Second careers, told from the barn aisle.
The gist
Retired Racehorse Radio follows the practical, emotional work of giving racehorses useful lives after the track. Its episodes move from spring barn updates and baby noise into Makeover goals, adoptable horses, training questions, competition news, and the small decisions that shape a horse’s next job.
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About Retired Racehorse Radio
Retired Racehorse Radio is a conversational guide to life after the racetrack. Its focus is the retired racehorse, especially the off-track Thoroughbred, but the show’s real subject is the work people do once the racing chapter is over. That work is rarely tidy. Horses arrive with old injuries, missing shoes, track habits, family histories, sensitivities, and unknown timelines. Riders arrive with ambition, nerves, limited time, kids in the background, and sometimes more horses than they meant to collect. The show is comfortable with all of that. It often starts in the everyday: spring weather, barn chores, babies, farm moves, dry lots, old geldings, paint chips, and horses that seem determined to locate every burr on the property. Those digressions are not filler. They are the setting for the care decisions that follow. Recent episodes move through the Thoroughbred Makeover, New Vocations training tips, adoptable horses of the week, lameness versus weakness, girth sensitivity, mare matching, and new competition opportunities for Thoroughbreds. The show also makes room for larger aftercare conversations, including unwanted horses, direct-market transitions, nonprofit adoption, and the changing view of Thoroughbreds in the sport-horse world. Its best moments come when practical experience and emotional honesty sit side by side. A tendon scan, a first ride over little logs, a horse asking for help instead of being naughty, or a nervous rider entering the ring can carry as much weight as a formal interview topic. The pacing is unhurried. The tone is warm, self-aware, and grounded in lived horse ownership. It does not pretend that retraining is magical or simple. It also does not reduce these horses to problems to solve. They are athletes, pasture mates, projects, partners, and sometimes beloved complications. For listeners already fluent in barn life, the show feels less like a lesson from a podium and more like a useful conversation happening over the stall door. It is practical without being stiff. It is tender without getting syrupy. Most of all, it keeps asking what a good next life can look like for a horse that has already had one demanding career.
Made for: For riders, adopters, trainers, and Thoroughbred fans who care about what happens after racing. It especially suits people who like practical retraining talk mixed with real barn-life context.
What sets it apart: The show pairs aftercare advocacy with everyday owner detail: tendon scans, race plates, green-horse nerves, babies in the background, and all. Its strength is making second-career planning feel specific, humane, and lived-in.
In their own words
Retired Racehorse Radio is your guide to the adoption, care and training of the retired racehorse. While the show will focus on retired Thoroughbreds (OTTB) we will cover other racehorse breeds like Standardbreds and Arabians. Brought to you in cooperation with the Thoroughbred Makeover and New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. Part of the Horse Radio Network.
Why you'd press play
This is where your Thoroughbred's second career gets more thought than your own retirement plan.
Press play if you want
- help deciding whether your green horse is bored, overwhelmed, weak, or genuinely lame
- Joy Orr and Kristen Kovach-Bentley's candid company when competition nerves arrive before your horse does
Talks about
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Episodes
- 1
Married With Thoroughbreds and Daylyn Ryeson by Kentucky Performance Products
Hidden gemEpisode 173 of Retired Racehorse Radio features champion jockey-turned-eventer Rosie Napravnik and her husband Joe Sharp, who trains 120 thoroughbreds across Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Turfway, and Belmont.
Apr 10, 2026·55m·3 clips - 2
Meet Our 2026 Make the Makeover Trainer and Shadowed by Kentucky Performance Products
Hidden gemEpisode 172 of Retired Racehorse Radio introduces Shannon Quashie as the show's featured 2026 Make the Makeover trainer, a Loudoun County, Virginia horsewoman who owns five thoroughbreds from a single interconnected Pennsylvania breeding family.
Mar 25, 2026·58m·4 clips - 3
New Thoroughbred Competitions and WHERE'S WALDO by Kentucky Performance Products
Hidden gemRetired Racehorse Radio episode 171 features Carrie Brogdon, who has spearheaded a new competitive prize-money series for thoroughbred sport horses, including a $25,000 Hunter Derby at Upperville in June 2026 and a $10,000 launch party for the planned 2027 Thoroughbred Renaissance Series.
