British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre

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Clippity Clop

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Hi

I’m thinking sending my horse to the BTRC in Lancaster for rehoming.

Whilst I’ve heard some positive feedback, I’ve also heard some negatives, so I want to get some real genuine and recent experience feedback please.

My girl isn’t easy (chestnut mare!) and has some mild arthritis but had injections so good but I’ve been told by a previous student that they don’t turn out in the fields in winter despite loads of fields so this will make her worse as she prefers to be out for at least a few hours. They just turn out in a small sand pit. They also will pts if they can’t rehome within a given period even if the horse is ok but can’t be ridden. Shes totally fine if she is ridden and goes out every day.

There are lots of success stories but I want to know what’s happened to the others as they appear as a new arrival and then after a couple of updates disappear, with no more mentions? I don’t want this happening to my girl or shud I look somewhere else? If so where?
 
I don't know about the BTRC but are you able to rehome her yourself? That way you'd have a lot more control over the sale/ rehome and potentially be able to keep in touch with the new owners etc.
 
Unfortunately this is the sort of horse that doesn’t tend to do too well when you move them on, unless you get really lucky. Many people’s winter reality is little to no turn out and the commitment to ongoing injections is not something that most people are willing to take on, especially as it's a progressive condition that will worsen. In an established competition horse (and, sadly, not a TB), you'd have a much better chance, but most thoroughbreds like this tend to just fall into unsuitable homes and end up being passed around.
If you really need to move the horse on then do it very, very carefully.
 
I have one on loan from the BTRC and so does my neice. I cant fault them at all. I'm not aware of them putting horses to sleep unless there are valid behaviour or medical reasons, which quite frankly is fair enough in my book. I'm absolutely positive I have seen horses turned out in winter too. They are really well looked after, the team there are great and they rehome with great care and due diligence. You could put your horse in far worse a position but selling or gifting to an unknown person.
 
Squeak said:
I don't know about the BTRC but are you able to rehome her yourself? That way you'd have a lot more control over the sale/ rehome and potentially be able to keep in touch with the new owners etc.
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Hi, I’ve tried but she is not a novice ride and as we are heading into winter, not much interest🙁

Due to my own health concerns, I’m struggling to look after her and I can’t afford full livery. I don’t want her to end up at a dealers😢
 
How much work can she do? If she is comfortable worked hard after injections it could be worth looking for someone who would like to loan her to hunt. You could then put it into the contract that she is required to have the injections at whatever interval she needs them.
If she's only a light hack it will probably be harder to loan/sell her in the winter.
Could she go on retirement livery and be out 24/7 either as a permanent move or until the spring when finding a home might be easier?
ETA obviously the usual caution regarding loans applies, you'd ideally want to loan her to someone you know or someone close enough to you that you or a trusted friend can keep an eye on her.
 
Milliechaz said:
I have one on loan from the BTRC and so does my neice. I cant fault them at all. I'm not aware of them putting horses to sleep unless there are valid behaviour or medical reasons, which quite frankly is fair enough in my book. I'm absolutely positive I have seen horses turned out in winter too. They are really well looked after, the team there are great and they rehome with great care and due diligence. You could put your horse in far worse a position but selling or gifting to an unknown person.
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I think the ones you see turned out are paid for, or on what they call spelling and their own horses they use for raising funds/care home visits etc. It costs £4000 to gift a horse to them or a monthly £20 donation if accepted on their Vulnerable Horse Scheme.
I’ve scrolled through their FB page and like my mate said, some horses appear and then after a couple of posts disappear. So are they put to sleep? If they are, why don’t they say? Just worried cuz I don’t want that happening to her. She needs a experienced home🙁 She’s only 8
 
SpeedyPony said:
How much work can she do? If she is comfortable worked hard after injections it could be worth looking for someone who would like to loan her to hunt. You could then put it into the contract that she is required to have the injections at whatever interval she needs them.
If she's only a light hack it will probably be harder to loan/sell her in the winter.
Could she go on retirement livery and be out 24/7 either as a permanent move or until the spring when finding a home might be easier?
ETA obviously the usual caution regarding loans applies, you'd ideally want to loan her to someone you know or someone close enough to you that you or a trusted friend can keep an eye on her.
Click to expand...
She hasn’t jumped and is fizzy (ex flat racer) so don’t think she can go hunting.
She’s only 8
Tried to find loan home, but not much interest and she is not a novice ride, that’s why asking about BTRC as fairly local
 
Honestly? In your situation I would put her out on grass livery somewhere, see if one of the reputable studs would have her as an ET recipient mare, or have her put down at home. This horse doesn’t have a realistic future as ridden horse in a private home.
 
TheMule said:
Unfortunately this is the sort of horse that doesn’t tend to do too well when you move them on, unless you get really lucky. Many people’s winter reality is little to no turn out and the commitment to ongoing injections is not something that most people are willing to take on, especially as it's a progressive condition that will worsen. In an established competition horse (and, sadly, not a TB), you'd have a much better chance, but most thoroughbreds like this tend to just fall into unsuitable homes and end up being passed around.
If you really need to move the horse on then do it very, very carefully.
Click to expand...
Thanks
It’s why I was asking about BTRC as they are fairly local
 
Clippity Clop said:
She hasn’t jumped and is fizzy (ex flat racer) so don’t think she can go hunting.
She’s only 8
Tried to find loan home, but not much interest and she is not a novice ride, that’s why asking about BTRC as fairly local
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t let the lack of jumping and fizziness stop her from going to a hunting home.
 
I wouldn’t think that it is in the best interests of a young horse already on hock injections to be hammered around on the hunt field. Can’t imagine it’ll do her joints any good. Some hunt homes are also not particularly long-term, so she may just end up being passed from pillar to post once the season’s done.

I’m not anti-hunting, but I, personally, don’t think that it’s entirely the right option in this particular situation.

It’s not up to me to decide, though.

ETA: just seen that suggestion was loaning to a hunt home, but I’m still dubious and she may just be even less saleable once she returns.
 
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