Life After the Show Ring

Retirement Farms

Many retirement farms are the equine equivalent of 55+ communities, where horses live their final years with friends of an equivalent age, enjoying a laidback pasture lifestyle. Retirement options can range from professional facilities with hundreds of acres, to small, family-run farms with a handful of companion horses.

Whichever option you choose, you must thoroughly research the farm to ensure that it is the best fit for your horse's needs. The USHJA has a list of reputable retirement facilities that have been vetted to ensure they meet industry standards for basic horse care, which can be found at ushja.org/education/ resources/equine-retirement-listing.

Olympic show jumper Beezie Madden runs a highly acclaimed retirement farm with her husband, trainer John Madden, in Cazenovia, N.Y. Nicknamed "Madden Mountain," it began with the need to retire some of their own horses, and has since expanded to over 300 acres of pastures that are now home to approximately 80 equine retirees.

"We can put four groups (ranging from eight to 15 horses) out there, and they each have two fields in the winter and a big building they can go into," said Madden. "In the summer, they move down the hill so that the winter fields get rehabbed while they're out in the summer fields so the horses always have fresh fields."

The horses naturally form cliques within their groups, which are separated by both mares and geldings, and by temperament. "When we get new horses coming to us, we start them in a smaller group so we can read what they are like... Are they an aggressive horse? Are they a timid horse?" Madden explained. "We try to pair them up with horses they get along with. There's going to be some risk to them getting hurt living with other horses, but I think the quality of life for them is worth the risk, and we take their shoes off to minimize any injuries."

There is also a group of geriatric horses in their late 20s and early 30s, which included Madden's Olympic mount Authentic until he passed away at age 29 in 2025.

A number of the retirees at Madden Mountain were pampered show horses competing in high-level competitions, who then return to nature and learn how to be a horse in a herd.

"I think it's better for their minds as they are social animals," Madden said. "They like to live with other horses. We have had very few who haven't been able to transition. You would think they would want to come into the barn, but if we bring them in for any reason, they scream at people and just want to go back to their buddies."

Becky Wagner, a trainer and manager at the Maddens' farm, recalled McLain Ward's mount, HH Carlos Z, when he arrived at Madden Mountain following his retirement in late 2017.

"That horse had been all over the world. He had shown in every major class that you could ask a horse to show in and had a lot of success," Wagner said. "He arrived here and we turned him out, and I couldn't catch him for months. He was like, 'Get away from me. I am feral!' Carlos is still hard to catch; if you go into the field with treats, he will come right up to you, but if you have a halter and lead rope, he doesn't want anything to do with it."

The lifestyle is natural for them, Wagner said. "They should eat with their heads down, not in buckets that are hung on the wall. They should be social. We confine horses to stalls for their whole life, but in retirement, it is good to be able to let them live like a horse is intended to."

She said the biggest change she sees in horses after they retire is the way their feet evolve without shoes. "Their feet grow completely differently. Some horses are more dramatic than others, but their feet grow the way each horse needs them to grow."

Once they have acclimated to the elements, all the horses are kept outside without blankets, and their coats are allowed to grow out fully. "Their coat is supposed to protect and insulate them, and it is designed to be waterproof," Wagner explained.

In fact, the horses often choose to be out in bad weather — rather than going into the protective shed — and stand with their butts to the wind. "John [Madden] has taught me that it's good to check on them to make sure their undercoats are dry and not soaked, while being careful not to disrupt the natural waterproof barrier in their outer coat," Wagner added.

All the horses are fed grain twice a day, primarily to ensure they will come in and can be checked for any injuries or ailments while they eat, Madden said.

While some of the top horses in equestrian sports now live at Madden Mountain, it is also home to numerous amateur horses from a variety of breeds and disciplines, such as Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and former hunters. "They are not all superstars. When they're out there in the herd, it's all just equal," Wagner said.

