Retired Racehorse Project

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is an organization that gives thoroughbred race horses a second chance at a new career after their racing career is over. They have lots of sponsors who raise awareness through the horse world and donate money to this cause. Their main purpose is to make an increased demand for thoroughbred<nowiki/>s and build bridges to a second career.
This organization is a 501c3 non- profit which allows for federal tax exemption.
The organization headquarters is in Davidson, Maryland.
History
The project was founded in 2010 by Steuart Pittman in the state of Maryland. The organization was designed to help find new careers and homes to ex-racehorses. The organization is trying to prevent the shipment of horses to slaughterhouses. Hundreds of thoroughbreds fail at racing each year, so the project aims at providing trainers as well as the horses a chance to train in a different discipline. The Project tries to showcase to the public the positives the thoroughbred breed that is meant to compete and work. In 2010 the organization applied for its nonprofit status.
Horse racing industry issues
Maryland is home to the Preakness Stakes which is a race that happens every spring, lots of track horses come there to compete. Racing allows betting on horses for each race, so there is a lot of money at stake. Some of the race horses sell for thousands of dollars, but if they fail at racing they usually get auctioned off to slaughter. Roughly half of the foals born for racing end up at slaughter farms, so the organization tries to introduce the horse into a new career. Thoroughbreds are often stereotyped as being hot headed and are not the most commonly desired horse. Steuart Ptiman has been quoted stating, “Fifteen thousand or so Thoroughbreds are retired from racing each year" on OTTB horse, Icabad Crane.
According to the RRP Press Release the following disciplines have been chosen for the Makeover Challenge
* Barrel racing
* Competitive trail
* Dressage
* Field hunters
* Eventing
* Freestyle
* Polo
* Show hunter
* Show jumper
* Ranch work
Sponsors
The organization also partially relies on donations to help fund events.
Classic sponsors include:
* Thoroughbred Charities of America
* Hagyard
* Triple Crown
* Cosequin
* Masters of Foxhounds Association of America
Events
In 2009 the organization hosted their first event, The Retired Racehorse Training Symposium The Makeover is open to professionals, amateurs, and junior trainers if their application is accepted to participate<ref name":3" />. Horses sold here typically sell for around $1,000 to $25,000<ref name=":2" />.
They also host numerous horse expos each year, a thoroughbred trainer challenge, and a 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge in Maryland.
Success
The first ever event in 2009, Retired Racehorse Training Symposium, lead to the creation of this organization<ref name=":1" />. The RRP has a big audience through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram<ref name":5" />. They have successfully launched their own magazine, titled Off The Track Thoroughbred Magazine<ref name":4" />. They have successfully re-homed over a few thousand thoroughbreds since its opening out of the approximate 150,000 thoroughbred owners nationwide. The 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover Challenge brought out 509 horses with 578 trainers to Kentucky; following with 100 entered in the sale and resulting in 22 official sales<ref name=":3" />.

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