Buying a ex-racer?????

[Emi and Theseus]

Hi, I am looking to buy an ex- racer as a project but I am not sure what I should do as I enjoy show jumping more than flat work and hacking. I want to know if anyone on here has developed an ex-racer who has jumped well in competitions. I am willing to put in the work and I have 8 years of experience. Any advice would be appreciated. Also if you think a different horse would be more suitable I am open to suggestions but I don’t want to spend over £3000 on the horse.

 

[ycbm]

Is your experience in a riding school, loaning, owning your own?

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[Emi and Theseus]

I have loaned a horse, and already have two of my own. I have also ridden at a riding school on a variety of horses.

 

[Emi and Theseus]

I have loaned a horse, and already have two of my own. I have also ridden at a riding school on a variety of horses.

 

[Loubidy]

Ex-racers can be very talented, know quite a few who have done well as eventers.

But be sure you know what your letting yourself in for. They are cheap off the track because they are wired to the moon. You will probably hit the deck a lot and on the ground they won't be dope on a rope so you need to be sure you can handle that. You need to have safe facilities, these haven't been schooled to stop yet.

 

[ycbm]

Ex-racers can be very talented, know quite a few who have done well as eventers.

But be sure you know what your letting yourself in for. They are cheap off the track because they are wired to the moon. You will probably hit the deck a lot and on the ground they won't be dope on a rope so you need to be sure you can handle that. You need to have safe facilities, these haven't been schooled to stop yet.

This isn't my experience. I used to buy them from the auctions direct off the track, to retrain and sell on to RC homes. Without exception they were mannerly horses used to being stabled and handled. They varied in their difficulty of adapting to RC type riding and activities but none of them ever put me on the floor or deliberately tried to.
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[ycbm]

I have loaned a horse, and already have two of my own. I have also ridden at a riding school on a variety of horses.

OK, you do need to be aware how sharp and reactive they can be, and ime they make better eventers than showjumpers, but they can do all 3 disciplines well if you get the right one. I never had one that didn't take to jumping except the one I put down last year because of severe neck arthritis.

The highest I ever tried on one was BE 90 and she was terrific, after being initially very sticky to persuade to jump cross country fences. She went on to teach a teenager.
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[Elf On A Shelf]

But be sure you know what your letting yourself in for. They are cheap off the track because they are wired to the moon. You will probably hit the deck a lot and on the ground they won't be dope on a rope so you need to be sure you can handle that. You need to have safe facilities, these haven't been schooled to stop yet.

Total and utter nonsense! Yes they are far more intelligent than the majority of breeds and yes you need to know what your getting into but 99% of racehorses have far more manners than any normal horses - on the ground and under saddle. You won't hit the deck a lot unless you are a complete and utter muppet. I can count on 2 hands how many times I have fallen off at work in 17 years and I have never once come off of any I have taken home from work. Of course they have been taught to stop! Do you think we just gallop them til they get bored and stop themselves!!???!!!???!?!? No they just have a different education to any other horse. It is a bit back to front. When we want them to pick up the bit and the pace to work and gallop on we shorten our reins and take a hold of their mouths (in a sense) we want to steady up we loosen our hold and talk to the horse.

OP If you want to show jump then you would probably be better getting a flat horse as they have never been taught to jump so can be taught to show jump rather than the long, low hurdling or winging over chase fences National Hunt horses do.

Most racehorses are great in traffic and to do most things with as theyhave seen and done so much in life. You also won't need to spend £3k on one straight out of training. But I would suggest that you look into how they are trained and why so you can begin to understand how to retrain them.

 

[TPO]

I would say that no horse is going to excel as a show jumper, especially straight out of racing*, without a lot of flatwork.

Flatwork and hacking are pretty much the basics of producing horses*. If that's not something you enjoy perhaps it's best to look for a horse that is already established and doing what you want to be doing.

Horses* straight out of training usually need some degree of basic flatwork training before contemplating jumping and some may require a period to be "let down" before basically restarting them.

In your shoes I'd sit on my 3k as the market will collapse soon, it cant keep up at this level (not just horses) and pick up something already doing what you want to be doing or at least started on that pathway.

*exception to every rule of course

 

[HopOnTrot]

They need consistency. If you have the sort of personality that gets on with them, you'll get on with them, if you don't, you won't.

