Retired racehorse passenger conversion support project begins

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Racing Authority will accept the first application for the "2026 Retired Racehorse Riding Conversion Support Project" (conversion project) by the 21st to prepare a stable retreat for retired racehorses and improve horse welfare.

The conversion project is a program that supports training costs so that horses who have completed their roles as racehorses can start a new life as horseback riding. This year, about 100 heads will be provided with training expenses of up to 5.5 million won per head.

The 2026 project receives four applications in total. The first application is from the 2nd to the 21st of this month, and the start date of the project is the 22nd. The second application period is from April 1.

It is targeted at racehorses or racehorses scheduled to retire within 180 days of retirement, and can participate in the Korean Horse Association's Green Horse Zone specialized facilities (33 places), the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' designated base training centers (4 places), and horse industry professional training institutions (11 places).

Subsidies are paid differentially through the first and second evaluations. You can receive up to 5.5 million won if you pass both evaluations and earn a competition completion or competition grade.

Horseback riding facilities, face-to-face teachers who want to apply can submit a horse welfare education certificate, business application form, and veterinary certificate by e-mail of the Korean Horse Association's Horse Rehabilitation Branch.

An official from the Korea Racing Authority said, "We hope that this project will provide opportunities for retired racehorses to live a second life with horseback riding and raise the level of domestic horse welfare to the next level."

Details related to the conversion project can be found through the announcement on the Horse Industry Information Portal of the Korea Racing Authority.

On the other hand, there are also criticisms of the conversion project. It is a question about the performance of the conversion project. Still, it is pointed out that there is a lack of professional resources related to horses in Korea. It is an opinion that the use of racehorses and horseback riding is different. This is because racehorses stimulate their racing instincts as much as possible to build wildness, but safety and obedience are the highest virtues for horseback riding. Many horseback riding experts agree that "a more detailed review of the risks and a long-term plan are needed."

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*This content was translated by AI.