Madden said that while it is hard to predict when your horse is going to need to retire, it is important to begin investigating places when you think the time is near if you don't have land of your own. "Figure out what is best for your horse and what you are comfortable with, some people aren't comfortable with their horse going out in a group," she added.

You should also visit your horse and regularly check on them in their new home, to ensure the care being provided matches your expectations. Wagner said they tell their owners they can come whenever they want, and some fly across the country to see their former equine partner.
Langer has a similar philosophy to the Maddens, saying her retirees love becoming horses again.

"It is a luxury, they lie in the sun, have breakfast, sometimes lunch and dinner — the only thing they don't have is a pool and a swim-up bar!" she joked. "They've done their job, they've done it successfully, and have earned their right to a great retirement."

Rather than being given blankets, shoes, and a long list of supplements, "a retired horse likes to roll in the mud, and run and play with their friends," said Langer, adding that many of them live until their 30s. "The aim is to give them a life of leisure. In the summer, we make sure they're cool enough, and that they have plenty of water available," she said. "I have someone who does feeding and medications, and checks for common issues such as Cushing's, colic, and laminitis."

Langer also recommends owners start a retirement fund for their horse. "You do it for your children as far as schools, but now you've gotten another obligation that is very important." She also warns against retirement farms that have very low monthly fees as the care may not be of a high enough standard. "It has to be quality over quantity," she stressed.

To watch the USEF Learning Center video on horse retirement at Madden Mountain, click here.

Taking A Step Down

Many horses are no longer capable of the high level of competition that has dominated their lives, but also not ready to retire completely. There are many second career options for horses no matter what discipline they competed in, such as joining a riding program, being leased to a junior or amateur, or being donated to an equine-assisted therapy program or a college.

Mindy Morrow is the founder of Horses N Heroes, a nonprofit in Ocala, Fla., dedicated to bringing equine learning and mentoring to girls from low-income families. The majority of the horses at her barn are hunter/jumper horses who competed at a high level; she also has former Grand Prix horses and USEF Pony Medal Final winners.

"They step down and they get to have a cushy retirement," Morrow said. "They are totally spoiled. They're touched every single day and loved by my kids. Many of them think it is the greatest thing in the world — being surrounded by girls giving them cookies and pampering them."

Morrow requires that the horses come with a sponsorship package that covers feed, hay, dewormer, dental care, vaccines, supplements, and basic care.

"Many of the owners don't want to sell them or for them to go to another barn, so they donate them here for a tax write-off, knowing the horse will only be asked to do low level jumping or walk-trot-canter," she said. "I have a lot of really good owners who have donated their horses, so I have a great relationship with them. They get to see videos from the barn, and they love to see their horse being pampered and enjoying life. They know that I live on the farm and am very hands on with my horses. I appreciate that they haven't just sold their horses on to the next place. They want them to go somewhere where they are loved by girls who wouldn't have the opportunity to ride without horse donations."

Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs in Aiken, S.C., has donation horses in their herd from a wide range of backgrounds, from a polo pony and a Missouri Fox Trotter to retired eventer/jumper Kilcarna French Fancy. Known as "Arnie" in the barn, the former mount of Olympians Phillip Dutton and Doug Payne was the 2024 USEF Heart Horse of the Year.

Manager of Equine Services, Deborah McWhirter brought her own personal horse, Mr. Bounce, to Great Oak after he stepped down from eventing. McWhirter imported Mr. Bounce from Ireland on the recommendation of Dutton and reached the Intermediate level of eventing on him. "I never in a million years would've dreamed I'd jumped that high and that big, but he had a fifth leg and loved his job," McWhirter said of the Irish Sport Horse gelding.

Between the ages of 17 and 19, Mr. Bounce carried a young rider from Novice through to the Modified level of eventing. When jumping was no longer in his best interest, he transitioned to flatwork and trail riding.

When MeWhirter brought the almost 17-hand gray to Great Oak, she was unsure if he would adapt to the program. "He's kind of grumpy. I didn't know if the unbalanced riders would make him even crankier," she said. "But true to himself, he marched right into Great Oak and did what he was asked to do. He knows exactly who his rider is, and he adjusts every time. He slows down and tunes in."

