The 2025 International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will take place April 24-26 in Lexington, Kentucky, and it will focus on aftercare organizations. The three-day event will be comprised of a traditional conference at Spy Coast Farm’s Equine Education Center as well a multitude of on-site visits, which will take place at accredited aftercare facilities in the area, and a social gathering.
On the first day, leading experts in aftercare will speak during the conference at Spy Coast. Attendees will then head to New Vocations for its Open Barn & BBQ event. On the second day, three additional aftercare organizations will host IFAR guests: Old Friends, the Secretariat Center, and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). The final day features a social gathering during the cross country portion of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian, one of the world’s premier equestrian 5* events. Although the numbers change year to year, Thoroughbreds routinely feature in the competition.
“We are excited to bring IFAR back to the U.S. and to Kentucky, where our international movement began in 2015,” said IFAR Chair Dr Eliot Forbes. “The mission of IFAR is to promote lifelong care for retired racehorses, raise awareness in the racing community about this responsibility, and showcase the versatility of Thoroughbreds in the sport horse world. Our next gathering will showcase the excellent work of aftercare organizations, help to share best practices, and demonstrate how Thoroughbreds can excel in a wide range of disciplines.”
All of the featured aftercare facilities are accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), which accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Since 2012, it has granted more than $31.9 million to accredited aftercare organizations, and 16,500 Thoroughbreds have been retrained, rehomed, or retired by accredited organizations.
“One of the amazing aspects of organizations accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is their diversity and dedication to serving Thoroughbreds in different ways after their racing or breeding careers,” said Stacie Clark-Rogers, TAA’s operations consultant. “While many Thoroughbreds can be retrained for new equine disciplines, not all are suited for a second career. That’s why having sanctuary options is so vital, ensuring every horse has a safe and secure future.
“North American racing is fortunate to have an array of aftercare organizations, including those that specialize in retraining and adoption, equine-assisted therapy programs, and lifelong sanctuaries committed to providing exceptional care for these horses.”
New Vocations is the oldest and largest racehorse adoption program in the United States. Since its inception in 1992, its mission has been to rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retired racehorse. More than 9,000 horses have been adopted through the program.
Founded in 2003, Old Friends provides a dignified retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end. By promoting these once celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, its mission is to raise awareness of the importance of equine aftercare. Famous residents include multiple Kentucky Derby winners.
The Secretariat Center began as a project to showcase to the world the athletic abilities and talents of the American Thoroughbred. Founded in 2004 and located on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park, it provides an education for former racehorses so they are able to transition into new careers as sport horses.
TRF was founded in 1983, and it is the oldest and largest Thoroughbred rescue in the United States. With locations across the country, it provides a lifetime sanctuary for Thoroughbreds after their racing careers as well as opportunities for people wishing to improve their well-being through the undeniable healing power of horses.
If there are specific topics you would like to see covered or if you are part of an aftercare organization that may be interested in presenting at the conference, please contact IFAR at IFARconference@gmail.com.
The IFAR conference will be receiving assistance from the Japan Racing Association (JRA), which has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement to support the activities of the organization.
IFAR has previously conducted forums in conjunction with the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Sapporo, Japan in August 2024; the 39th ARC in Melbourne, Australia in February 2023; the 38th ARC in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2020; the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation’s General Assembly in Oslo, Norway, in May 2019; the 37th ARC in Seoul, South Korea, in May 2018; and the Pan American Conference in Washington, D.C., in May 2017. Virtual conferences were held in 2021 and 2022.
IFAR is an independent forum that recognizes geographical and industry differences among racing countries and is designed to enhance Thoroughbred aftercare worldwide. IFAR will raise awareness of the importance of welfare for Thoroughbreds, improve education on lifetime care, and help increase demand for former racehorses in other equestrian sports. For more information on IFAR, visit https://www.internationalracehorseaftercare.com.
International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses