all in Aftercare

To those who own and ride them, off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) are known for being athletic, intelligent horses with the heart and versatility to succeed in almost any second career.

But for those who have never owned an OTTB – or who have had limited experience riding or working with them – myths often circulate, portraying them as too hot, too fragile, too reactive, or too difficult.

The truth, as with most things involving horses, is far more nuanced.

For 173 years, horses have been jumping around the Upperville showgrounds in Virginia. That’s 21 years longer than the Kentucky Derby has existed.

Despite its long history, this year Upperville is embracing something entirely new. Sixty Thoroughbreds participated in the inaugural $25,000 Upperville Thoroughbred Hunter Derby. For a breed most commonly associated with racetracks rather than show rings, the event felt like the start of something much bigger than a horse show.

The Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) began in 2012 with a clear mission — to celebrate what Thoroughbreds can do after their racing careers end.

Created through The Jockey Club, the program recognizes not only the horses themselves, but also the owners, riders, trainers, and organizations helping them succeed in their new roles.

When Tonya Chaney first began volunteering with Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue, she was not looking for a horse of her own. Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization located in West Virginia. At the time, Tonya was putting two children through college and thought volunteering at a rescue would be the perfect way to get her “horse fix” without the commitment of adoption. But sometimes, the right horse, or luck, has a way of changing the plan.

The roar of the crowd fades, and the hooves that moments ago thundered down the stretch settle into a steady rhythm on the walk back to the barn. But for a racehorse, crossing the finish line for the last time isn’t the end of their story — it can mark the beginning of something entirely new.

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