The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) held its 10th annual conference on 9 February. It took place in conjunction with the 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC), which runs until 14 February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 41st ARC is presented by the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), which is the host.
The 10th IFAR conference featured a tour of the JCSA’s Retraining & Riding Academy followed by a lineup of international speakers addressing a wide range of topics relating to the aftercare of racehorses. HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the JCSA and the Saudi Equestrian Authority, officially opened the conference.
“Horse racing, like all horse sport, is founded on a unique partnership between people and horses,” he said. “That partnership carries obligations that extend well beyond the moment a horse leaves the track. Aftercare is therefore not a ‘nice-to-have’ nor a response to public opinion, but a fundamental measure of integrity, credibility and sustainability in our sport.
“By placing aftercare at the centre of discussions, via forums such as this, we affirm our commitment to a sport that is not only successful, but responsible, principled and worthy of public trust.”
IFAR Chair Dr. Eliot Forbes provided the welcome address, and HRH Princess Nanda-Devi Norodom, the President of the Cambodian Equestrian Federation, delivered the keynote address. The rest of the conference, which was moderated by renowned broadcaster David Eades, featured a mix of presentations, panel discussions, videos, and networking opportunities.
“The occasion of our 10th IFAR conference naturally invites reflection,” said Forbes. “In a decade, IFAR has helped create a global conversation on aftercare. We have taken a topic that was too often treated as ‘back of house’ and helped move it into the boardroom, into strategy, and into the industry’s consciousness. We have delivered 10 annual conferences designed to challenge, inform and provoke the kind of thinking that leads to better practice.
“Today marks not only where we have been, but where we choose to go next. It signals intent for the next period, not just to keep talking, but to keep building capability, sharing what works and lifting standards.”
The first panel, Setting the Standard: Leadership in Aftercare, included Andrew Harding, ARF Secretary General and Executive Director of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA); Paull Khan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF); Aaron Morrison, CEO of Racing Victoria; and Salem Saeed Binmahfooz, Chairman Advisor and Technical Committee member of the JCSA.
Following the first panel, there were three individual presentations. Abdullah A. AlAseeri, Secretary-General of the Saudi Equestrian Authority, presented on aftercare in Riyadh; Melissa Ware of Racing Victoria discussed traceability and measuring the success of post-racing programs; and Grace Muir offered insight into HEROS, which combines retraining and rehoming with children’s education, veterinary education, and owner development.
The final panel of the conference, Responsibility in Action: How Participants Shape Aftercare Outcomes, featured Rob Dauth of MyRacehorse; Anna Kerr, CEO of The National Stud; and Dr. Alan Lai of Champs Legacy.
Throughout the afternoon, videos from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), JCSA, and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) were shown highlighting aftercare in action.
Natasha Rose, Chair of the IFAR Conference Committee and the Executive Manager, Equestrian Affairs Projects, at HKJC, provided closing remarks.
Established in 2016, IFAR works to advocate for the lifetime care of retired racehorses, to increase awareness within the international racing community of this important responsibility, and to increase awareness in the sport horse world regarding the versatility of the Thoroughbred horse.
IFAR has a long history of collaboration with the ARF, and this is the fifth time it was held in conjunction with the ARC. The 2026 IFAR Conference was presented in association with, and with the support of, the JCSA. It was also proudly supported by the Japan Racing Association, which has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement to support IFAR’s activities around the world.
For more information on IFAR, visit https://www.internationalracehorseaftercare.com and follow @IFARnews across social media.
International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses