Buying an ex-racerhorse - is it a bad idea?

[Cates123]

Hi all, I'm looking to buy an ex-racehorse and most of my horsey friends are against it as they say it will be a money pit. i've done it before and it was terrible - vets fees constantly and ended up being pts because of ongoing issues that the vet couldn't fix (caveat: the horse was incredibly sweet and a joy to own in terms of personality/handling/riding)! However, I love TBs, enjoy schooling / bringing on young horses and have no particular aspirations for the horse other than to see what it enjoys and try and get better at that, preferably in a competition environment. Mostly, I think that this is a vulnerable group of horses that need people to provide homes and suitable training so they can have a second career and I don't want a 'finished' horse. I feel quite strongly about this - i have the time, experience and support to take one on - but am I being too stubborn about this? I don't want a horse i can never ride and the emotional turmoil of an ill animal on my hands again.....

Are ex-racers really ALWAYS injured / ill? Does anyone have an ex-racer that has been fine?? i'm just beginning to question my choice as everyone seems so set against it!

 

[ycbm]

I might be the wrong person to ask


For all your reasons I'm picking up mine on Tuesday. Ask me again in a weeks time

I will say, though, this is the first horse I've insured in 20 years

 

[Barton Bounty]

No they aren’t…. But they do need extra care taken on them and with them. If I listened to half the people telling me , you dont need a rug today. Your horse is too soft blah blah blah…just put your horse in with mine, they might have a few kicks and that will be it then there is no doubt about it he most probably would be a money pit. I treat my horse like a king.. he behaves like a king and he looks like a king.
Sure we have had the vet for an anaphylactic shock from a wasp sting, colic and a cut from a fence but he had not been a money pit

 

[TheMule]

I’ve never had one that can’t live out quite happily, minimal rugging, often unshod behind if not quite in front (years of being shod badly, not inherently bad feet)
Racing is quite punishing on the body and I wouldn’t go into it expecting a horse that will necessarily stay sound working hard into old age. But then, that’s horses, some are lucky, some aren’t.
Buy good basic conformation and from a yard that does them properly (turn out, hacking)

Pic below of my current star alongside his mate who was bought out the same field at the race yard. Fat and happy on just grass, having not worn more than 100g all winter. He has seen the vet once in a year (teeth and vaccines) and only needed the farrier twice (self-trims with sensible hacking)

 

[Arzada]

Pic below of my current star alongside his mate who was bought out the same field at the race yard.

Lovely story and photo. Are they both your horses TM?

 

[TheMule]

Lovely story and photo. Are they both your horses TM?

No- went to look at mine with a friend and she ended up buying his field buddy!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

No not all exracers are injured or ill.

We have a 3yo for sale who ran once as a 2yo. Totally useless at that job. Has been out for the winter to mature with the intention of running again but the owner has other, better horses so he is for sale out of racing. Nothing wrong with him at all just too slow for racing.

We have a couple of older horses too who have retired after longer careers with no injuries. They have just lost the love for racing.

We have a lovely mare who would simply love a person of her own but has had virtually no interest. Yes she did a minor tendon injury a year ago but she has had all the time off she needs and could crack on with work now. We would race her again but she isn't good enough to warrant it.

They aren't all money pits.

I took Gray home with a major tendon injury. I scanned it to know exactly what I was dealing with when I agreed to take him (a 100% rupture of SDFT) and after that he did not cost me a penny in vets fees out of routine until the day I pts 11 years later.

Jeff I took home sound as an 11yo. As a 13yo he did a hind limb SDFT round his fetlock buggering about in the field. So that was a scan. A few years later he cut his chest and needed stitches and antibiotics. So in total he probably cost me £1500 outside of routine in 14 years. But I am quite happy to deal with a lot of stuff myself so don't need vets out everyday for things.

Kyle choked randomly once. Then nothing else in 8 years until a catastrophic field injury claimed him.

I don't Molly coddle mine. They live out in summer, in at night in winter. They live with others of various genders and sizes. I just treat them like the native ponies and they are grand.

 

[doodle]

My warmblood has cost more in vet bills than my exracer. He is just as delicate and precious. I did quite quickly work out that if exracer had a tiny cut he needed a BIG bandage on for a day or 2 to stop it turning into a vet bill.

 

[ycbm]

We have a lovely mare who would simply love a person of her own but has had virtually no interest. Yes she did a minor tendon injury a year ago but she has had all the time off she needs and could crack on with work now.

I know you know exactly what you are doing with rehoming, but your issue with her with the market right at the moment might be that in the last few weeks I've been offered 3 horses from 2 trainers which had injuries which have been rested but no other rehab work done, for free.
.

