It will be one year since the Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme (TAP) launched at Ascot Racecourse on the 20th December. And to say it has been a momentous twelve months would be an understatement.
Justine Parker, Programme Director said “When be launched TAP a year ago, we recognised there was a need, but I’m delighted to say that the impact we have seen in just twelve months has surpassed all of our expectations.”
Since launch, TAP has delivered an incredible range of support and training across the country. An impressive 1500 subsidised sessions having been booked, all of which will have helped to give Thoroughbreds the rewarding second careers they deserve.
Today, we are proud to have more than 2,000 thoroughbred owners which have joined TAP which stands testament to our offering. The membership, who are an extremely enthusiastic and dedicated community of riders, continues to grow every week and TAP feels privileged to be supporting them.
None of this would have been possible without TAP’s nationwide team of twenty-five expert coaches, who warmly share their knowledge, passion, and experience with every participant who comes through our programme. Horses that have had great racing careers such as Allaho, Blaklion and Smad Place have all enjoyed the subsidised training on offer with TAP with even thirty-year-old Mowbray, who won almost £150k in the 90’s making an appearance. It’s not just about the winners though, it’s about giving every thoroughbred a chance and across the 1500 sessions booked there has been a mix of former broodmares, horses that never made it to the track and those where racing just wasn’t for them or they perhaps retired due to injury before returning to health and taking life in the slow-lane.
Some of the horses coming to the TAP sessions are literally weeks off the track, whilst others are quite a bit further into their training and already enjoying their lives whether it be as a fun hack or all-round riding horse or progressing to competition within a specific discipline. In short, TAP has proven to be a programme for every thoroughbred that is transitioning from racehorse to riding horse and has been actively embraced by riders across England, Scotland and Wales alike.
We are also immensely grateful to our partners — D&H, Harry Hall, Horsequest and Unibed, whose support and collaboration have been invaluable. Their belief in, and passion for TAP from the very beginning has helped us reach more people, more horses, and more corners of the equestrian world.
Launched as the first privately funded nationwide thoroughbred aftercare programme offering subsidised training for all as a result of the generous funding into it by David Howden. An ardent racing fan, David has long recognised the importance of supporting thoroughbreds beyond their racing careers. His belief in this mission and his commitment to giving these horses the best possible future is what has made all of this possible. TAP is deeply grateful for his vision, leadership, and support and his unique pledge as a private racehorse owner to not only look after his own post racing but also all others that also leave racing each year.
As TAP looks ahead, its ambitions are just as bold as the first years success has been. The aim is to continue to expand the subsidised regional training offering, ensuring even more owners, riders, and coaches can access high-quality support, wherever they are in the country. At the same time, to broaden the reach across the wider equestrian sector, promoting Thoroughbreds as a versatile, capable, and truly tangible riding horse. The long-term vision is to see the Thoroughbred become a horse of choice within the sport horse world, recognised for its athleticism, heart, and potential.
As TAP celebrates not just a year of hard work, but also a year of progress, collaboration and development across Racehorse Welfare, the British Horseracing Authority and Retraining of Racehorses. TAP also celebrates a real change for Thoroughbreds, their legacy and for the people who care for them.
TAP would like to thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey our coaches, partners, participants, supporters, and of course, the horses at the heart of everything we do.
Further information on the programme and The Howden Way can be found by visiting our website at www.thoroughbredaftercareprogramme.com