Ex flat racers as competion horses

Firewell

Firewell

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 May 2008
Messages
7,817
Visit site
Hi,

How many of you have ex flat racers that raced as 2 yr olds go on to be happy, healthy competition horses that can cope with eventing?

Horse im casually looking at has raced 29 times
crazy.gif
but has retired sound with totally clean legs, has good straight legs and good feet. Last raced in may 08. Horse is 7 yrs old.

Hes quite expensive for an ex racehorse but he is stunning and has been beautifully re-schooled with nice paces, jump, easy temp ect.

Just not sure if the poor chap has much of a chance with such a hardworking life behind him...

For what I want to spend all the quality, honest, young (ish) horses that are sane with the ability to do what I want are ex racers.
If I go for an irish part bred or something quality thats not tb the price is upwards of 6k or I have to settle for something too average, too old, too young (dont really want a 3yr old!) not quite sound or that some numpty has messed about with
frown.gif


Realistically how many ex racers have turned out to be what you want?

Im not really taking my experience with Vaya into account as she was a freaky purchase in one of those one off fate scenarios and besides she never raced, was broken at 4, treated with kid gloves and still died at 9 *sigh*,
 
Go for it! I love exracers, they seem to falll into 3 camps...

broke down under the strain
too mental to ride
too slow to race

I always go for the last type which are too laid back for racing but perfect for eventing.

I think despite his previous career (29 times it quite alot of races) if he has reschooled well and never broke down during racing it shows he is pretty hardy which is only a good thing. From personal experience I would want to know he was areful SJing but apart from that he sounds lovely, and I would go for flat racers over hurdlers every time as they have never been told to jump like a pancake! eg flat!
 
I agree go for it, I haver an ex-flatracer her is about 17.2hh so far too big for that!! He was rubbish so I now have him to event
smile.gif


He is very bold, never spooks etc as has seen so much already but is obviously very green in 'normal' horse work, ive had him about a year and I reckon I need to work on him for another year before we can start to compete competitively but then I think alot of that is his size as well as his start in life.

here's some pics of him
smile.gif


dougalfirle.jpg


JoshspicsandDougalEHOA020-1.jpg
 
I am not entirely sure you can generalise as so many are so so different. Go & have a look & if at all possible speak to the Lads on the yard where the horse was/is trained they will give you the most honest answer as to the horse's temperament.

We have had some absolutely super horses that have gone on to do other things successfully. I think it perhaps makes a difference, certainly in an older horse, what distance the horse has run over. Sprinters will often be quite strong as they have never been asked to 'settle'.

Dont discount it but do have a full vetting done, old injuries can be hard to spot. What has this horse been doing since May 08?
 
My ex racer ran 5 times on the flat as a 3 year old - proving to be very slow and lazy!! I got him 2 years ago in December with the idea of eventing he is only 6 now but is proving not to be the best at jumping, some days he will some days he wont but I guess this is the attitude he had in racing but on the days he will he shows the most incredible talent, he is fab at dressage though
grin.gif
I am continuing to work on the jumping with showjumping all winter and clinics with the hope of cracking it, although have recently found out from his trainer that he was the quirkiest horse he has ever trained.

Touch wood no problems with him apart from the odd pulled shoe, and he is still bum high, hoping he will fill out I have read that Cape Cross's are late to mature
confused.gif
I think he will turn out to be what I want, but by no means quickly, we may get to do an intro when he is 20 and has loads of confidence!!!
I got him for the same reason that you are looking at one, didnt have the money to buy something I could event straight away after the sad loss of my fab mare, also wasnt to keen on taking on someone else's problems so ended up with him, but I cant fault him in any way temperament wise, he is more sane than my mare ever was!!!
 
I think ex-racers can make brill competition horses, and can be a good solution if you want a nice horse and can't afford big bucks. I would take a look at his race history - were there any long gaps, and if so try to find out why, as this can be a sign that he's had an injury of some sort. I would also get a very thorough vetting - full five stage with scans and x-rays. I nearly bought a gorgoues 5 year old ex-racer last year, but being paranoid about tendons I got them scanned as part of the vetting and he failed on that, even though he was eventing with no apparent problems.
 
Well there are thousands ex flat racers out there that make good competition horses, all over the world- where else would they all go once they werent good enough for racing?

