Retired Race Horses Frolicking in Field Delights Internet

The phrase "young, wild and free" may spring to mind when watching this group of horses gallop across a field. But they are far from juvenile.

A video of 11 thoroughbred horses who reside on a 250-acre farm in Chadds, Ford, Pennsylvania, has delighted thousands of Facebook users.

The heartwarming clip is captioned: "We love seeing them enjoying their retirement and having fun!" It shows a herd of horses who have been adopted by an equine charity called Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).

Julia Christenson, the marketing and sponsorship coordinator of the charity, told Newsweek: "Our horses are guaranteed to have the rest of their lives lived out in comfort and safety, to always have a home. Our horses get to live in fields and get attention, being cared for, for the rest of their lives."

The charity founded in 1983 adopts off track thoroughbred horses after their careers and saves them from possible abuse, neglect and slaughter.

She told Newsweek: "Some of our horses have had amazing careers with hundreds of thousands in career earnings. The TRF offers safety and sanctuary to over 425 horses that were unable to pursue second athletic careers.

"Some of our horses have sustained career ending injuries. We are the oldest and largest equine sanctuary of its kind in the world."

The video of the horses living their best lives was captured at the Pastures of Point Lookout sanctuary on October 29.

Christenson said: "Once a horse lands with the TRF, they are forever under our wing. If we ever adopt one of the horses out and an owner comes into times where they cannot provide for their adopted horse, we will always take the horse back. If a horse is not eligible for adoption that we have, and we have many like this, they will always remain with us and have a permanent home with us."

Race and jump horses average at 163 cm high and weigh about 1,000 pounds at maturity, according to Britannica. The average life span of thoroughbred horses is around 25 years, depending on their "sporting career", according to Royal-Horse.com.

The horses in the clip range from 17 to 23 in age so they have plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors.

Christenson told Newsweek: "The rescue process varies. We get frequent calls of horses that are in the kill pen pipeline or have been in neglect cases. As a team, we work closely to try to take in as many as we can and sometimes network with other organizations and after alliances to make sure these horses are safe either way.

"We also get calls of people that come into times with financial burdens, health issues, can no longer care for them due to age and sickness, etc. These horses we also take in and the horses is 'surrendered' to us."

The horses in the video appear to be in good health and they have certainly delighted many Facebook users.

One person said: "Love this, looks like they know how to have a good time."

"Beautiful sight and sound," commented another.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.