An average of 30,000 Thoroughbred horses are born annually to owners and breeders who hope to raise a champion racehorse. Very few of these horses achieve star status during their careers and retire to lives of luxury. For the vast majority of racehorses, their post-career fate is uncertain and often very sad.

Some are lucky enough to find their way to retirement facilities or adoption programs, such as ReRun. Others end up in kill pens, waiting to be transported across U.S. borders for slaughter. The USDA estimates that 10,000-15,000 Thoroughbreds are slaughtered each year. And it is young and relatively healthy Thoroughbreds who are facing this fate, as the median age of a retired racehorse is 5-6 years old.

ReRun was founded in 1996 as a division of the Kentucky Society by two racing insiders, Shon Wylie and Lori Neagle. They saw an acute and compelling need for an organization that focused not on providing a permanent sanctuary for retired racehorses, as was the predominant model, but on rehabilitating, retraining, and adopting them out to well-suited homes. After only two years ReRun outgrew the KHS and became incorporated as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

ReRun pioneered the concept that when Thoroughbreds’ racing days are over, they don’t need to be sent to auction or slaughter but can be retrained to pursue second careers in other forms of equitation while enjoying another 20+ years of companionship with their new adoptive families.

Board of Directors

Jason Lewis Interim President
Cheryl Lewis, Treasurer
Joanne Sassi Willcox, Secretary 

Suzanne Aiardo

Margaret Carlsen

Mary Hayes

Megan Inglis

Denise Kalfayan

Dorita Reyen

Mary Simons 

Staff

Brie Llardi

Adoption Coordinator

Nicole McKinley

Foster Farm Coordinator

Jennifer Shamy

Grant Writer

Our Philosophy

Every racehorse deserves our services, not just
those with the best chance of adoption

The horse’s interest comes first

Full disclosure of the horses’ known physical and
behavioral issues is the best policy

The quality of our adoptions is more important
than the quantity of adoptions

We care about protecting the horse
even after adoption

Policies Reflecting our Philosophy

We void Jockey Club papers
(to prevent them from being raced again)

We freeze-brand every horse
with a design unique to ReRun
(to prevent them from falling into the wrong
hands after they’ve left our program)

We require a 2-year adoption contract with vet reports
and photo submissions every 6

We accept returned horses from adopters
(as a last recourse)

ReRun is serious about protecting our horses even after they’ve left our adoption program. Each animal now gets freeze-branded with ReRun’s specific design—two R’s--inside the universal symbol for a rescue--half of a heart. Our brand information has been submitted to state agricultural departments and local humane officers. We also distribute pictures of our brand to other horse rescue groups, animal control agencies, and individuals so they’ll know what the brand means if they see it on the hind-end of a horse in the auction ring. 

We encourage all equine rescues to participate in this branding initiative and develop their own unique symbol to incorporate into the half heart. 

If you ever come across a horse with the ReRun freeze-brand at an auction or killpen, please contact us at 315-402-2123.