Nashville, TN – Safe Harbor Sanctuary, a 501(c)3, GFAS-Accredited equine and livestock rescue organization based near Nashville, Tenn., has announced the expansion of its After the Track program for retiring racehorses.

More than two dozen off-the-track Standardbreds have been placed in new homes through Safe Harbor. The landscape of “horse rescue” has changed since the organization’s founding five years ago, and the need for aftercare programs for retiring racehorses has become more prominent. In 2019, the organization hopes to expand its After the Track program by working directly with the racing community.

“We want to be an alternative for owners and trainers who are ready to retire their horses from racing,” said director Elizabeth Howe. ” We applaud the USTA for programs like Full Circle. Relatedly, our adoption contract is a lifetime safety net. As such, we hope to prepare horses in our program for second careers as family, pleasure, or show horses. There is always a fear when placing a horse in what you hope is a good home. Our adoption team screens applicants, checks references and does follow-up to try to eliminate these fears and ensure ‘forever homes.’”

“We usually have a waiting list of approved adopters looking for the epitome of a Standardbred with aftercare training – all the basic ground training, been there, done that attitude, safe for the family’s 10-year-old to ride around the house and mom to take on a trail ride on Saturday. Our trainers are experienced working with both trotters and pacers to prepare them for a secure future.”

Safe Harbor is a foster farm-based rescue with resources to care for approximately 35 horses at any given time. Intakes are based on available space in the program. Some caretakers serve as farms for downtime, where horses can be turned out and enjoy being horses. When they are ready to be restarted toward second careers, they move to the organization’s training center to be evaluated and put into regular work. Safe Harbor horses have been adopted to casual weekend riders and serious competitors, and have done everything from Sunday afternoon pleasure driving to working cattle to three-day eventing.

Regular post-adoption check-ins are required under the adoption contract. Reference checks are completed on every applicant. Horses adopted through Safe Harbor are welcomed back into the program at any time, for any reason.

For additional information about Safe Harbor’s After the Track program or to enroll a horse, email contact@safeharborsanctuary.org or call 615.997.0697.