 

[ycbm]

My warmblood has cost more in vet bills than my exracer. He is just as delicate and precious. I did quite quickly work out that if exracer had a tiny cut he needed a BIG bandage on for a day or 2 to stop it turning into a vet bill.

I certainly had more trouble with my warmbloods than any of my TB's except the last one, whose neck was riddled with arthritis. I'm pretty sure I wasn't told the truth about his scars when I bought him.
.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I know you know exactly what you are doing with rehoming, but your issue with her with the market right at the moment might be that in the last few weeks I've been offered 3 horses from 2 trainers which had injuries which have been rested but no other rehab work done, for free.
.

Nope. A proper price tag puts off all the idiots who think "woohoo free horse! I'll take that regardless of whether I can actually deal with it or not!" So it cuts down my workload of sifting out those people as they never message. She is also a mare which doesn't help.

 

[asmp]

Was talking today to a lady who has a 29 year old TB (who went around at Aintree) at home. Yes he’s retired but that’s a great age.

 

[ycbm]

Nope. A proper price tag puts off all the idiots who think "woohoo free horse! I'll take that regardless of whether I can actually deal with it or not!" So it cuts down my workload of sifting out those people as they never message. She is also a mare which doesn't help.

Fair enough, must be something else stopping her selling then.

 

[Flame_]

Get an arabian ex-race horse

 

[doodle]

I certainly had more trouble with my warmbloods than any of my TB's except the last one, whose neck was riddled with arthritis. I'm pretty sure I wasn't told the truth about his scars when I bought him.
.

It’s just to show the stereotypes are wrong. My wb “should” be hardy and thick. (The instructor who called him a dumb blood and would be useless). He shouldn’t be as athletic as he is. In fact he is much sharper and coddled than the ex racer.

 

[toppedoff]

you'll find within the mix of ex racers that some are described as too slow or just not interested, though i would always suggest to buy from a trainer directly so you know all info + a trainer would be more than happy to match up one for you too in most cases.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Get an arabian ex-race horse

I had a friend years ago who took one on to school and produce for ridden showing for someone, he was the most beautiful stallion and very well mannered easy on the ground didn't take her long to get him schooling really nicely, I went with her to a low key local show and he was a complete lunatic totally lost the plot I hink he just though yippee race time.

We ended up lunging him and just walking him round he did settle a bit and she did get on him for a bit but he was so full of himself, we did continue to go to arena hire and very quiet low key shows and he did get better but it took a whole season.

Following year she did manage to get him to a few really good shows and he did really well, the people then moved away so she didn't get the chance to ride him anymore.

My friend did say he was one of the most challenging horses she had ever encountered at a show and she was no amateur had competed at Hoys all her life.

There was a nice French bred liver chestnut Arab stallion that had raced on Arabian lines a while back he looked a really nice sort of Arab.

 

[McGrools]

Hi all, I'm looking to buy an ex-racehorse and most of my horsey friends are against it as they say it will be a money pit. i've done it before and it was terrible - vets fees constantly and ended up being pts because of ongoing issues that the vet couldn't fix (caveat: the horse was incredibly sweet and a joy to own in terms of personality/handling/riding)! However, I love TBs, enjoy schooling / bringing on young horses and have no particular aspirations for the horse other than to see what it enjoys and try and get better at that, preferably in a competition environment. Mostly, I think that this is a vulnerable group of horses that need people to provide homes and suitable training so they can have a second career and I don't want a 'finished' horse. I feel quite strongly about this - i have the time, experience and support to take one on - but am I being too stubborn about this? I don't want a horse i can never ride and the emotional turmoil of an ill animal on my hands again.....

Are ex-racers really ALWAYS injured / ill? Does anyone have an ex-racer that has been fine?? i'm just beginning to question my choice as everyone seems so set against it!

I have an absolute cracker of an ex racer. Horse of a lifetime. You need to be fussy to get a sound and tough one but when you get the right one there is nothing that can surpass it!
And i believe having the right set up is important. Plenty of turnout mainly.

I love them, the ability and power and trainability is second to none

 

[J_sarahd]

I bought my first ex racehorse just 11 months ago and it’s been a shock to the system at times but I genuinely would have another one. She’s the softest horse on the yard. She is treated the same as all the others - out in summer, in at night in winter and I try not to rug her too much so her body doesn’t get too acclimatised to being rugged. She’s sensitive (physically and mentally) and very humbling, but she’s also very trainable, pretty much the least spooky horse on the yard and she is fun.

I can’t comment on the vet bill side of things as I haven’t had her long enough. We’ve had the vet out a couple of times but nothing except ulcers has been found.

 

[Cates123]

Thanks all, have decided to stick with my plan and just hope it works out this time - fingers crossed!

 

[ycbm]

Good luck!

 

[Melody Grey]

Yes, it’s a terrible idea….but life is short!