Mar 10, 2026·54m·3 clips - 4
Get to Know Joy and UNNAMED JOYFUL CAT '23 by Kentucky Performance Products
Joy Orr is interviewed by Kristen about her life with horses and the challenges of being a horse mom, followed by training content and an adoptable horse feature.
Feb 25, 2026·47m - 5
Mareworthy Match and DANCIN TRIXIE by Kentucky Performance Products
This episode of Retired Racehorse Radio discusses the Mare Match service from Mareworthy Charities and features a training tip and adoptable horse from New Vocations.
Feb 10, 2026·56m - 6
A New Look at Girths and BOWTIE OR NOTIE by Kentucky Performance Products
This episode discusses horse girths and bowties, featuring interviews with Linda Hawk of Tapestry Equine Products and Amanda Grace from New Vocations, focusing on retired racehorse care and training.
Jan 25, 2026·46m - 7
Thoroughbreds in Dressage and A Royal Line by Kentucky Performance Products
Jan 10, 2026·43m - 8
Bourbon Lane Stable, A Special Holiday Guest, and Blue Got In by Kentucky Performance Products
Dec 25, 2025·1h 9m - 9
Stall 13 & Wine Responsibly and Chin Chin Hall by Kentucky Performance Products
Dec 10, 2025·59m - 10
Thoroughbreds in the Show Ring and Oreno by Kentucky Performance Products
Nov 25, 2025·46m - 11
Equine Podiatry and Betterinpinehurst by Kentucky Performance Products
Nov 10, 2025·50m - 12
2025 Thoroughbred Makeover Recap and Honor It by Kentucky Performance Products
Oct 25, 2025·53m - 13
Welcome New Co-Host, Make the Makeover Reunion, and It's Like This by Kentucky Performance Products
Oct 10, 2025·54m - 14
RRR x Next-Gen Thoroughbred Podcast Collab, and Regular Army by Kentucky Performance Products
Sep 25, 2025·1h 8m - 15
Making the Makeover, Lameness vs Weakness, and True to Mach by Kentucky Performance Products
Hidden gemEpisode 159 of Retired Racehorse Radio features Sam Fawcett of Meraki Equipment discussing competitor mindset after announcing she is withdrawing Virta from the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover — what would have been her seventh year — due to inconsistent lameness following a paddock incident.
Sep 11, 2025·55m·3 clips - 16
Unwanted by Christina Keim, Bored vs Asking for Help, and Perform by Kentucky Performance Products
Hidden gemEpisode 158 of Retired Racehorse Radio features author Christina Keim discussing her book 'Unwanted: The Causes and Effects of America's Horse Population Crisis,' which began as an op-ed on domestic slaughter and grew into a full investigation of why no one knows how many horses are in the United States and what happens when owners' lives fall apart.
Aug 25, 2025·59m·4 clips - 17
Making the Makeover, Keeping Horses Hydrated, and Catch the Cheer by Kentucky Performance Products
Aug 10, 2025·54m - 18
Claiborne Farm and RRP Broodmare Division, Guessing the Type of Ride, and PL Jericho by Kentucky Performance Products
Jul 25, 2025·50m - 19
Making the Makeover First Outings, and Sherman's Marlin by Kentucky Performance Products
Jul 10, 2025·44m - 20
US Pony Club, Handling Biters, and Filly Wish by Kentucky Performance Products
Jun 25, 2025·46m - 21
Making the Makeover and Born Noble by Kentucky Performance Products
Jun 10, 2025·53m - 22
OTTB Profile Report, Engagement Tools, and Lucifer's Legend by Kentucky Performance Products
May 25, 2025·51m - 23
Making the Makeover, and COINVEST by Kentucky Performance Products
May 10, 2025·55m - 24
Retired Racehorse Radio Takes On Equine Affaire by Kentucky Performance Products
Apr 25, 2025·35m - 25
Making the Makeover and Bits for Standies by Kentucky Performance Products
