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transition into new disciplines, with eventing being a popular second career. But does success on the racetrack translate into success on the cross-country course, in the dressage arena, or over show jumps? Understanding what makes a good eventer is central to both equine welfare and effective rehoming strategies for retired racehorses.
A good eventer needs a unique combination of physical and mental attributes: stamina, athleticism, scope over fences, trainability, and a temperament suited to handling the variety and intensity of three different phases. Thoroughbreds are naturally athletic, forward-going, and possess cardiovascular fitness, all of which make them appealing as eventing prospects. However, the qualities that make a horse fast and competitive on the racetrack may not always align with what is required for long-term success in eventing.
The ongoing debate about the welfare of retired racehorses highlights the importance of matching individuals to appropriate second careers. One of the big knowledge gaps has been whether a horse’s racing record - its number of wins, earnings, or career length - can be used to predict how well it will perform in another equestrian sport.
To address this, Elouise Bacon and colleagues from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, conducted a large-scale retrospective study. Their aim was to investigate whether Thoroughbred racing performance metrics are associated with eventing performance outcomes in horses competing within Australia.
The study analysed 6,828 off-the-track Thoroughbreds registered with Equestrian Australia. Data included racing metrics (such as wins, earnings, career duration, and best race distance) and eventing metrics (competition level achieved, penalties, and other performance indicators). Horses were grouped according to whether they competed at EvA95 and above (a nationally recognised level equivalent to international 1* eventing, involving a dressage test, a cross-country course up to 95 cm, and a show jumping round of the same height) or below EvA95. Statistical modelling was then used to explore whether racing performance could predict eventing outcomes.
The findings were intriguing. Horses that never reached EvA95 or above tended to have significantly better racing records (P < 0.01) and longer careers on the track compared with those that progressed further in eventing. In contrast, horses that achieved higher levels in eventing often came from more modest racing backgrounds. Another interesting trend was that the time elapsed since a horse’s last race was positively associated with most eventing parameters - suggesting that a longer adjustment period after racing may benefit performance in a second career. In addition, horses with a history of racing over longer distances were more likely to progress to higher eventing levels, perhaps reflecting the importance of endurance capacity.
The study concluded that while certain factors, such as stamina over longer distances, may point towards greater potential in eventing, racing performance alone is not a reliable predictor of eventing success. Other elements - including stride characteristics, trainability, and, crucially, the quality of the rider-horse partnership - play a vital role.
For riders and trainers seeking to source potential eventers from the racing industry, the message is clear: look beyond wins and earnings. Horses that may not have been stars on the track can often thrive in eventing, provided they have the right physical traits, temperament, and support during their transition.
For more details, see:
Elouise K Bacon, Danica Parnell, Gary Muscatello, Jaimie McElroy, Brandon D Velie,
How prior racing performance influences competition level in off-the-track Thoroughbred horses’ post-racing eventing careers,
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, (2025) Vol 154, 105679.
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