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Shantara

Shantara

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After I posted a thread about getting a foal, I was told an ex racer might be best for me.
For a while I didn't think they'd be good for me, but after a new TB arrived at the yard today, finding a picture of me on another TB called Viking and a friend of mine getting one...I started to rethink, since I had discarded them as fragile lunatics.

I'm not planning on getting a horse for a while yet, (6-9 months, at the very least) but I do like to be prepared.

Can anyone inform me a bit more on ex racers? I do have some knowledge as I've ridden and watched a few before, but I'm in no way an expert. Is there anything that might not be common knowledge about them? Maybe even show me your reformed racer!


Anyway, here's me on Viking :)

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Oh no! I think you just set the alarms off again!! You said the words that must not be said "I'm not an expert.."!!

I think you look well on that horse by the way.x
 
I wasn't an ex racehorse expert but got my boy and love him, I'd have another in a heartbeat!

Will type up a long post for you tonight. But I'd say they are brilliant and tricky things and you look good on that one there!
 
Thanks ^^ Viking is a stunning lad! He had a fractured skull when he came and no one knew about it. It swelled up and make him look a bit like a wanna-be unicorn! It was quite horrible. He's all better now though :) The newmarket vets fixed him all up ^^ He's got him stunning looks back!

I went to a yard a while back for an interview and I was asked to tack up an ex racer, turned dressage horse and she was lovely too. Very friendly and well mannered.
 
Annielusian said:
He had a fractured skull when he came and no one knew about it. It swelled up and make him look a bit like a wanna-be unicorn! It was quite horrible. He's all better now though :)
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I had a horse with a broken skull, it was alarming how big his head swelled :eek:.

I'm sure all ex-racers aren't the same but the few I have known have been on very good terms with the local vets. They seem to be quite dramatic about something a 'normal' horse wouldn't be.

I fully expect to be hauled up in front of a HHO jury for the crime of gross generalisation now :rolleyes::D.
 
quirky said:
I had a horse with a broken skull, it was alarming how big his head swelled :eek:.

I'm sure all ex-racers aren't the same but the few I have known have been on very good terms with the local vets. They seem to be quite dramatic about something a 'normal' horse wouldn't be.

I fully expect to be hauled up in front of a HHO jury for the crime of gross generalisation now :rolleyes::D.
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Hehe, same with me! The few I've known have been walking vets bills, but I've heard of plenty who rarely or never have the vet out :)

Yea, Viking's lump was alarming! It really did look like he was trying to grow a horn!
 
I think he looks lovely. I know you took a bit of a beating on the last post :( but I really think if I was you I would worry less about the breed and more about the personality of a horse.

When I was looking to buy my first horse, I tried loads. I wasn't particularly experienced but had a share for over a year and a close friend came with me to help me look.

I eventually found Kalief, an Anglo Arab which was so far removed from what I thought I wanted (which was an ID x).

Well, 5 years down the line and he continues to amaze me. Take today, went hacking with a nervous friend who wanted to go for a canter across the field, to cut a long story short, she fell off and her horse p!ssed off. K listened to me and stopped whilst her horse was whizzing round the field like a loon. This doesn't sound like much, but to me it meant everything as I have a massive fear of getting tanked off with.

The point to all this inane rambling is, you will find the right horse, it's just it may not be what you imagined. Could be an Arab, tb, Haflinger. Just don't rule anything out! ;)
 
Quirky I think that is a tb generalisation rather than just ex racers. annielusain I think that is a marvellous idea, my ex racer is my first horse - it really is a challenge but you get all the fun of training them to do the 'fancy stuff' they don't do in racing. He's so smart and so willing and sooooo beautiful. I'm not arty like you but I try to draw him and I take pics of him all the time because I can't resist! But he's def not easy so it is a learning curve all the way - but a rewarding one :) my tips? Get teeth checked right away and don't expect an immediate bond, remember they won't have been a 'pet' before - I can only speak for my boy but he didn't know what a mint was when he came out of training and is only now coming round to the idea of cuddles! Tight reins equal go, loose rein equals relax :)
 
I think an ex-racer is a better idea than the foal idea. but do think that you will have to look and hard for the right ex-racer. TBs have their reputation along with some other breeds have. TBs are scatty / accident prone / poor doers. Just if you have a tight budget to keep a horse on maybe a more hardy native type pony would suit. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule and I am sure there are plenty of people on here who have found that in their TBs. Just ensure you spend the time to find the right TB / ex-racer for you.
Good luck xx
 
I am a huge ex racehorse fan! I don't know if I have just been lucky, but out of all the hores I have ever owned, the ex racers have been the easiest to ride and the most successful :D! Here are some pics of the 3 I currently have:

Harry is only 6 months out of racing, and won a prelim dressage test today :D. he will start eventing next season.

