Are we likely to find any home for our "ex racer"

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A bit of history, my freinds had bought a couple of ex racers (well failed really) from a yard she worked at, they ended up coming to stay at my mum and dads yard and my dad bought one - because he's a little cutie.

Don't want to give too many details so it sounds like avertising, but basically, he's 9yo now, a really sweet little horse - nothing like a race horse, and has very low milage. I've done a few bits and bobs with him and he's lovely, he's done a BN and the little XC's I've done on him he's a dream!!! Compared to mine anyway, Badger pulls like a train but little Tully just goes at the pace you set him at - a new one for me! He has barely been in a school though, but good to hack, be a little pet etc... sorry more details than I thought!!

On the BAD side - he cribs and doesn't move strait behind.

Dad TOTALLY loves him to bits but has retired now and wants to go off in if camper. Do you think there's any chance somone would buy/loan a horse like this? I really think he'd make a lovely, low level eventer/hack for someone - but would anyone want him?

I am available to try and bring him on a bit and maybe get him doing a bit of affill, do you think that would be better?

We just want a nice home for him, money not important.
 
The more you do with him the better, I have a friend who has just taken a horse on loan and he sounds similar, so there are certainly loan homes out there!

He sounds lovely but the cribbing will put people off (particularly in a tb - windsucking links and all that), I do hope he finds his way to someone equally as nice though he sounds a sweetie!

Selling may be hard, but a loan home as a project may be findable :D
 
Well the main question for me would be why doesn't he move straight behind? Has it been investigated?

Otherwise he sounds like a nice little project for the right price. But the lack of straightness sounds suspicious.
 
I think so yes :) providing you price him right there is no reason why not!And emphasise home more important than price maybe?Plenty of people out there looking for happy hackers that have the ability to pop some jumps and do a little riding club,that cant afford £2k+,aiming at this with you saying he isnt straight behind etc!Hope you get the result you want,and he gets a lovely home :) x
 
somethingorother said:
Well the main question for me would be why doesn't he move straight behind? Has it been investigated?

Otherwise he sounds like a nice little project for the right price. But the lack of straightness sounds suspicious.
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Why suspicious? Doesn't seem to bother him but a concern in the long term I guess. Hasn't been investigated, who and what do you think could be investigated?
 
hadfos said:
I think so yes :) providing you price him right there is no reason why not!And emphasise home more important than price maybe?Plenty of people out there looking for happy hackers that have the ability to pop some jumps and do a little riding club,that cant afford £2k+,aiming at this with you saying he isnt straight behind etc!Hope you get the result you want,and he gets a lovely home :) x
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Only problem is my dad seems to think that what he "needs" is someone who will do something with him (even though dad does bugger all with him), but I'm thinking any nice home would be good!!?? Honestly he hasn't jumped for over a year and we took him in the jump school and he was a right little pro! I don't think he'd cope well with a novice - he's still a novice himself bit anyone who will point him in the right direction and be confident, he'd be great! :)
 
Absolutely every chance of finding him a home.
I specialise in exactly that type of horse, ex racers that do a bit of everything but need more of an education. You find what they appear to be good at and find a home that leans towards that. Some i've rehomed have gone on to big things, some are just family pets. The biggest stopper for exracers is the price people think they are worth. They are not everyones cup of tea, so the market is more limited, and there is a huge choice at low prices. Keep a fair price in your mind, advertise him honestly, and i'm sure someone will see his virtues. As to the lack of straightness behind, have you seen some of the top racehorses move??! The best show horse in the world can still develop arthritis and kissing spines and navicular etc etc.
If you want help rehoming him give me a shout.
 
Not suspicious in that you are hiding something, sorry, didn't mean it like that.

Just that if a horse is unlevel or unstraight behind there is usually a problem, and if it's down to how he is built it could cause problems. It could be down to uneven schooling (but you said he doesn't really school) or a back/ neck problem or leg problem etcetc.

The point i was trying to make was without knowing the reason why he is unlevel it would put me off. And without him having had his back etc checked out to see if that's why then i would certainly be put off.

Looks like it wouldn't put others off from the replies above though, so good luck selling him i hope you find him a lovely home.
 
somethingorother said:
Not suspicious in that you are hiding something, sorry, didn't mean it like that.

