Industry Partnerships & Horse Submissions

While Wild Hearts is a registered charity, we operate as an industry-supported Thoroughbred aftercare organization. Our role is to work alongside the racing industry to provide responsible retirement, rehabilitation, retraining, adoption, and long-term follow-up for retiring Thoroughbreds. We do not operate as a rescue or public horse surrender program.

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Horses enter the Wild Hearts program through established industry relationships and recognized aftercare referral pathways. At this time, horse submissions are limited to:

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• Owners and trainers with an established relationship with Wild Hearts (retired 2 or more horses); or

• Horses referred through approved industry and aftercare partners (such as CARMA, TAA-affiliated organizations, racetrack partnerships, horsemen's associations, and other recognized referral pipelines).

 

Wild Hearts does not currently accept horse submissions from the general public.

If you are an owner or trainer interested in retiring horses through aftercare but do not currently have a relationship with Wild Hearts, we encourage you to first connect with your racetrack's racing office, horsemen's association, or industry representative to inquire about the aftercare organization supported by your track.

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If your racetrack, horsemen's group, or industry organization is interested in establishing a partnership with Wild Hearts, we welcome the opportunity to connect. Please contact us at info@wildheartsthoroughbredadoption.com.

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Why Aftercare?

A private sale and an aftercare placement serve very different purposes.

While many horses find excellent homes through private sales, a sale is ultimately a transaction. Aftercare is a structured process designed to improve long-term outcomes for the horse.

Before adoption, horses entering the Wild Hearts program are thoughtfully transitioned from racing, evaluated, rehabilitated when necessary, professionally retrained, and carefully matched with approved adopters. Following placement, Wild Hearts maintains ongoing contact and support through our "radar for life" approach.

This additional investment of time, training, evaluation, and oversight helps create better-informed placements, greater stability, fewer ownership changes, and fewer horses falling off the radar.

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Why Sound Horses Matter

Responsible aftercare requires both sound horses and those requiring rehabilitation.

Many Thoroughbreds retire sound and ready to begin successful second careers. Others require additional veterinary care, rehabilitation, or retraining before they are ready for adoption. Both deserve responsible retirement.

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Because horses transitioning through aftercare remain visible to adopters, donors, racing connections, and the public, aftercare organizations often become the face of Thoroughbred retirement. If aftercare programs only receive horses with significant limitations, the public sees only part of the story.

A balanced aftercare program allows us to showcase the full spectrum of responsible retirement while demonstrating both the versatility of the Thoroughbred and the racing industry's commitment to life beyond the racetrack.

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Program Eligibility

Wild Hearts currently focuses on horses expected to return to ridden work following transition, rehabilitation (if required), and retraining.

Because Wild Hearts does not currently operate a sanctuary program, horses considered pasture sound only are not eligible for intake at this time.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Thoroughbreds must have raced or trained in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington State, California, or through an approved partner organization.

• Horses may retire sound or require rehabilitation, provided veterinary diagnostics and prognosis support a reasonable expectation of returning to ridden work.

• Horses must be expected to return to at least flatwork, pleasure riding, trails, dressage, jumping, or similar athletic pursuits.

• Horses considered pasture sound only are not currently eligible.

• Stallions must be gelded prior to intake.

• Wild Hearts follows the American Association of Equine Practitioners' "Transitioning the Retired Racehorse" guidelines when evaluating horses for intake.