Apr 10, 2025·1h 3m - 26
National Thoroughbred Alliance, and Hurricane Dream by Kentucky Performance Products
Mar 25, 2025·53m - 27
Keratomas, Standie Stable Vices, and Quality Closer by Kentucky Performance Products
Mar 11, 2025·56m - 28
Celebrating 15 Years of RRP, Horses Taking the Reins, Successful Run by Kentucky Performance Products
Feb 25, 2025·1h 5m - 29
IT'S OUR 6TH BIRTHDAY! A Jobber Connection, Standie Head Twirl, Goldie's Legacy by Kentucky Performance Products
Feb 10, 2025·48m - 30
Foal Cams, Rushing Fences, SYMPHONY by Kentucky Performance Products
Jan 25, 2025·46m - 31
Training Winning Racehorses, Is Your Racehorse Socialized, and Sunny Hill by Kentucky Performance Products
Jan 10, 2025·1h 2m - 32
Secretariat Center, Settling In Your New Horse, and Conniption Fit by Kentucky Performance
Dec 25, 2024·43m - 33
2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Winner, A Proper Pace, and Danga Russ by Kentucky Performance Products
Dec 10, 2024·52m - 34
Radiothon 2024 Hour 3: Retired Racehorse Radio Hour | Sunday, December 1st
Dec 1, 2024·1h 1m - 35
Ranch, Sticky Situations, and Xtrasaucewelldone by Kentucky Performance Products by Kentucky Performance Products
Nov 25, 2024·1h - 36
Saddle Fitting 101 with Jochen Schleese, Spicy Standardbreds & Overfacing, and Got Your Back by Kentucky Performance Products
This episode covers saddle fitting for retired racehorses with expert Jochen Schleese, plus a training tip and adoptable horse feature from New Vocations.
Nov 10, 2024·1h 13m - 37
Announcing Holiday Radiothon 2024 - Win Big!
Oct 29, 2024·6m - 38
The Gang Goes to the Makeover, and Limonite by Kentucky Performance Products
Oct 25, 2024·1h 1m - 39
The One Before the Makeover, Standie Driving Aids, and Dreaming Dragon by Kentucky Performance Products
Oct 10, 2024·51m - 40
Winston Churchhill Fellowship Off-Track Welfare, Making the Makeover, Bits for Greenies, and Charlie Tough by Kentucky Performance Products
Sep 30, 2024·1h - 41
Wasabi Aftercare Fund, Making the Makeover, Trotting Quirks in OTTSBs, and Wading Boots by Kentucky Performance Products
Sep 9, 2024·49m - 42
134: Turning for Home, Making the Makeover, Soft Canter Departures, and OK Honey by Kentucky Performance Products
Aug 25, 2024·1h 11m - 43
Racetrack to Therapy Program, Making the Makeover, Trotters vs Pacers, and Escadilla & WhyBabyWhy by Kentucky Performance Products
This episode covers a therapy program for retired racehorses, preparation for the Thoroughbred Makeover, and a discussion on trotters vs pacers.
Aug 10, 2024·1h 12m - 44
Retired Racehorse Radio: Listener Adoption Story, Making the Makeover, Training in the Heat, and Trash Talker by Kentucky Performance Products
Jul 24, 2024·52m - 45
TB Broodmares, Making the Makeover, The Senior Standie, and Seaside Way by Kentucky Performance Products
Jul 10, 2024·54m - 46
Standardbred Breeding at DelVal, Balancing the Unbalanced Horse, and Nigeria by Kentucky Performance Products
Jun 25, 2024·52m - 47
Balancing Retraining & Motherhood, Making the Makeover, Standardbred Track Day in the Life, and MAYFIELD HANOVER by Kentucky Performance Products
Jun 10, 2024·1h 18m - 48
Retired Racehorse Radio: Get to Know Kristen, New Vocations Florida, Making the Makeover, Skip To The Beat by Kentucky Performance Products
May 25, 2024·1h 17m - 49
Retired Racehorse Radio: RideIQ, Making the Makeover 2024, Building Up Ride Time, Let's Go Bucks by Kentucky Performance Products
May 10, 2024·1h 13m - 50
ASPCA Adopt a Horse Month, Making the Makeover, and Abastada by Kentucky Performance Products
Apr 25, 2024·1h 6m