Just that if a horse is unlevel or unstraight behind there is usually a problem, and if it's down to how he is built it could cause problems. It could be down to uneven schooling (but you said he doesn't really school) or a back/ neck problem or leg problem etcetc.

The point i was trying to make was without knowing the reason why he is unlevel it would put me off. And without him having had his back etc checked out to see if that's why then i would certainly be put off.

Looks like it wouldn't put others off from the replies above though, so good luck selling him i hope you find him a lovely home.
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no it's fine, wasn't thinking you thought I was dodgy or anything! He's not "unlevel" I wouldn't have said and looks strait when he's stood, but kind of flicks his back feet in a funky little way when moving - a bit like dishing on the front I guess.
 
Just a note on the back feet flicking. My friend's horse does this and she is TB x Pacer. Is it possible he might have pacer or trotter blood? Sounds like a trait, rather than a defect. I don't think you'd have any problems selling him.
 
To me he sounds just the sort of horse that may be a PC mum on a restricted budget would buy. Its hard finding something that is willing without big £££. I would try try the PC web site. You are are more likely to get a knowledgable, experiened home.
Cribbing to me is not a problem, if you go around a lot of the racing yards I would say over half do it, and being not straight behind is probabley confirmation.
 
Round here anyways, there's not a lot shifting, so you would be better advertising him as a loan or loan with view to buy :) I wouldn't bother with affiliated stuff, as it sounds like he's more suited to a low level fun/allrounder RC home! I would work on his flatwork until he can stay in a moderately consistant outline, and just get him to as many cheapish local shows as possible!! Literally even just to do the 2' clear round jumping! Also try and jump as many scary obstacles as you can without over-doing it! (water trays, fillers, tarpaulins ect) just so that he gains confidence as a jumper. I would say he would make a safe alrounder, so things like funrides, camp (if you can't take him, find a kid who would like to take him to PC camp, even non res? there's always someone whose horse has gone lame!), local showing classes and hunter trials would be the way to go!
 
sounds like he plaits behind which could be conformationally based.

If you put a bit of competition history onto him he would sell a lot easier but he does sound very kind and geniune so think the suggestions of PC etc would be great (you don't say how big he is but assuming under 16 hands?)
 
I have an ex racer who had a stable vice rocking when she was unhappy and I have now put her out on loan and shes as good as gold.

I offered her on loan as I don't want to sell her as I have no idea where she may end up if she gets sold to a novice who has no experience with ex racers which I think is a must as ex racers need a 'different' sort of attention.

I don't think you will have any problem selling her but be really careful that you sell her to an experienced person.
 
i think you will- well i hope you do as i have a similar and older horse to sell...:rolleyes: i think if priced appropriately he will make a nice low level RC horse for someone :)
 
Sounds a lovely horse and someone will be very lucky to have him. If you need someone to vouch for it being OK having a horse that crib bites/windsucks send them my way - my ex-racer windsucks really really badly but that doesnt impact on her performance (I just have to watch she doesnt lose too much weight) and I love her to bits and would buy another windsucker without an issue - what's a few chewed fence rails between friends!!
 
it will be hard but there is a good change he will sell, i had a 9 yo ex race who i loved to bits but basically no one else would ride him! and then he was sold to a very experienced rider who has taken him on to event, so absolutely brilliant for him. this was after nearly a year so it was by no means easy. he was 9 as well but i had done a lot of work with him, flatwork, jumping, lessons, manners on the road etc. but there are people out there! i would agree with above, the more you do with him the better he will be.
 
Exactly the kind of loan horse I would be looking for if i didn't have Bentley, I bet he would be snapped up by someone after a safe, fun hacking pony.
 
From the sounds of your description, he should sell very easily to someone who is looking specifically for a TB, a happy hacker yet has the sort of willing attitude to have a go at most things with out any fuss is the sort of horse most people looking for an alrounder to bring on a bit would give their left arm for.

Suppose if you hung onto to him and did a bit more with him yourself you could expect a bit more come summer time if you think he's got a talant for a specific thing, but if he's a jack of all trades master of none type then it won't pay to keep him and put the work in for what you'll probably get back on him profit wise but he sounds perfect for someone who wants to put the work in themselves.

Hope you find a nice home for him, sounds like a poppet.
 
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