blog Traceability: why it matters, and why it’s all about the horse

At Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), we believe in lifelong responsibility. Our work doesn’t end when a horse finishes racing—it continues for as long as that horse needs us. One of the most important ways we do that is through traceability.

What is traceability?

Traceability means knowing where horses go after racing, what they do next, and who is caring for them. It’s not about surveillance. It’s about staying connected—so we can step in with support when needed, offer advice, and celebrate second career successes.

In essence, it’s all about closing the gap. We know how many horses retire from racing each year and the more horses we can keep in touch with then helps us to identify those that have fallen off our radar and seek them out to make sure they’re OK.

By building a clear picture of each horse’s journey, we can make sure no Thoroughbred slips through the cracks. We can educate, guide and assist owners, and ensure former racehorses are safe, supported and thriving.

A big step forward for registration

To strengthen this mission, we’ve now expanded RoR registration to include all Thoroughbreds bred for racing, even if they’ve never been in training.

Until now, horses needed to have been in training or raced to register with us. But we know there are many horses that don’t reach the track or go into training with a licensed trainer and still go on to have meaningful lives as leisure or competition horses. Thanks to this change, they can now be part of the RoR community—connected, visible, and supported.

These horses will be assigned a new “NT” (not been in training) number, and just like all RoR-registered horses, they’ll need a recognised racing jurisdiction passport, such as a Weatherbys or France Galop passport or equivalent.

Why traceability matters

Traceability is central to our 2024–2026 strategy because it allows us to:

• Build an accurate national picture of where former racehorses are

• Offer timely welfare support, wherever a horse may be

• Help new owners feel confident and supported

• Strengthen the public’s trust in racing and aftercare

• Shift the narrative from ‘rescue’ to ‘reward’, showing Thoroughbreds as capable, desirable horses

In short, it helps us prove what we already know—that Thoroughbreds are adaptable, trainable and valuable well beyond racing.

It’s not about control. It’s about care.

We understand that some may worry traceability sounds like a monitoring system. But that’s not what it is. This isn’t about ‘big brother’. It’s about making sure we know where horses are so we can help when help is needed.

Whether a horse is training for its first dressage test, hacking out once a week, playing polo or enjoying retirement in a field, we want to be able to support it—and its owner—at every step.

How you can help

If you know someone who owns a Thoroughbred bred for racing—whether they’ve raced, trained, or not—please encourage them to register with RoR at www.ror.org.uk/registration It’s free, it’s simple, and it’s one of the best ways to ensure that no horse is lost in the system.

Traceability helps us protect these horses, learn from their stories, and continue improving the way we support them.

Because at the end of the day, it’s all about the horse.