Giving Back: Supporting the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
At Scootboots, giving back to the horse community is part of who we are. Our Giving Back Program exists to support organisations that protect horse welfare while also creating positive, long-term outcomes for people.
One organisation that embodies this philosophy is the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation delivers lifelong, dignified care for retired Thoroughbred racehorses and creates opportunities for healing through the human–horse connection.
Creating better futures for Thoroughbreds and people
Founded in 1983, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation was established to protect Thoroughbred horses who are no longer able to compete on the racetrack from neglect, abuse, and slaughter. Many horses in TRF care have suffered career-ending injuries and require quiet, supported retirement in pasture. Through TRF, these horses are given safety, dignity, and lifelong care.
What makes TRF truly unique is the way their mission extends beyond horses. From the very beginning, TRF recognised the powerful connection between horses and people. Their groundbreaking vocational training program, launched in partnership with the New York State Department of Corrections, created opportunities for individuals to learn equine care and management while providing consistent, compassionate care for retired Thoroughbreds. This model has since expanded into correctional facilities across eight states.
Learning through hands-on care
Today, that same philosophy continues through TRF’s youth programs. At their Ocala, Florida facility, young people are actively involved in meaningful, hands-on work that supports the daily care of the horses and the land they live on.
Recently, TRF shared an image of their youth program participants working together on fencing at the Ocala facility. Projects like this teach practical skills, responsibility, and teamwork, while also fostering respect for animals and the environments that support them. These young people are not just learning how to build and maintain infrastructure, they are learning the value of stewardship, care, and contribution.
Youth program participants working together on fencing repairs and learning hands-on skills at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation facility in Ocala, Florida.
Life after racing
While many TRF horses enjoy a peaceful retirement as pasture companions, hundreds have gone on to be retrained and adopted into new roles. TRF graduates can now be found living fulfilling second lives as much-loved pets, competition horses, police mounts, and equine-assisted therapy partners. Each successful transition is a reminder that a racing career does not define a horse’s entire story.
Why Scootboots supports TRF
Supporting the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation aligns closely with Scootboots’ commitment to long-term hoof health, comfort, and horse welfare across every stage of a horse’s life. Through our Giving Back Program, we were proud to make a recent donation to TRF and to support the ongoing work they do for both horses and people.
Programs like the youth fencing initiative in Ocala highlight exactly why this partnership matters. When horses are cared for, people are educated, and communities are strengthened, the impact reaches far beyond the paddock.
Learn more
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation and relies entirely on public contributions to continue its vital work.
To learn more about TRF or to support their mission, visit trfinc.org.
At Scootboots, we are proud to stand alongside organisations that are creating safe futures for horses, while also helping people grow, learn, and connect along the way.
