The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) announced Tuesday that "Kwaehanyeongung," a 5-year-old retired racehorse rescued through its emergency relief system for abused and neglected horses, won the non-competitive riding category at a retired racehorse equestrian competition held on April 27.
Kwaehanyeongung retired from racing in October last year and was being used as a riding horse at an equestrian park in North Gyeongsang Province. The horse was found neglected in a deteriorated state of health due to improper care and management.
After receiving a report through the Horse Protection Monitoring Center, which it operates jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the KRA dispatched personnel to the site and rescued a total of three horses, including Kwaehanyeongung, Top Blue, and Libby.
Following the rescue, the horses were transferred to a horse protection facility (the Jeonbuk Horse Industry Complex Center) supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, where they received professional health care, rehabilitation training, and riding conversion training. Kwaehanyeongung successfully returned to form by winning the competition just four months later.
"We find Kwaehanyeongung's victory meaningful as it demonstrates the potential of our horse relief system," a KRA official said. "We will continue to support a second life for retired racehorses through programs such as the retired racehorse riding conversion support project."
