Edited Press Release
Nicholasville, KY — Mareworthy Charities, a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited nonprofit focused on broodmare retirement, is seeking partner farms to launch the Broodmare Retirement Network, a distributed model designed to expand scalable, long-term retirement capacity for Thoroughbred broodmares across Central Kentucky.
Over the past three years, Mareworthy has focused on understanding the systemic drivers of broodmare vulnerability — not simply responding to individual cases, but analyzing how and why mares become at risk as they exit production.
That work has led to a clear conclusion:
Broodmare vulnerability is not random. It is structural — and therefore solvable.
“Mareworthy was built to address this from a systems perspective,” said Kyle Rothfus, co-founder of Mareworthy Charities. “We’ve spent the past several years working across education, placement, and sanctuary to understand where the gaps actually exist. The network is a direct result of that work.”
A Capacity Challenge — Not a Question of Intent
As broodmare bands continue to contract and more mares leave production each year, retirement decisions are often made on practical timelines.
Public auction remains an important part of the Thoroughbred ecosystem, providing liquidity and market access. At the same time, structured retirement pathways require advance planning and available capacity.
When that capacity is limited, options become constrained by timing rather than intention.
Mareworthy’s model is built to address that gap:
The issue is not land. It is not expertise. It is coordination, capacity, and funding.
From Individual Care to Coordinated Infrastructure
Mareworthy’s approach is built around three interconnected pillars:
- Education to expand responsible planning and awareness
- Placement to create structured pathways outside of time pressure
- Sanctuary to provide stability and a safety net
The Broodmare Retirement Network represents the next step — expanding capacity at scale.
Rather than concentrating horses in a single location, the network:
- utilizes existing farm infrastructure
- maintains centralized oversight and standards
- allows capacity to grow proportionally with need
“Sanctuary is essential,” Rothfus said, “but it’s not scalable on its own. The network provides the path to scale.”
How the Network Works
Under the Broodmare Retirement Network:
- Mareworthy assumes full ownership of mares entering the program
- Partner farms provide daily care within their existing operations
- Mareworthy maintains centralized oversight, including veterinary, farrier, and long-term planning
- Placements are coordinated based on available capacity across the network
This structure allows farms to participate without taking on long-term liability or decision-making responsibility, while aligning with a TAA-accredited organization that provides recognized credibility and reinforces the farm’s commitment to lifetime care within the Thoroughbred industry.
Call for Founding Partner Farms
Mareworthy is currently seeking 3–4 founding partner farms in Central Kentucky to launch the initial phase of the network.
Target partners include:
- stallion farms
- breeding operations
- farms with existing broodmare or pasture infrastructure
Each founding partner is expected to:
- reserve approximately 10 spaces for retired mares
- integrate mares into existing daily care routines
- participate in shaping the operational framework during the pilot phase
In this initial stage, partner farms are being asked to donate space as an industry contribution, while Mareworthy covers veterinary, farrier, and program oversight costs.
Alignment with Industry Standards
Mareworthy is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited organization, and the network is structured to align with TAA standards for care, oversight, and accountability.
Because for-profit farms are not eligible for independent TAA accreditation, the model provides a pathway for farms to participate as:
Approved facilities housing horses for a TAA-accredited organization
This designation allows partner farms to demonstrate commitment to lifecycle responsibility within a recognized and structured framework.
Building Infrastructure for the Future
The Broodmare Retirement Network reflects a shift toward coordinated, scalable retirement infrastructure within the Thoroughbred industry.
“Broodmare retirement has historically been handled on a case-by-case basis,” Rothfus said. “What we’re building is a system that allows the industry to plan ahead and respond at scale.”
Learn more at www.mareworthy.com/broodmare-retirement-network
Farms interested in participating in the pilot program are encouraged to connect directly through the website.