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Jem who is currently at BE100, and will move up to Novice next season. She went to the Badminton Grassroots Championships last April

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And Millie, who competed at CCI* level. She came from the meat man, knowing nothing and 3 years later she was doing this!

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Unfortunately I don't have any more pictures of her competing on my photobucket, but she was incredible. She was retired due to a back injury, and she is now a successful broodmare!
 
Annielusian, glad to hear you've thought seriously about what is best for you, and your potential new equine friend. As you are well aware, there are many coming out of racing every year who need new homes, and tbs being very smart do learn- there are some fab ex racers on this forum (as you can see from the pics!).

My first loan horse was an ex point to pointer, who hadn't really been reschooled since his lunatic days- he'd only really hunted. Despite that, he was a lovely big chap. Although he was quite hot, he was responsive, honest and tried his very best, and I had an awesome summer with him- he was such a gorgeous big lad.



Unfortunately I have basically no ridden pictures- only from the first time I sat on him when he'd not been ridden for over 6 months, so I shan't be sharing that ;)



He was 13 when I had him, and generally awesome- I was really sad when he had to go back (as I was going back to uni) but if I get the chance again, would have him back in a heartbeat. I learned a lot from him, and I like to think he learned something from me- we did progress from his ears being in my eyes to a more consistent contact and outline, and although he was on the fizzy side, he was never dangerous. I did a bit of everything with him, and he was the most bombproof hacker I'd ever sat on.
 
Those horses look so lovely!! I saw a race today with a horse who looked just like the grey :D Didn't win though XD

I agree about them not knowing how to be a pet!! When Viking first arrive I offered him a Polo...he looked at it like "What do you expect me to do with that?!"

I was really dead set on getting a foal, but I figured, I (hopefully) have a long time to get a foal, I'm only 21 and could get one in later life.

I'm not set on a breed yet. I love big ol' hairy cobs, TBs, Arabs, Standies, Welsh sec Ds...everything!! But I do have a huge need to rescue :P
 
:) I'm sure you will find something that is perfect for you. As you say, you've got a lot of time to think about your foal. Just because now might not be the right time, doesn't mean it won't ever happen.

Anyway kudos to you for taking the advice, it's hard to hear sometimes but it sounds like you've reached the right decision for the right reasons.. so good luck to you!
 
I love exracers, had my boy nearly 5 years and I'd get another in a snap!! The main bit of advice I'd give is routine! They thrive on it! My boy hasn't been worked in a year and is so laid back (he wasn't until we got the trust thing going!!!) but I think it's down to his routine being spot on, fed nothing complicated, lots of fibre and tons of love!!
 
Well we have a few ex racers turned broodmares at work, a couple have been brought back in to work and re-schooled, and they are fairly sane, good in traffic and fairly good doers :) The only thing is they do tend to get more wound up when leaving friends or having a change in routine, but time and patience works wonders. If you get one right out of training main things are check teeth, back and feet!! Every horse that has come back from training for it's summer holiday this year has had awful shoeing, normally the shoe atleast a size smaller than the hoof :( This is probably a bigger cause of them breaking down than being worked too hard
 
I agree about the shoeing Ridefast! I think Louie was poorly shod when he first came and he had to were those rubber boots for ages, which although work on some horses, didn't help much with him and he was lame for a long time.

I certainly have patience and I also thrive off routine, so I think that'd help :)
 
WOW Charlimouse, fantastic photo's. Looks like you must have a good eye for spotting talent. What do you look for? We're struggling to find an inexpensive horse to, hopefully do some low level BE on & i have thought about looking for an ex-racer but don't know if they would settle into a more low key, family life.
Any thoughts, advice appreciated :-)
 
Sorry can't help much in providing info on looking after ex-racers as I've never had one, although I have ridden numerous ex-racers and never had any problems, although there was one ex point2pointer who was an absolute loony!! (there's always one lol!). But just wanted to say you look very at home on Viking - think a TB might suit you ;)
 
JessHakner said:
Sorry can't help much in providing info on looking after ex-racers as I've never had one, although I have ridden numerous ex-racers and never had any problems, although there was one ex point2pointer who was an absolute loony!! (there's always one lol!). But just wanted to say you look very at home on Viking - think a TB might suit you ;)
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Thank you :D I felt very at home on him on that ride. I've only ridden him twice, but that ride was lovely, despite the weather. He was very chilled and not strong, even cantering towards home, next to another horse. I didn't feel any 'racing vibes' at all!

