The Retired Racehorse Training Project is an effort to expand the market for retired Thoroughbred race horses as pleasure and sport horses through symposia, clinics, horse expos, training publications and videos and internet tools.

What have we done so far?

The Retired Racehorse Training Symposium - October, 2009
-Editorial in the November 2009 MidAtlantic Thoroughbred-

Maryland Horse World Expo - January 2010

Pennsylvania Horse World Expo - February 2010

The Retired Racehorse Training Clinic and Symposium, benefitting ReRun - May 2010 (outside link directs you to ReRun's website with a description and photos of the event)

The Future of the Project

Virginia Equine Extravaganza - October 29-31, 2010

Expos, Symposia and Clinics in other states

Website Development (hope to have this up by mid-July!). Here is a list of things you'll be able to find on our new website:

• Who We are: Board members, backgrounds and why we are doing this
• Our Purpose: How do we perceive the problems that retired racehorses face after their racing careers and more about our unique approach to solve those problems.
• Activities: Upcoming and past clinics, symposia, and sponsored competitions with retired racehorse divisions.
• Finding Retired Racehorses: A complete listing of placement organizations, rescues, racetracks , all organized by state as well as guidelines to follow.
• Training Resources: Listing of trainers (including descriptions of facilities, credentials, and references) as well as training blogs and videos on Dodon-based horses.
• Pedigree Information: You always hear that X stallion makes great sporthorse babies, but to our knowledge, there isn't a searchable database out there anywhere. We are hoping to build a database (with your help!) on current retired racehorses out there competing in the sporthorse world - it would be searchable by stallion or by sport.
• Store: Future site for training DVDs, t-shirts, the usual.
• and more!

The Retired Racehorse Training Project at the
Maryland Horse World Expo

The Maryland Horse World Expo was a huge success for the Retired Racehorse Training Project. The only other exhibitor who came close to us in numbers at sessions was John Lyons. Thanks to those of you who drove from as far away as South Carolina and spent the full four days just to catch all of our sessions.

Eli (Eidelon) and Joe (Cuppa Joe) were absolute star ambasssadors. Amy Lee's Cuppa Joe kissed all the babies (including mine) and jumped like he'd done it all his life. Eli wasn't so thrilled with the jerks who kept sticking their hands into his stall to poke him, but he knocked the socks off of everyone who truly appreciates brilliant movement, uphill conformation, and a fantastic temperament. At just two weeks off the track he made a lot of people wish they could buy  him, especially when he free-jumped. Too bad. Malinda Lawrence isn't selling.

John Nunn's brother Doug Nunn came down from New Jersey to watch Eli go. Doug trained Eli at the track and called me when they wanted to make sure his obvious potential was fulfilled. Doug joined me and Maryland trainer Julia Oughten for our session  "What Racehorses Know and How You Can Build On It." Doug showed that trainers at the track have heart, and Julia has to be not only the most articulate, but also the funniest racehorse trainer in America. I plan to drag them out to more of our stuff. Doug also was great as the "seller" in "Selecting a Horse Off The Track."

Retired jockey Andrea (Ziggy) Seafeldt Knight not only lent us her Equicizer horse and racing saddle for our booth, but also put on her silks and helped with "What Jockeys Know That The Rest Of Us Should Learn." She rode in the racing saddle like she ran her last race yesterday. I, however, could barely canter in it. Where else can you go to learn from a jockey who's ridden in the Derby, the Preakness, and 6,000 other races? Thanks Andrea.

Finally, we have to thank the four sponsors who made our MD Expo appearance possible. There was Farmers Coop of Frederick, our faithful and fantastic feed company; The Maryland Jockey Club, who knows how important training is for retired racehorses; the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, whose members are focusing more than ever on where their horses end up after racing; and Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred magazine, which covers not only everything racing, but also everything post-racing for the great horses in the sport.

Thanks, Steuart and Erin Pittman

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The Retired Racehorse Training Project at the
Pennsylvania Horse World Expo

Topics covered at the Pennsylvania Expo:

Starting the Retired Racehorse in a New Career  
While working with students on their recent track acquisitions, Steuart will ride a horse which recently left the track and demonstrate how effective riding and consistent aids allow these horses to learn their new jobs easily and quickly. Expect gorgeous horses with ecstatic new owners and maybe a bit of that good old Thoroughbred flight instinct coming through. Smiles all around.

Retraining Racehorses for Sale - the Economics and Opportunities (seminar) 
Steuart will discuss the costs, the market and the process of acquiring, training, and selling Thoroughbred horses off the track. This is the business that allowed him and many of his peers to become established professional trainers. He believes that, in this economy, the opportunities are greater than ever.

Selecting a Horse Off the Track 
Steuart will simulate a shopping trip to the racetrack. He will have horses to evaluate and will role play the discussion with the trainer who is selling the horse. Expect a few good laughs and some great tips on how to find just the right horse at just the right price. 

What Racehorses Know and How You Can Build on It 
Steuart will compare notes with a racehorse trainer on what horses know coming off the track and how we can use that information as we train them for other careers. What role does the bit play? The leg? Jogging versus trotting? Galloping versus cantering? Race track horsemen understand the mind of a horse in ways many of us have never considered. Let's learn from them.

Jumping the Retired Racehorse 
Steuart will work with a group of riders on off-the-track Thoroughbreds showing how the natural instincts of a racehorse can be harnessed to produce safe and athletic performances over fences. You will see how good rider balance and good hands create a comfort zone for the horse that makes training over fences a game that Thoroughbreds love to play.

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The Retired Racehorse Training Project at the
Virginia Equine Extravaganza
Official Website

 From Flight to Fun - How three day event riders turn Thoroughbred racehorses into masters of the triathlon of horse sports. Steuart Pittman and his students will demonstrate the riding skills and the training methods that turn retired racehorses into valuable sport horses. Whether you ride horses off the track, compete in eventing, or wouldn't be caught dead doing either, this session will open your eyes to aspects of horsemanship that everyone should know.

Cross country Jumping - Steuart Pittman will work with a group of event riders and their horses to demonstrate the riding skills and the training that can turn almost any horse into a safe mount over the solid fences of an eventing cross country course. He will compare the techniques used in dressage, hunters, jumpers, and galloping racehorses to the skills needed to ride safely cross country. He will also make you laugh.

Selecting and Starting The Retired Racehorse - Using two recently retired racehorses, Steuart Pittman will share his methods for selecting horses off the track and starting them in new careers. You will learn new ways to evaluate temperament, how to find good prospects for very little money, what most of these horses know already, and how you can build on their race training in your daily work with them.

Retired Racehorse Training Project - Steuart Pittman will share with us the purpose and plans for the new Retired Racehorse Training Project. He will lay out a vision for expanding the market for horses off the track through education and outreach. He will also share his thoughts on how
young professionals can prove themselves as trainers through their work with horses off the track.

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