Helping retired racehorses find purpose beyond the track
For Dulong horsewoman Amanda Benson, retraining retired racehorses is about giving each horse the time and confidence to understand that racing is no longer its job.
“I love thoroughbreds so much,” she said. “They are so willing and athletic, they have an incredible work ethic and most of all, they are versatile. I’m so lucky to be able to work with them every day and help them find their new purpose. It’s wonderful watching the horses transform from sometimes slightly stressed-out racehorses to chilled out competition and leisure horses. I love it when the new owners send me updates and photos of their new horses so happy and enjoying their lives after racing. I think I have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world”.
Amanda has received $24,313 through the 2026 Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer Grants Program to support her work retraining and re-homing former racehorses at Forest View Thoroughbreds.
The funding will help Amanda replace her boundary fence in her big turn out paddock with safe equine mesh and steel fencing at her Dulong property, where she draws on more than 30 years of equestrian experience.
“This 20 acre paddock is where the horses go when they first arrive after finishing racing. I like to call it the ‘chill out zone’. The horses spend at least six weeks in this paddock living in a small herd and learning to be horses again. The transformation in the horses after their time in this paddock is incredible. They come into work completely relaxed and ready to learn about their new careers, most seem to have completely forgotten they were ever racehorses!”
Amanda grew up on a 12,000-acre cattle and wheat property near Goondiwindi, where horses were central to family life. After six years at boarding school, she set her sights on becoming a professional eventing rider.
Her competitive career began in 1991 with off-the-track horses, and she was soon able to finance her eventing ambitions by retraining and rehoming former racehorses.
Some went on to considerable international success. Otis finished fourth individually at the Atlanta Olympics with his Belgian rider and won silver at the Young Rider European Championships, while Poet’s Corner was sold to Japan and won the country’s first three-day event.
“These horses taught me that retired racehorses and particularly Australian thoroughbreds are good enough to take on the rest of the world in eventing. They have the stamina and the work ethic to be the best of the best. I recently attended the World Equestrian Games at Aachen in Germany and one of the horses that really stood out was an Australian OTT called Humble Glory. He was one of only four horses to finish the event on his dressage score. This was an absolutely phenomenal achievement.”
After competing at four-star level and building a successful equestrian business near Sydney, Amanda, her husband and their two children returned to Queensland after 21 years.
Their Dulong property, with three floodlit arenas, grassy post-and-rail yards and five turnout paddocks, has enabled Amanda to return to what she describes as her “first love” – retraining and rehoming retired racehorses.
“As part of the retraining process I like to take it slowly and expose off the track horses to as many different environments as possible, such as trail rides and trips in the horse float to low key destinations so they start to learn that a trip away from home doesn’t mean they are going to the races,” Amanda said.
Amanda was crowned the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year at the recent 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards after also winning the award in 2025.
“The fact that people, like me, who retrain and rehome retired racehorses now get recognition is amazing. I believe Queensland Off The Track are leading the world with their support and promotion of horses in their lives after racing. The rest of the horse community and even the general public are now so much more aware of how versatile and wonderful thoroughbreds are. Thanks to all the owners and trainers for investing in your horse’s futures and trusting all of us retrainers with your horses.”
Her retrained horses can move into eventing, showjumping, dressage, pony club, riding club, camp drafting or leisure homes.
• For more information, phone Amanda on 0429 049 912 or visit Forest View Thoroughbreds on Facebook or Instagram.
Amanda Benson receives her award: "thoroughbreds are so willing and athletic, they have an incredible work ethic and most of all, they are versatile”.
Amanda Benson retrains thoroughbreds for new lives in eventing, showjumping, dressage, pony club, riding club, camp drafting or leisure homes.