I would want something a bit better at jumping though :P I don't jump much, so it wouldn't be too bad, but he's recently discovered it after 8yrs of being a flat racer and he's decided it's the best thing ever and must be taken at a gallop! His usual rider is working on that though :P
 
jelphick said:
WOW Charlimouse, fantastic photo's. Looks like you must have a good eye for spotting talent. What do you look for? We're struggling to find an inexpensive horse to, hopefully do some low level BE on & i have thought about looking for an ex-racer but don't know if they would settle into a more low key, family life.
Any thoughts, advice appreciated :-)
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TBH horses tend to find me! I was hacking past a field at work one day and a little bay mare galloped up to the fence as I went past. She was mine by the end of the day! Jem I heard of through a friend. I didn't do anything about her a sI wasn't in a position to have another horse. Then I managed to knock myself out, and give myself one hell of a concussion, discharged myself from hospital, and went and bought her :eek:. I don't remember going to see her at all! And Harry came to me through my trainer. Again I wasn't looking for another horse, but then my grey beastie was injured, and harry was at my trainers yard and it was love at first sight!
 
i considered an ex racer and tried quite a few. I didnt find one to suit entirely but my friend bought one I had been to see and she is the most laid back, brilliant wee horse. She will canter sedately at the back of a group, doesnt bat an eyelid at anything and is super chilled. does fab flatwork too:)
 
Annielusian said:
After I posted a thread about getting a foal, I was told an ex racer might be best for me.
For a while I didn't think they'd be good for me, but after a new TB arrived at the yard today, finding a picture of me on another TB called Viking and a friend of mine getting one...I started to rethink, since I had discarded them as fragile lunatics.

I'm not planning on getting a horse for a while yet, (6-9 months, at the very least) but I do like to be prepared.

Can anyone inform me a bit more on ex racers? I do have some knowledge as I've ridden and watched a few before, but I'm in no way an expert. Is there anything that might not be common knowledge about them? Maybe even show me your reformed racer!




Anyway, here's me on Viking :)

156621_483012662887_516957887_5731771_4641116_n.jpg
Click to expand...

OP I'm going to hold off on advising you on ex racers because my personal experience of them is limited, there are others on here far better placed and with more experience to advise you accurately, you look lovely on Viking by the way. My main reason for posting is to say what a far more mature post you have made, your general tone makes me want to take you more seriously and I am glad you are rethinking, have no doubt you will achieve your dream, just perhaps a little bit later in life :D
 
I think that's a sensible decision. Though you might want to seek a second job to finance the vets bills now ;) :D (joking, honestly!)

Nice photo, btw.

eta - QB, that's well put and I'm inclined to agree.
 
JFTD said:
I think that's a sensible decision. Though you might want to seek a second job to finance the vets bills now ;) :D (joking, honestly!)

Nice photo, btw.

eta - QB, that's well put and I'm inclined to agree.
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JFTD....

I like you, you think I have brains and sense :D


P.S
Any new horses yet?:D
 
queenbee said:
JFTD....

I like you, you think I have brains and sense :D


P.S
Any new horses yet?:D
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Steady on, who said anything about sense? :confused: You're as mad as I am :D


We're now talking about the fourth horse as a sensible inevitability :D But it is possible someone will beat me to the little man as I really can't take him on just yet :(
 
Well done for taking the advice, its not an easy thing to do when everyone is saying don't do something and you really want to do it. As you say you have plenty of time to buy a foal and you will learn so much from having your own horse that when you do get one later you can pass that on to the foal. I suggest that between now and the time you are going to buy a horse why not make a list of things you must have in a horse and things you must not have, then ride as many different types as you can and keep a list of the horse, type, age and what you liked or disliked about it, for example Harry, 8yr old wide cob, felt very safe but was a bit too xyz for me. That way when you get to the point where you are seriously looking you may find that you don't actually like the finer type of horse and that a bouncy cob is more what you like.
Ex racehorses have often seen a lot from a young age but if they are straight from training they will be used to the training routine and may take a while to adjust, they can be lively or lazy it all depends on the horse so try several before you do buy one.
 
JFTD said:
Steady on, who said anything about sense? :confused: You're as mad as I am :D


We're now talking about the fourth horse as a sensible inevitability :D But it is possible someone will beat me to the little man as I really can't take him on just yet :(
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Similar to me then, I am considering moving my 2 back to the stables OH has built so I can have the little black thing, reckon I could probably get him for £400, but in reality I am loving the livery yard, there are actually nice people and the set up is really benefiting ben in his education... he went out in the field today, 2 mins straight galloping and bucking, but came in sound :D almost had my head off with his first buck :eek::eek: But he was soooo happy to be out and not on box rest :D:D
 
I've got an ex polo horse - she's amazing. My advice would be that if you're so focused on purchasing a particular type/breed then you may miss a real gem. In other words - Keep an open mind.
 
JFTD said:
We're now talking about the fourth horse as a sensible inevitability :D But it is possible someone will beat me to the little man as I really can't take him on just yet :(
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He has been up for sale for quite some time and it's really not a good time of year to be selling horses... fingers crossed he will still be up for sale when you're ready :)
 
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