Mission:

To rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home retired racehorses, giving them the care, confidence, and second chance they deserve beyond the track.

About Us:

Second Stride Sanctury- Racehorse Rescue was founded from a love of Thoroughbreds and a deep commitment to their welfare after racing. Many horses leave the track with physical pain, tension, and emotional trauma. We provide the time, treatment, and trust-building they need to heal.

Our approach combines veterinary care, equine physiotherapy, nutrition, and compassionate retraining to help each horse rediscover safety and confidence.

Every horse deserves more than a number — they deserve a life of peace, purpose, and partnership. Through community support, we’re giving them that chance, one horse at a time.

Cleopatra is a 16.2 HH 4yo Thoroughbred mare unable to move in circles due to massive body pain. She has a gastric ulcer which is painful to the touch, and is very distrustful of people approaching alongside her body. She bites when touched on the neck/shoulder/chest/girth/ribs. Does not like her rugs being re adjusted. Happy to kick if flank is touched.

Cleo felt such pain when moving in a circle that she reared and flipped onto her back to the ground. She was in awful pain once landed, and needed to be rested for 6 weeks after the event.

Cleo is locked up from the girth area forwards to the head, particularly the shoulders. Working her in this condition on sloping ground caused her to rear and buck massively due to pain. Her rehab includes lots of body work, stretching and flexing techniques to release the locked muscles. Lots of trust exercises to prove the new training will not hurt, only strengthen her.

Cleo is very distrustful of floats and trucks. Horses are naturally claustrophobic and it is a big ask to lead a distressed horse into one, tie them in and travel for an unknown length of time to an unknown destination.

Cleo is a beautiful, very inquisitive and intelligent young mare. She learns quickly. When she is confident and trusting, she is a loving partner to work with.

We are showing Cleo that:

1. her gastro intestinal state can be healed- 2 months of treatment show great improvement. Her poos (indicative of the GIT flora) are smelling much better than previously.

2. you can trust our touch. If I touch you, you will be safe and the outcome of the touch will assist you

3. The float is a work in progress. We will practice entering it and staying there for as long as necessary until she feels happy to load and unload as required.

4. Hard feed. Cleo has a great appetite for a Thoroughbred and depicted voracious nutrient searching behavior, immediately upon arrival. 3 months in, she is blooming on her 2 fibrous, nutrient and mineral balanced meals with 24/7 hay access.

5. Our training will allow her to modulate her own response to stressful conditions. Her new balanced gut will heal the current ulcer, and prevent subsequent ulcers from occurring.