Last week, Kentucky news outlet LEX18 reported the death of Kayseri, a University of Kentucky-bred mare who was shipped to Puerto Rico and ultimately euthanised after prolonged suffering. Her story is devastating – but sadly, not unusual.
Kayseri stood in a shipping container for three days at sea, then raced far beyond the point of soundness. No one stepped in to retire her. In January, she was put down due to degenerative joint disease.
The treatment of horses in Puerto Rico, throughout and after their racing careers, has been raised repeatedly by welfare advocates for years. This isn’t a new problem; it’s a longstanding one. But as media coverage intensifies, the U.S. racing industry is being forced to reckon with it in the public eye.
And here’s the truth: this Puerto Rico pipeline starts with us.
Advocates in Puerto Rico, like Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (and important to note, they are a TAA accredited organization) are doing what they can. They intercept horses, nurse the salvageable back to health, and give peace to those beyond saving. But as CTA’s Kelley Stobie says, “by the time horses arrive in Puerto Rico, they’re normally already broken.”
So, by the time a horse is standing on Puerto Rican soil, it’s often already too late. The only meaningful solution is to stop sending them there in the first place.
Every time a story like this hits the mainstream media, we’re in the same position: needing to prove that progress is being made, with transparency and with urgency. Silence, or the comfort of distance, doesn’t cut it.
When we shrug at a sales ring or claim box and say, “there’s nothing we can do,” we’re choosing to look away. But there is plenty we can do, because this is an ongoing welfare issue – and a reputational risk – that demands structural change, not just damage control.
So what can YOU do?
If you’re in a position of leadership in racing, as a breeder, trainer, owner, or sales company, here’s the actionable steps you can take:
1. Make your intent clear. If you haven’t already adopted a code of conduct declaring your commitment not to sell horses into high-risk environments – such as jurisdictions with weak welfare oversight or known slaughter pathways – now is the time to draw a public line.
2. Use contracts to document that intent. Every ownership transfer should include a contract stating that the horse is not to be exported to high-risk jurisdictions, shipped by sea or placed in vulnerable situations. Will some people sign and breach it anyway? Yep. But that’s why point three matters.
Here’s a copy of the New Vocations contract, in clause 7, Prohibited Acts are disclosed.
3. Don’t repeat the mistake. If a buyer breaches the terms, that’s on them. But if they come back and you sell to them again – that’s on you. Twice is a pattern.
Once you know a buyer is funnelling horses into danger, continuing to do business with them makes you complicit. Whether it’s a claim, a sale, or a private deal – if they’re still welcomed at your racetrack or in your sales ring, the problem isn’t just the buyer. It’s the system enabling them.
4. Keep an eye on your horses, before they disappear.
Puerto Rican buyers often target horses who have dropped in form, are on the vet’s list, or are nearing the end of their racing careers in the U.S. That means the time to act isn’t after they’re gone, but while they’re racing.
Track your horses and know when their form slips, then check who’s buying. If one of your horses does end up in Puerto Rico, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare recommends using the Equibase Virtual Stable and, if needed, placing the horse on their Watchlist (link here) – especially if the horse is:
- Older (6+)
- Has a high number of starts
- Has a history on vet lists or known physical issues
- Has someone offering a home or financial support for repatriation
If you’re able to repatriate a horse, CTA can assist. The cost to return a horse from Puerto Rico to the mainland U.S. is approximately $7,000 per horse, and they can only be exported if the horse tests negative for piroplasmosis.
If you’re unable to offer a home or funding, CTA asks that you monitor the horse’s performance and wait until it has five consecutive poor results before reaching out for support with escalation.
This is where things can change, if we all play our part.
While the system may be slow to move, the industry under it doesn’t need to be. Breeders can ask tougher questions and track their horses. Trainers can put safeguards in place. Sale companies can take a stand on outcomes. Owners can be checking where their horses end up.
We can’t wait for someone else to fix it, instead it’s about everyone doing what they can, where they can. Taking responsibility for the horses in our care – and keeping an eye on the ones that leave our care, even after their high value racing days are done.
Progress doesn’t start from the top, but in barns, in sales rings, and grassroots conversations.
Because “there’s nothing we can do” has never been good enough – and it doesn’t reflect the industry we need to be.