I've ridden quite a few and they've been foot perfect, really mannerly and safe but I also know that if I owned them, it wouldn't be the case, in an experienced owners hands they can be a novice horse and in a novice hands they can be for experienced owners only.

I would also say that no matter what you choose to do with them, they do need a good hack on a regular basis.

 

[RachelFerd]

There are lots of examples of ex racehorses going on to event at a high level. There are no recent examples of ex racehorses going on to become successful pure showjumpers (although believe this used to happen more back before the dominance of continental warmbloods). You won't turn an ex racehorse into a decent showjumper as a quick turnaround project. My super horse (chestnut in sig) is an ex racehorse, but it has taken 6 years to get him to the point of jumping at Novice/2** BE and he has now won a little bit of money at Newcomers BS as well. But that's not really a spectacular SJ career!

There are also less and less racing people willing to sell them as 'projects'. For good or for bad (and on balance, I think it is bad) most will only sell to homes promising to be 'for life'.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I think as Elf on a shelf says above (and she has a lot of experience!) they are taught slightly differently to your "normal" riding horse so assuming you have knowledge/experience of retraining OTTBs then go ahead! Otherwise maybe look into sending it away for a period of retraining with a professional?

But be aware that what you don't pay in purchase price you are likely to pay in feed, farrier, vet, rugs etc. And as always, showjumping is just dressage with jumps, you will have to do a lot of flatwork to get the horse supple enough for the twists and turns of a showjumping ring and to be able to extend/collect the canter. I'm working on my connemara and for every jumping lesson I have I have about 9 flat lessons to work on areas of weakness we discover in our jumping sessions.

Either way, I would be tempted to hold out to see what the market does (although know this is easier said than done when you want the horse now).

They are lovely, lovely horses though.

 

[Gloi]

I'm a pony person who can happily take an unhandled pony off the moor but would have no idea of what to do with a tb. That said , we had an ottb at our yard and he was the most beautiful horse I have ever seen with such a sweet nature. He had been eye wateringly expensive as a yearling. He came as the first ottb to an experienced woman and was quite difficult at first but she is a sensitive rider and with a lot of help from instructors and clinics he has really come on. He has left our yard now but I still see videos of him and he is going really well and will be out doing BE once things open up.

 

[fankino04]

My "horse of a lifetime" was an ex racer. I got her as my first horse when I was 14 (had loaned ponies and ridden anything I could get my hands on before that). She was probably a bad example of an ex racer as she had injured her back and not been treated for it so was very fearful (masquerading as violent) when I got her. Winning her trust was a slow process but when we got there she was the best horse you could ask for. I was lucky to have the help of a very knowledgeable lady and we essentially treated her like an unbroken 3 year old. The most difficult thing about her was teaching her to accept the leg and a contact, as already mentioned when you pick up the reins they go forward and any trying to stop with your hands was met with head shaking and trying to use seat and legs also meant go lol. She turned into a lovely riding club jack of all trades horse, fiercely brave, very sensitive to the aids, could be silly still but had a good brain so if she got into trouble she would get herself out. Things that never improved were she was very clingy to other horses and desperately needed a rigid routine or she lost the plot.

 

[brighteyes]

I've got one and he really is a sweetie - for 99% of the time, but he was sharp as a racehorse (and not without talent) so retired somewhat older and also very experienced at his job. He is super intelligent so needs his brain kept active. Also, I have had to tailor my expectations and goals (somewhat) to what he is happy with and we compromise. He is a lovely horse and I did get a resume with him of his time between the trainer and his middle man (who still owns him) so he's not mine. He has dislodged me once but that was him getting carried away and scared himself and he was very subdued and polite after I parted company with him. Might be my imagination, but he has pulled no such stunts since *touch wood* I blame the stupid cows that were chasing him in their field and him panicking. I'm quite stickable - it was the last leap that finished me off! He has had loads of opportunities since to finish the job off and hasn't. I have since heard that he was a bit of a King about things and another friend in the job did say 'I didn't think she wanted a sharp one...' I love him totally for who he is, have never regretted getting him or the time he's taking to fill some pretty big boots. He is super patient and the easiest one to do. I am also quite ancient for this sort of departure from schoolmaster types!

