Do Ex-Racers have a lot of health/joint issues?

charleysummer

charleysummer

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Just wondering if buying an ex racehorse is like buying yourself a huge vet bill. it seems that many ex racehorses go on to do very well in jumping and dressage, working at intense levels- but by my horsey knowledge i can't help thinking that intense training as 2yro would cause significant damage to the vital organs like heart and lungs, a big impact on tendons and other joints/connective tissues.
But like i said it seems many go on to be competing and training staying perfectly sound !

Ex racers seem a good way to go for a well bred, well put together horse that are capable of doing a lot in the right hands.

So are racehorses just bred with tendons and hearts of steel? or do they actually get prone to injuries later on in their life.
thanks for reading, just generally interested
 
mine is a pet, but is a walking disaster at time. anything that he can possibly injure himself on he does. on the plus side, he has great hooves so thank god for small mercies!
 
Not all horses start their racing careers at 2yo. It can be argued that those that do have stronger tendons, ligaments and bones as they have grown up strengthening them all of the time. I wouldn't necesarrily say that the joints are a problem, maybe down the line but any normal horse could develop that.

TB's aren't predisposed to injury but they do seem to do themselves a few mischiefs after racing that had nothing to do with their previous career.
 
Some do some don't, I had an 8 year old that was broken at 4 and raced from 5 to 8 and was knackered by 8. Now have an 8 year old that was broken and raced from 2 to 7 ( flat, hurdle, p2p) and is as sound as a pound, as is my 6 year old that raced on the flat at 2 and 3.

Sold a horse 3 years ago to a novice to hack who raced from 2 until 8, he was a little stiff in his hocks but is still happy in his work at 15.

Seen p2p'ers still racing at 15/16 and ex-racehorses eventing in their late teens so all depends on the individual.
 
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