Second Stride, Inc

When it's time for a Thoroughbred racehorse to retire, we offer a safe pathway to a second career. Second Stride believes that whether a horse retires due to lack of aptitude for racing, an injury, or it just being time to quit, there is a future for that horse. 

Since our founding in 2005, we have transitioned over 1,700 horses into new careers and loving homes. So far this year, we have served 87 horses, and with your help, we hope to serve another 50 horses in 2024!

Second Stride was born from a fierce passion for the racing industry, an industry at the cultural and historical heart of Kentucky. Partnering that passion with the desire to ensure aftercare for each of these incredible animals, our journey began.  In early 2022, we created the program Broodmare & Bloodstock serving broodmares of any age in need of rehoming (please note: our expectation is they would not continue breeding) and young bloodstock not suitable for racing.  

The expense of caring for each horse - whether a transitioning champion racehorse, an aged broodmare or a yearling - is significant. Housing, food, medical care and training cost an average of $2,200 a month per horse. Second Stride's adoption fees typically cover less than half the expense.

We rely on donations of any amount from generous animal lovers to continue this program. Every dollar donated goes to the care and training of these magnificent animals. 

Our devoted professional staff work diligently to connect the hearts of our beloved horses to the hearts of passionate, committed adopters. We hope you will join us in our mission to help thoroughbred horses achieve their full potential after racing. 

Who We Are

Second Stride is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization providing professional rehabilitation, retraining, and placement for retired thoroughbred racehorses in qualified homes so that they may reach their full potential in a productive second career.

Excel Equine & Ashbourne Farms - $5K Matches Each!

Excel Equine and Ashbourne Farms are each generously matching all donations up to $5,000 made to Second Stride this  "Give for Good" Day!   Excel Equine is the nation's leading purveyor of premium equine feed blends to promote health and well being in horses of every breed and at every age. Based in Louisville, Excel Equine is one of the few companies in the country making feeds and supplements solely for the equine industry. 

Just outside Louisville, Ashbourne Farms offers the opportunity to explore the splendor of a distinctly Southern family farm grounded in generations of tradition. With roots in agriculture, nature conservation, and Kentucky's bourbon legacy, Ashbourne Farms is a gracious farm featuring a venue for weddings, corporate events and farm-to-table culinary experiences, including a CSA - among numerous other quintessentially Kentucky experiences. 

Thank you, Excel Equine and Ashbourne Farms, for enabling Second Stride to say "Yes" to every horse who needs our help!