Mr. Bounce is now regularly ridden and turned out by a 12-year-old girl who was terrified of horses when she first arrived at Great Oak.

"It still brings me to tears when I think about his story, what he gave to me and now what he gives to every rider he serves here at Great Oak," McWhirter said. "He carries some of our bigger riders, our smaller riders, and our Silver Saddles mature women who can walk, trot, and canter. He is loved by everyone and will stay at Great Oak for the remainder of his life."

Horses like Arnie and Mr. Bounce have a strong work ethic and like to have a purpose, even when their competition days end.

"They weren't ready to sit in a field once their regular career was over, and they could no longer jump. They still like to go in the arena to work and have so much more to give," McWhirter said.

However, not all horses are suited for equine-assisted programs, she warned. It takes a very specific type of horse — one that has been in a structured environment, whether that's polo, a lesson program, or the jumper ring. These horses are accustomed to being handled by multiple people and comfortable in a busy barn with constant activity, according to McWhirter.

"We welcome horses of all sizes, but they must be sound. The job of a therapeutic riding horse is demanding. During a lesson, there may be a leader guiding the horse, one or two volunteers side-walking to support the rider, and also the rider on their back," she said. "It can be confusing for the horse, who do they listen to? The rider, the leader, or the voices beside them? It's a role that requires not only physical strength, but also exceptional patience, clarity, and a steady mind. It is, without question, both mentally and physically challenging work."

For horses coming from the dressage world, Lendon Gray's Dressage4Kids Horse Donation Program is a great way for a horse to continue in their chosen discipline but at a lower level. The program matches potential lessees with suitable horses whose owners want to donate them to the 501(c)(3) organization.

"Dressage4Kids doesn't keep horses ourselves, so we don't accept a horse until we know who's going to be leasing them from us," said Gray. "The benefit for the owners is they have a tax write-off, and If the choice is between selling the horse and donating it, at least here we've got a very good chance that the horse will be looked after for its whole life and it's not going to get sold on. Some people also just want to help the youth; they want to be able to give someone a leg up."

Every person who leases a horse from Dressage4Kids signs a contract stating they can keep the horse forever and that they will be able to retire the horse. If they can't continue the lease for any reason (such as going to college or graduating to a higher level), then Dressage4Kids works with them to find someone else to lease the horse. Gray's team also checks the horse on a yearly basis to ensure there aren't any issues.

"We've had 130 horses donated over the years, and the huge majority of them have been successful," Gray said.

She recalled a standout story when a top Grand Prix horse that had a soft tissue injury was donated.

"A young rider leased the horse. She took a year finishing the rehab and getting them going, and then she had a Grand Prix horse," Gray said.

College Bound

Donating your horse to a reputable college program if they are ready to step down to a lower level is another great option for owners.

"Horse donations are the lifeblood of what we do," said Vanessa Bartsch, head coach of the equestrian team at Stanford University in Stanford, Callf. "We have donors who either know us, grew up in the area, or just are people who truly love their horses and don't like the notion of their partner being sold again and again. Instead, they opt to donate and have their horse come live at the Stanford Red Barn where they're ridden once a day, get turnouts, and have college kids bring them snacks from the dining hall."

Owners also get the benefit of it being a tax write-off. The IRS has a limit of $5,000 for a non-appraisable gift, so many horses need to be appraised. The regulations also state for IRS 8283 that you must keep all donated in-kind property for at least three years, so Stanford and many other schools require a 30-day trial to ensure the horse is a good fit for their program.

"We keep 75% of the horses we try. Many of the ones who weren't a match have found a place at a different nonprofit," Bartsch said.

Stanford accepts horses who have serviceable issues and need some maintenance, such as hock injections, and the program has both chiropractors and vets who donate their time. However, when it comes to recruiting the right horse to become part of the Red Barn, Bartsch said it is important that they are comfortable in a barn with young people who are full of energy. and being groomed and fussed over by students.

