THE ARCHITECTS OF AFTERCARE

HOW JAPAN TURNED RACING RECOVERY INTO NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

When Dr. Kenji Korosue considers the aftercare of retired racehorses, he begins with a striking statistic that defines Japan’s unique position in global racing: approximately 65% of the nation’s riding horses are former Thoroughbreds. This remarkable figure, born from a dramatic contraction of Japan’s overall equine population from 1.5 million in the 1930s to just 75,000 today, has shaped an aftercare philosophy fundamentally different from Western models.

As Chief manager of Equestrian Affairs Division of the Equine Department at the Japan Racing Association (JRA), Dr. Korosue brings a research-based approach rooted in his background in equine reproduction and development. His perspective reflects Japan’s pragmatic reality that with retired Thoroughbred racehorses comprising 65% of the country’s total horse population, aftercare cannot be optional philanthropy but essential infrastructure.

In this interview, Dr. Korosue details how Japan has formalised 1.85 billion yen in aftercare funding, developed evidence-based retraining guidelines centred on horse welfare, and built a comprehensive system that views retired racehorses not as industry liabilities, but as vital resources for developing the next generation of equine professionals.

You have spoken about how less stressful early training techniques can benefit horses when they transition to second careers. Can you elaborate on what specific methods JRA has developed and how these are now being implemented across Japan’s training centres?

In Japan, many retired racehorses transition to careers as riding horses. Therefore, a key challenge in promoting their second careers has been how to conduct retraining in a way that is both effective and minimally stressful for the horses.
In 2020, we finalised the ‘Guidelines for Retraining Retired Racehorses’. These guidelines are centred on groundwork and based on the theory of shifting from ‘Negative Reinforcement’ to ‘Positive Reinforcement’, with a focus on horse welfare.

Specifically, retraining is progressed through the following levels: 1) ‘Mind Reset’ Period: Providing a period to release the tension horses accumulated during their racing careers.

2) Thorough Desensitisation: Implementing desensitisation to enhance their safety as riding horses.

3) Lateral Body Control: Acquiring the ability to control the lateral movement of the horse’s body using pressure via negative reinforcement.

4) Establishing Join-Up: Controlling the horse’s speed and direction during free-ranging to establish join-up.

5) Self-Carriage at Trot: Thoroughly establishing self-carriage at the trot under saddle.

Through these processes, the goal is for the influence on the horse to shift from the ‘limbs’ to the ‘trunk’, and ultimately to their ‘emotions’; in other words, transitioning from ‘negative reinforcement’ to ‘positive reinforcement’.

We must reaffirm the critical importance of proper retraining for the promotion of second careers. To this end, we not only provide the ‘Guidelines for Retraining Retired Racehorses’, which includes safe methods for interacting with horses, free of charge, but we also communicate this crucial message to all stakeholders through various workshops and training seminars.

The newly established Thoroughbred Aftercare and Welfare (TAW) organisation was launched in April 2024. What are its immediate priorities and how does it coordinate between racing authorities, equestrian bodies, and welfare organisations to ensure no horse falls through the gaps?

TAW’s activities are mainly implemented with the goals of 1) Promotion of second careers for retired racehorses; and 2) Finding solutions for life after ageing and retirement.
Considering the high proportion of retired racehorses among riding horses in Japan, we are strengthening coordination with equestrian and welfare organisations, based on the belief that increasing the number of riding enthusiasts and expanding therapy activities will lead to an increase in the number of maintained horses (i.e., horses in second careers).

Furthermore, TAW operates a temporary holding facility that offers rehabilitation for retired racehorses until retraining can begin, thereby supporting the transition of more retired racehorses into second careers.

What systems does Japan currently have in place to track Thoroughbreds after they leave racing, and what challenges remain in achieving comprehensive lifetime traceability?

As a system unique to Japan, a certificate documenting the horse’s vaccination history and movement history from birth must be carried whenever the horse moves. This system is essential for maintaining Japan’s domestic quarantine system as an island nation. It is also mandatory to record in the health notebook when a horse is castrated or develops an allergy to therapeutic drugs, making this information indispensable for horse health management and utilised similarly for retired racehorses.

What initiatives has Japan incorporated within the industry to address the practical barriers of capacity and cost to support retired racehorses at scale?

We recognise support for retired racehorses as an issue that should be tackled by the entire horse racing industry, not just owners. To this end, the ‘Consultative Committee on Aftercare of Retired Racehorses’ was established in 2017, comprising representatives from owners, stable staff, breeders, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and both central and local racing authorities, to regularly review and advance various measures.

