Photo by Captivation Media
You’ve assessed your racehorse and decided that retirement from racing is in his best interests. Now what?
There are multiple routes by which Thoroughbreds transition to careers beyond racing, including via adoption organizations, track-based rehoming programs, listing agents, and the direct market. Each route has its pros and cons and reasons you might select that option for your horse.
If you choose to list your horse directly for sale, there is a wide ecosystem of apps, listing services, and social media tools at your disposal. The RRP Horse Listings are a great option, as the only Thoroughbred-exclusive listing service on the internet, and includes the support of RRP staff to verify racing information which provides an additional tier of traceability. This can be a great route in particular if you’d like your horse to go to the Thoroughbred Makeover.
No matter which listing option you pursue, equestrians shopping for Thoroughbreds are often looking for particular information in the ad. Be sure to include the following information – depending on the service you may be using, this information may be collected in specific fields:
- Jockey Club-registered name
- Number of starts and career earnings
- Basic pedigree information (Sire – Dam, by Damsire)
- Age, sex and approximate height
- Date of last race and status since then
- Contact information for the individual handling the sale
Many equestrians will purchase based on good photos and videos. A conformation photo from each side, front, and back of the horse are typically expected. A head shot of the horse to capture his or her eye and personality may be appreciated.
Horses with athletic movement (like most Thoroughbreds!) can sell off of video as well. Ideal movement video can be captured in-hand, with the horse walked towards, past and away from the camera with a turn, and then jogged, if conditions and soundness allow.
Including all of the above information as well as photos and videos will cover the bases for what most buyers need to know, and save you time in the long run.