 

[Emi and Theseus]

Total and utter nonsense! Yes they are far more intelligent than the majority of breeds and yes you need to know what your getting into but 99% of racehorses have far more manners than any normal horses - on the ground and under saddle. You won't hit the deck a lot unless you are a complete and utter muppet. I can count on 2 hands how many times I have fallen off at work in 17 years and I have never once come off of any I have taken home from work. Of course they have been taught to stop! Do you think we just gallop them til they get bored and stop themselves!!???!!!???!?!? No they just have a different education to any other horse. It is a bit back to front. When we want them to pick up the bit and the pace to work and gallop on we shorten our reins and take a hold of their mouths (in a sense) we want to steady up we loosen our hold and talk to the horse.

OP If you want to show jump then you would probably be better getting a flat horse as they have never been taught to jump so can be taught to show jump rather than the long, low hurdling or winging over chase fences National Hunt horses do.

Most racehorses are great in traffic and to do most things with as theyhave seen and done so much in life. You also won't need to spend £3k on one straight out of training. But I would suggest that you look into how they are trained and why so you can begin to understand how to retrain them.

Ok thank you. This was very helpful

 

[Emi and Theseus]

There are lots of examples of ex racehorses going on to event at a high level. There are no recent examples of ex racehorses going on to become successful pure showjumpers (although believe this used to happen more back before the dominance of continental warmbloods). You won't turn an ex racehorse into a decent showjumper as a quick turnaround project. My super horse (chestnut in sig) is an ex racehorse, but it has taken 6 years to get him to the point of jumping at Novice/2** BE and he has now won a little bit of money at Newcomers BS as well. But that's not really a spectacular SJ career!

There are also less and less racing people willing to sell them as 'projects'. For good or for bad (and on balance, I think it is bad) most will only sell to homes promising to be 'for life'.

I am just looking for a horse that I can bring on and do some unaffiliated show jumping classes with. I am not really competitive

 

[MummyEms]

I've had a fair few ex racehorses . All have been very kind and gentle to handle and do. All have been forward going sensitive rides (my favourite).
All loved hacking and jumping.
However that's where the similarities end. They were all total individuals just like all horses across the breeds are. Some brave, some not so much, some careful, some not, some bombproof on heavy traffic, others not.
My current horse is an ottb. She's so so light and floaty, so supple and jumps like a graceful cat!!! Such a pleasure. Vets all comment she doesn't seem like an ex racehorse in many ways. However she is fine and sensitive and needs extra care with things that might rub / might make her drop weight etc. She's an absolute beautiful horse of a lifetime and I feel so lucky to have her. The lovely thing is she feels lucky to be loved too which is clear to see. They're so kind and grateful.

 

[BronsonNutter]

But be sure you know what your letting yourself in for. They are cheap off the track because they are wired to the moon. You will probably hit the deck a lot and on the ground they won't be dope on a rope so you need to be sure you can handle that. You need to have safe facilities, these haven't been schooled to stop yet.

I've yet to fall off my ex-hurdler, and the ex-sprinter has been 4.5 years since I came off. I was 17 with no arena etc when I got him. Neither have ever ran off with me. Both have perfect manners on the floor (everyone who handles them comments on how good they are). I rode out for a trainer on and off for several years whilst at uni and never came off (not even off the breakers!) and in my experience the vast majority have been lovely well mannered forward thinking horses who want to please. There is the odd 'bad apple' who gives them a bad name, but that's the same with any breed/type.

If you're getting one straight from a trainer it would be worth them having some 'time out' to relax before beginning their retraining. Find yourself a good instructor who *gets* ex-racers (depending on where you are in the country someone here may be able to recommend one, or ask your regional RoR coordinator), and make sure you have lots of time to give them the consistency they need - they will be used to be being ridden 6 days a week and so don't always cope the best with doing nothing monday-friday and then being ridden at the weekend. And have insurance for vets fees! Good luck!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ex-racers can be very talented, know quite a few who have done well as eventers.

But be sure you know what your letting yourself in for. They are cheap off the track because they are wired to the moon. You will probably hit the deck a lot and on the ground they won't be dope on a rope so you need to be sure you can handle that. You need to have safe facilities, these haven't been schooled to stop yet.

Oh gosh! I take it you’ve met the wrong ones! ?

 

[Carrottom]

The only thing I would add is that because their brains are quick, and they are athletic, if they refuse a jump it tends to be easy to come out the side door.