Herd Intake and Management Committee

The TRF's Herd Intake and Management Committee (HIMC) includes Board members, the Herd Manager, and staff and holds regular bi-weekly meetings.  Spurred by misleading, inaccurate, and biased media reports in March 2011, the HIMC conducted an exhaustive and comprehensive evaluation of the entire herd of retired Thoroughbred racehorses.

This evaluation was performed teams of independent veterinarians who visited 29 TRF farms spread throughout the United States.  The purpose was to critically evaluate the horses and facilities with an emphasis on targeting the increasing special needs required of an aging equine population. 

This ambitious endeavor was initially initiated as a regular procedure in early 2010 by the TRF, with pro-bono assistance by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and later accelerated with financial assistance by the estate of Paul Mellon.  The Committee also conducted an in-depth review of all of intake, adoption, euthanasia, and care policies particularly with respect to our satellite farm system.

Questions can be directed to our offices in Saratoga Springs, NY at 518-226-0028 or Lexington, KY at 859-246-3080.

HIMC Statement April 2011