"There is a type that you look for in terms of temperament, soundness, willingness to want to do the job, and what your program needs at that time," she said. At Stanford, roughly 25% of the horses are for beginners, 25% are western, 25% are horses stepping down to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), and 25% are really nice show horses capable of competing at the collegiate level.

"The heart of a college coach's job is to think about not what do I need this horse to do, but what does this horse want to do? We get to honor their character," Bartsch explained. "We have many horses who come in and the owners say, 'This is a jumper.' I'm like, 'No, it's a hunter.' We have a couple who are ridden bridleless or bitless because they just love it. We have had horses who were 1.40m jumpers that are now in heaven teaching crossrails to IEA riders. When you give a horse some space to show you who they want to be, they surprise you sometimes in where they end up being happiest in the program."

Bartsch said that Stanford takes a huge amount of care in regard to where they retire a horse to. "Once our board approves the vet's recommendation saying a horse is ready for retirement, we find a place for them," she explained. "We have a network of alumni and friends of our program to reach out to. We also contact the original donor and see if they want to take the horse back."

Aside from the financial benefits of donating a horse, donors also have the knowledge that they impacted students' lives.

"The gift that they're really giving is to young people who would not have access to the sport," Bartsch said. "The gratitude that these students and coaches feel is huge."

Making an Equine Retirement Plan

Budgeting for your horse is essential for both the present and the future.

"We all know that horses are expensive, but I never dreamed they would be as expensive as they are. I also never dreamed that they would add so much love, peace, and joy to my life," said amateur rider Shea Boulware-Creed, senior vice president and financial advisor at Boulware Investment Group in Phoenix, Ariz. "You have to go into buying a horse by thinking of it as a financial commitment, just like having a child, and know that it is going to be expensive."

After purchasing her dressage horse, Reck it Ralph, in 2025. Boulware-Creed opened a retirement account in his name that she makes monthly deposits into. "We plan for our own retirement, so you should 100% start an investment account for your horse's retirement," she said.

A horse retirement plan could involve a savings account or investing in stocks and bonds. Boulware-Creed recommends owners talking with their own financial advisers to see what the best fit is for them.

"Money that is invested in stock will grow faster, but it also is not short term. For some people, a balanced mutual fund where it has half stock, halt bonds might be the best fit," she said.

"Investing in stock or risk assets is always a long-term investment, meaning we can't expect to double our money in two years, but if your horse has 10 years of work ahead of them (barring any injury or ailment) and you are investing $100 a month into a retirement horse fund over 10 years, that could grow to a total of $16,000 (estimating a 6% return a year). It would not cover the full cost of retiring a horse, but it would certainly help ease the burden when it happens," Boulware-Creed continued. "Name the account after your horse, don't freak out when it goes up and down, and don't dip into it."

Boulware-Creed recently had the tough decision on where to retire her first horse, Jane, when she was ready to step down at 18. Fortunately, there was a children's hunter/jumper barn a mile away from where she rides, and her trainer was friends with the owner.

"I knew that this would be a perfect place for Jane to go," she said.

"I know she's getting taken care of, and I was able to transition to a new horse. I sold Jane for a dollar to this amazing program, and now she is no longer my financial responsibility. More important than the money aspect is knowing Jane is in the right place with the right people."

Become a Lifetime Care Contact

In January 2026, US Equestrian launched the Lifetime Care Contact program, which allows USEF members to add themselves to a horse's digital USEF record signifying that if the horse should someday need financial assistance or a home, they would like to be contacted. The goal is to help connect horses in need with people who are able and willing to help them. Members can have the security of knowing that the horse they love today has a lifeline out of a bad situation in the future. The feature is free to use, and members are encouraged to sign up to make the safety net as robust as possible. For more information on how to sign up to be a Lifetime Care Contact for your horse, please visit usef.org/horse-welfare/lifetime-care.