FACT SHEET: THE BREEDER’S REPUTATION SHIELD
Why the Race-2-Ride Training Passport is Your Most Important Insurance Policy  

Why at foal registration and not at naming?

1. Internalising the "Social License" Cost

The racing industry currently operates under a massive "reputational debt." Every time a horse "disappears" or ends up in a knackery, the industry’s Social License to Operate (SLO) is damaged.

• The Argument: Breeders are the "engine room" of the industry. By pre-funding a Training Passport at birth, they are buying "reputational insurance." It shifts the narrative from "we dump horses we can't use" to "every horse we create is born with a guaranteed exit strategy."

2. Eliminating the "Wastage" Traceability Gap

Thirty-four per cent of horses never race. If the fee is paid at the Naming stage, these horses remain invisible.

• The Argument: A foal registration fee ensures that 100% of the crop is covered, not just the successful athletes. This eliminates the "dark spot" where horses fall through the cracks between the stud farm and the racetrack. It provides the industry with the data it needs to prove it is accountable for every life it produces.

3. Protecting the "Residual Value" of the Asset

Not every foal will be a Group 1 winner, but every foal has the potential to be a high-quality "Ride" horse (Dressage, Showjumping, Pleasure).

• The Argument: The $997 isn't an expense; it’s an investment in the horse’s second career. A horse sold at a yearling sale with a "pre-paid training passport" is a more attractive asset to a buyer. It signals to the buyer that the breeder has already handled the "decommissioning" costs, making the horse a "Blue Chip" welfare-certified animal.

4. A Fraction of the Production Cost

While $997 might sound high in isolation, it is a small percentage of the total investment in a racehorse.

• The Argument: When a breeder is paying a $20,000 to $100,000+ service fee, plus vet bills and agistment, an extra $997 represents roughly 2-5% of the cost to get a foal to the sales. For the sake of a few percentage points, the breeder can guarantee the lifelong welfare of that animal—a powerful marketing tool for their stud’s brand.

5. Transitioning from "Welfare" to "Career Development"

The current model of "retraining" often feels like a rescue operation.

• The Argument: By funding the Race-2-Ride Training Passport at birth, the industry treats the transition as a career move rather than a welfare crisis. It funds the professional retraining before the horse reaches a point of neglect. This proactive funding is significantly cheaper than the reactive costs of rescuing neglected horses or fighting public relations fires.

Comparison: The Cost of Doing Nothing

The Reality of the "Second Career"

As a breeder, your reputation is tied to every horse that carries your brand. However, once a horse leaves your care, you lose control over its future.

• The Novice Owner Risk: Retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds often end up with novice owners who struggle with the horse’s specific retraining needs, such as flight responses and many under-saddle behaviours.
  
  
• The "Social License" Threat: When a horse with your bloodlines ends up in a welfare incident, it isn't just a failure of the industry—it is a direct threat to your breeding legacy and the public’s perception of your operation.
  
  

0.5% for Lifelong Protection

We have structured the Training Passport to be a "pre-paid" welfare asset, capturing capital when it is most available during the initial racing investment.

• Financial Context: It costs an average of $203,000 to get a yearling to its first race.
  
  
• The Passport Fee: A one-time $997 fee represents just 0.5% of that total investment.
  
  
• Value for Money: This equates to just $40 per year for 25 years of expert support.
  
  

What This Means for Your Horses

The passport is a digital asset linked directly to the horse’s microchip. It provides a safety net that follows the horse through every owner change for its entire life.

• Support for ALL Horses: This includes the 34% of horses that never race. These horses receive support for the first time in industry history.
  
  
• Evidence-Based Training: Owners receive lifetime access to a curriculum developed by Dr Kate Fenner (PhD) that uses evidence-based training.
  
  
• Safety & Success: By providing novice owners with expert guidance on ground control and emotional regulation, we ensure your horses become high-value, safe, and well-trained prospects in their second careers. 

Protecting Your Legacy

By supporting the Race-2-Ride Training Passport, you are taking a proactive stance on welfare that directly benefits your business:

• Direct Accountability: You show the public and the government that you are committed to the horse's entire life, not just its racing career.
  
  
• Reputation Management: You protect your brand by ensuring that subsequent owners have the tools they need to succeed, reducing the likelihood of welfare-related incidents.
  
  
• Market Value: A horse with a "Gold-Standard" lifetime passport is a more attractive, higher-value prospect for buyers in the sport horse market.
  
  

About the Founder

Dr Kate Fenner (PhD)

• Hon. President, International Society for Equitation Science (ISES)
• PhD (Horse Behaviour & Training), University of Sydney
• Board Member, Pony Club Australia
• 27+ years of experience retraining off-track horses
• Founder of Kandoo Equine, an internationally recognised online horse training system