William Fox Pitt's Stunning raced something like 60 times on the flat and over fences from a 2 year old and he excelled at advanced level eventing/3 star level- think he was on the european team a few times. I am sure that there were many other successfull flat racers, I think that gorgeous grey Courageous Comet who was ridden by a USA rider at the Olympics was an ex flat.

Having said all that- you do have to go into this with your eyes wide open and choose careffully. I've had two flat racers, both raced at 2- both absolutely beautifull, stunning and talented - but both never made it as competition horses due to being absolutely wrecked by their respective ( top) trainers when they were 2 year olds...

It is just luck of the draw. Some of them are forever severley phyiscally damaged and will never stay sound and healthy enough to do the job as a competition horse, even if , from the outset- they look 'ok' .Others are just amazingly tough from day one and always stay tough and sound for the job. It depends wether they've had it lucky when theyve been in training.

Personally- I will always go for National Hunt bred/started horses from now on, as I know that they will have had much longer to mature and more often than not wont have been so hammered like these blessed top flat trainers love to do to them. :-(
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have read that Cape Cross's are late to mature
confused.gif
I think he will turn out to be what I want, but by no means quickly, we may get to do an intro when he is 20 and has loads of confidence!!!
I got him for the same reason that you are looking at one, didnt have the money to buy something I could event straight away after the sad loss of my fab mare, also wasnt to keen on taking on someone else's problems so ended up with him, but I cant fault him in any way temperament wise, he is more sane than my mare ever was!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Cape Crosses shouldnt be late to mature- he is the sire of both Sea the Stars and Ouija Board- both outstanding at 2 and 3 years old
confused.gif
Anyway, that should be where he got his good temperment from!
smile.gif
 
Hello, thanks so much, I love hearing these stories
smile.gif


This particular horse ran 29 times over 4 years with no gaps.. he ran 4 times when he was 2..., 9 times when he was 3.. 10 times when he was 4 then it started to tail off and he ran 5 times when he was 5 and just once when he was 6 when he came near the back.. but I suppose hes an old man in flat racing at 6 yrs!
It looks as though hes been pretty hammered to me but then he retired sound so also shows what a tough nut he is. He was a pretty average but consistent racehorse at the lower level of racing, won once but was usually in the top half and has quite a few 2nd and 3rds. He was owned by his trainer and ive never heard of her name and nothing comes up on google.

Im probably better off finding one with a little less milage but quite like the fact hes proved him self to be a useful and sound horse and hes very wordly wise, also quite nice that he was tarined by the person who owned him and hes certainly been spruced up now so im hoping he was loved. We'll see, I havent asked the question yet of what hes been doing for the past year and a half!

I would def get a very thorough vetting on any horse I buy.. have been through the heartache of buying a lame horse before...

H-J your horse is really stunning, he doesnt look like a flat racer bless him! Id better not let my mum see his picture, hes just her type!
 
I'd go along with those who say if he's raced 29 times and retired sound with no major unaccounted-for gaps in his record (I presume the time since he retired has been spent re-schooling rather than recovering from some injury?) I'd take it as a sign he is as tough as old boots and should stand up to comeptition
smile.gif
Obviously go for a full vetting though...
 
My horse raced on the flat at 2 and 3 years and came to me at the end of his 3rd year. He is now 8 and competing consistantly at BE Novice level.

I think if a horse has stood up well to the rigours of training it is a good sign as to how they will cope with a future work load. Although, wear and tear in the long term is obviously a consideration.

Who is the sire of the horse you are looking at (just interested as I work in the Racing industry)?
 
Exactly thats why I was like :confused i am trying to remember where I found it
Do you have any tips for the jumping apart from what I am doing already - the last resort is hunting next year towards the end of the season
 
Some of them ( well I guess like all horses really) are just really naughty like that, they just have that ' I just dont want to know!' temperment! All I can suggest is lots of loose jumping over grids and definately loads of hunting over some good hunting country.
 
I've only had ex-racers. First I got when I was 15, my current I got for my 17th birthday. They can make really excellent competition horses, IMO.

Mine raced until he was 4 and a half..he was in the 'too slow' category. My other one was in the 'too mental' category. Pics of both of them..

The chestnut is my current horse, I've had him a year and a half now. He has his silly days (has a bit of a tendency to rear and spin) and was green green green off the track. But he's turning out to be a nice little all rounder
smile.gif
He just needs more exposure now, as shows sometimes send him into race mode. Don't have any recent confo shots.

