Off the track: Retired Racehorse Project launches Thoroughbred Wellness Expo at Equine Medical Center
Elsa Ludwig, DVM, MS, CVA, PhD, DACVS-LA, demonstrates dynamic endoscopy on Tuscaloosa, a 2022 dark bay gelding by Candy Ride, presented and handled by Carolyne Taylor.
Floo Powder used to run on dirt. Now he runs barrels.
The 14-year-old Pennsylvania-bred gelding, a former racehorse turned National Barrel Horse Association champion, stepped into the Jane and Stephen Hale Indoor Arena at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, in Leesburg Virginia, to demonstrate something the equestrian community has been paying increasing attention to: What a thoroughbred can become after the track.
His appearance was the centerpiece of the inaugural Thoroughbred Wellness Expo, a collaborative event co-hosted by the Equine Medical Center and the Retired Racehorse Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to facilitating placement of ex-racehorses in second careers.
The day brought together equine professionals, riders, and horse enthusiasts for a full program of education and live demonstrations, which covered soundness evaluation, upper airway conditions, and farriery, all focused on giving prospective owners the tools to make confident decisions about adopting an off-the-track thoroughbred.
"These are two organizations whose work I have admired and respected for many years," said Karen Jones-Squires, chair of the Equine Medical Center Advisory Council, who connected the two organizations. "They not only have similar goals in keeping horses sound and healthy throughout their lives, but they also share a pragmatic, innovative culture. The potential synergy between the two seemed obvious."
Jeff Berk, VMD, MRCVS, presents a thorough overview of his intake protocol for aftercare facilities, paired with imaging analysis of the soft tissue and orthopedic conditions ex-racehorses commonly carry into their second careers.
The case for the off-the-track-thoroughbred
Thoroughbreds are purpose-built athletes. Centuries of selective breeding have produced horses with exceptional cardiovascular capacity, powerful hindquarters, and long fluid strides, traits that translate seamlessly from the racetrack into disciplines including eventing, show jumping, dressage, and fox hunting.
From a practical standpoint, they are also remarkably accessible. While purpose-bred warmblood sport horses can carry high price tags, OTTBs are frequently available at low cost through adoption programs. During their racing careers, these horses receive top-tier veterinary, farrier, and nutritional care, a health foundation that is difficult to replicate at any price.
The Equine Medical Center supports thoroughbred aftercare as part of its broader mission to advance equine health and athletic wellness throughout the region. Events like the Thoroughbred Wellness Expo are part of that commitment, giving riders and owners the veterinary knowledge they need to partner successfully with this exceptional breed.
Jeff Berk, VMD, MRCVS, presents a thorough overview of his intake protocol on Floo Powder, owned and handled by Layne Shaffer.
From the track to the ring
The morning session was led by Jeff Berk, VMD, MRCVS, a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners whose entire career has been devoted to the thoroughbred. He currently collaborates with New Vocations, the largest thoroughbred aftercare facility in North America.
Berk opened in the classroom with a thorough overview of his intake protocol for aftercare facilities, paired with imaging analysis of the soft tissue and orthopedic conditions ex-racehorses commonly carry into their second careers.
Floo Powder, owned and handled by Layne Shaffer, who transitioned him from racing to barrel competition, provided the live demonstration. Their 1D/2D championship record in NBHA events made him a fitting example of Berk's central message: A horse's racing history is a starting point for evaluation, not a disqualification from future athletic work.
What breathing tells you
Elsa Ludwig, a large animal surgeon at the Equine Medical Center, took a different approach to her afternoon session by starting with the live demonstration.
Before moving to the classroom, Ludwig conducted a live over-the-ground dynamic endoscopy demonstration with Tuscaloosa, a 2022 dark bay gelding by Candy Ride, presented and handled by Carolyne Taylor, who is preparing him for a career as a hunter jumper.
Watching the airway in real time gave attendees direct visual context for the session that followed: a practical breakdown of common upper airway conditions in ex-racehorses, their diagnosis, treatment options, and what they mean for a horse's future under saddle.
Farriery and the foundation of soundness
Rounding out the day was Amy Sidwar-Seaver, a certified farrier, equine sports massage therapist, and a graduate of the Forging Ahead Internship Program.
Her expertise in sport horses and laminitis added a foundational dimension to the discussion: soundness in the thoroughbred begins at the hoof, and skilled farriery is as critical to a successful transition as any veterinary evaluation.
A new annual tradition
The Equine Medical Center, one of three animal healthcare facilities operated by the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, provided both the venue and the clinical credibility that shaped the day's tone. A serious, science-grounded education in service of a breed that deserves a supported pathway to a new career.
"The Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center is proud to partner with the Retired Racehorse Project in bridging the gap between veterinary science and the equestrian community," said Michael Erskine, director of the Equine Medical Center. "Thoroughbred aftercare is not simply a welfare issue, and events like this reflect our commitment to advancing both the health and the second careers of these remarkable athletes."
Kirsten Green, executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project, said the event aligned with the organization's strategic priority of expanding its regional presence.
"Education is one of the three tenets through which we approach our mission," Green said, "because increasing the knowledge base of thoroughbred owners only improves outcomes for the breed."
Both organizations plan to co-host the Thoroughbred Wellness Expo annually. For more information about the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and its equine specialty services, visit emc.vetmed.vt.edu. To learn more about adopting an off-the-track thoroughbred, visit retiredracehorseproject.org.
Dynamic endoscopy demonstration by Dr. Elsa Ludwig featuring Tuscaloosa, a 2022 dark bay gelding by Candy Ride, presented and handled by Carolyne Taylor.
