimhe Doherty met with Godolphin's charities manager Penny Taylor and IFAR steering group member and Treo Eile co-director Diana Cooper, for the brainstorming session.

All three charities have proved efficient at establishing connections between racing and equestrian disciplines in order to provide increasingly diverse and secure outcomes for thoroughbreds as they embark on their second career following retirement from racing. 

Their respective brands have become household names in the industry and actively contribute to raising awareness about retrained racehorses' versatility and outstanding athletic qualities for all equestrian sports.

The gathering was intended to set up a collaborative base for best practice exchange and a lobbying force to push for transnational topics of welfare and aftercare to be addressed by the respective racing authorities. 

All three charities specifically agreed to combine forces on four issues that were identified as obstacles to aftercare becoming increasingly embedded within racing's objectives and commitments.

Caoimhe Doherty, co-founder and Director of Treo Eile commented, “With tripartite agreements in place for racing and breeding, it is a natural next step for England, France and Ireland to team up in their support for the aftercare of racehorses. 

“We are very grateful for Godolphin's drive and commitment to the support of racehorses after racing, which encapsulates their vision and hosting of the inaugural meeting of representatives from Retraining of Racehorses, Au-Delà Des Pistes and Treo Eile. The sharing of our journeys to-date highlighted common areas of progress and concern. Open conversations addressing the present issue of the 'social licence' relating to our sport, the participation and responsibility of our stakeholders were mutually beneficial, given the varying years our organisations have been in existence.”

She added, “We were very fortunate to avail of Roly Owers, CEO of World Equine Welfare, expertise when discussing the subject of euthanasia. The passion for the welfare of racehorses within each organisation was very evident, as was the positivity to work.”