The True Cost of Lifetime Care
A Thoroughbred’s racing career may only last a few short years, but retirement can last decades.
At the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, every horse in our herd receives lifelong sanctuary,
individualized care, and the dignity they deserve after their athletic careers come to an end.
What Does Lifetime Care Cost?
It currently costs the TRF nearly
$16 per day
to care for a single horse. That figure includes all direct farm expenses and farm overhead, including:
- Nutritious feed and hay
- Veterinary and farrier care
- Daily staffing and horse handling
- Pasture and land management
- Farm maintenance and operational costs
Because the cost of care rises over time, our projections also assume a
5% annual increase in expenses.
Explore the Calculator
Use the calculator below to discover the estimated lifetime cost of caring for a Thoroughbred based on the age they enter the TRF herd.
More Than Retirement
Providing lifetime sanctuary is about more than simply giving horses a place to live.
It is a commitment to their long-term wellbeing for the rest of their lives.
Many of the horses in TRF care become part of our nationally recognized
Second Chances Program, where they help incarcerated individuals develop job skills, responsibility, and confidence through hands-on equine care.
In this way, retired Thoroughbreds continue changing lives long after they leave the racetrack.
Every horse who enters the TRF herd represents a lifelong promise built on compassion, responsibility, and a commitment to aftercare that lasts well beyond the finish line.
Lifetime Care Calculator