To ensure the smooth, planned, and stable implementation of these initiatives, including support for TAW’s activities, the JRA has secured a budget of approximately 1.85 billion JPY for the 2025 fiscal year, having formalised these measures with the approval of the national government.

JRA utilises retired racehorses as lead ponies and ambassadors to educate future industry participants. How do these programmes contribute to building a pipeline of skilled horsepeople who understand both racing and post-racing care? Are there any expansion plans for this model?

In Japan, retired racehorses are effectively used as educational mounts in the JRA Horse Racing School, which trains aspiring jockeys and stable staff, as well as in the training programmes operated by BTC and JBBA, which train those aiming to work at pre-training facilities.

Currently, JRA maintains approximately 300 retired racehorses, retrained by its staff, as lead, riding, and educational horses at all its facilities. Through these horses, JRA contributes to youth riding programmes, elementary and junior high school students, as well as equestrian club activities for high school and university students, and the cultivation of future professionals for the horse industry.

Additionally, there are approximately 160 ‘equestrian clubs’ in Japanese high schools and universities, many of which also stable retired racehorses. The graduates of these equestrian clubs go on to work in the racing and equine industries, demonstrating the significant role retired racehorses play in developing human resources for the equine industry.

Given the recent labour shortage in the racing industry, adjustments are being made to increase the number of trainees and, consequently, the number of retired racehorses stabled.

Your scientific background is in equine reproduction and development. How has this research-based approach informed JRA’s welfare policies, and what role does evidence-based practice play in shaping Japan’s aftercare programmes?

While my research on reproduction and development does not directly contribute to horse welfare, my study on introducing hormone-treated Thoroughbred broodmares that have produced offspring as nurse mares to orphaned foals, by enabling them to produce milk, may have broadened the doors for retired Thoroughbred broodmares to a ‘third career’ in Japan. Furthermore, these retired broodmares are now also being used as lead horses for groups of weanlings after weaning.

Equine therapy and community programmes have emerged as valuable pathways for retired racehorses unsuited to competitive sport. Is developing therapeutic riding and assisted service programmes using retired Thoroughbreds something that Japan is also looking into? Are there initiatives currently in place?

The history of horse therapy in Japan is not long compared to other countries. Furthermore, given the high proportion of Thoroughbreds in Japan, the supply of horses that can be safely used for horse therapy is a major challenge. Considering the smooth progression in the conversion of retired racehorses to riding horses due to our efforts, we prefer to establish the path of horse therapy horses as a ‘third career’ for horses that have completed their second career as riding horses, rather than utilising horses unsuitable for competitive use directly as therapy horses.

As one such initiative, we are holding ‘TREC’ competitions exclusively for retired Thoroughbred racehorses starting this year. This competition also assesses the results of Desensitisation Training, with the aim of seeking a method to select horses that can ensure the safety of users when employed in therapy programmes.

What lessons has Japan drawn from international aftercare best practices, and conversely, what unique aspects of the Japanese model could other racing jurisdictions learn from?

The unique aspect of the Japanese model is that approximately 65% of riding horses are retired racehorses. Given this high availability for second careers, we have been and will continue to focus on aftercare that leverages this unique strength.

On the other hand, since Japan’s history of aftercare is relatively short compared to other countries, we established TAW (Thoroughbred Aftercare and Welfare) by learning from organisations such as RoR in the UK and TAA in the US, while tailoring our approach to Japan’s distinct equestrian environment. We believe it is vital to continue learning from other countries through our participation in IFAR.

Japan’s aftercare model offers racing jurisdictions worldwide, a compelling case study in building systematic, scalable welfare infrastructure adapted to local equestrian realities. By establishing government-authorized funding, developing evidence-based retraining protocols that transition horses from negative to positive reinforcement, and maintaining comprehensive traceability through Japan’s mandatory health documentation system, the JRA has transformed aftercare from aspiration to an operational framework.

Dr. Korosue’s emphasis on understanding each nation’s unique ‘circumstances surrounding the equine industry’ acknowledges that successful aftercare cannot be simply imported but must be tailored to domestic contexts, whether that means leveraging Japan’s high proportion of Thoroughbreds in the riding horse population or learning from organisations like RoR and TAA whilst adapting their approaches to Japanese conditions.

As racing nations across the Asia-Pacific region develop their own aftercare programmes, Japan’s integration of retired racehorses into youth education, professional training pipelines, and its innovative TREC competitions for assessingtherapy horse suitability demonstrates how systematic planning can convert industry responsibility into sustainable pathways that benefit both horses and the broader equestrian community.