Him juping 1.20m free..first time
[image]
jumpleft.jpg
[/image]

At a dressage show
[image]
Trotcharvid.jpg
[/image]



This one, the bay is my old horse. He was taken off the track because jockeys refused to ride him cuz he was always throwing them..apparently he ran very well, but sometimes got bored and would turn and go the wrong way. He would have made a super jumper, but he was just a bit spooky..and only 15.2hh. As it was, I worked with him for a year, and he did well but he had to be put to sleep due to colic.

[image]
Murphytrot-Copy.jpg
[/image]
 
One of mine is an ex flat racehorse - raced 11 times, played 7 years of medium goal polo and still (touch wood) got extremely clean legs. He is a toughie though but that's what you want. He events and hunts a bit now - maybe not the bravest but such a little trier and so trainable, having never jumped or been schooled before last year. Here he is, my pride and joy
smile.gif


pip_29_05_04.jpg


kat8.jpg


jumping4.jpg


IMG_3852.jpg


If I have any advice, I would say try and speak to someone who has known the horse a long time. I bought mine because I knew him well, I knew he had always been sound, I knew how tough he was and I knew he was a total gent. Word of mouth is the best way to find a good horse.
 
I have an ex flat racer, she is a darling, raced 8 time, just proved too slow, came out of racing sound, she's coming along nicely and hopefully will event her toward the middle end of next season. I orignally bought her to sell on, but she turned out to be too nice a horse to sell, so she's stopped with me. I've had a few nice days hunting with the local bloodhounds with her and it's so so nice to have a horse that doesn't pull you. Her jumping is coming along, little green but she's getting the idea....here's some pictures of her.... Spur of Gold
 
Be aware that if you buy, or get given, a racehorse, you must now by law register as the owner with Weatherbys. Forms can be downloaded from their website and it costs £11.50. Talking from the trainers point of view, this should be enforced by them anyway, but it safe guards them from having to take the blame should it be found neglected a few years down the line - which sadly so often happens
frown.gif
.
 
Oooo I didnt know that VJM. I must admit I never updated Vayas wetherbys passport when I got her, even when I registered her BSJA I never bothered. Oops!
My racer wont be neglected (obviously ha ha!) but I will do that, dont want to be breaking the law!! Thanks
 
I got my ex-racer two and a half years ago as a just-turned-4 year old. He'd raced about 11 times on the flat as a 3yo, but was far too slow. He was sound when I got him, with clean legs and good feet. I had a perfect year with him where he showed great promise of being the competition horse I wanted - super trainable attitude, plenty of jump - bold but not silly, rhythmical and correct but not flashy paces. Then he went lame again and again and again. He's been back in work 3 times since July 2008, but is now not expected to compete again - although he may be a light hack.

I probably wouldn't go for an ex-racer again due to the soundness problems, although as a horse I think he's fantastic and I think with a better rider than me he would have had a lot of potential to be a top-class all rounder. Perhaps not a 4* horse though!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I got my ex-racer two and a half years ago as a just-turned-4 year old. He'd raced about 11 times on the flat as a 3yo, but was far too slow. He was sound when I got him, with clean legs and good feet. I had a perfect year with him where he showed great promise of being the competition horse I wanted - super trainable attitude, plenty of jump - bold but not silly, rhythmical and correct but not flashy paces. Then he went lame again and again and again. He's been back in work 3 times since July 2008, but is now not expected to compete again - although he may be a light hack.

I probably wouldn't go for an ex-racer again due to the soundness problems, although as a horse I think he's fantastic and I think with a better rider than me he would have had a lot of potential to be a top-class all rounder. Perhaps not a 4* horse though!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a very sad story - hard luck
frown.gif
However, I still wouldn't necessarily be put off ex-racers as there are plenty of sound ones, and also plenty of horses that go lame like yours without being from a racing background...
 
[ QUOTE ]

That's a very sad story - hard luck
frown.gif
However, I still wouldn't necessarily be put off ex-racers as there are plenty of sound ones, and also plenty of horses that go lame like yours without being from a racing background...

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree - I just mean that I personally probably wouldn't more out of superstition that anything else. I know plenty of sound ex-racers (none of them as nice as Ron though
laugh.gif
but I am biased).
 
I had a ex flat racer, he had OCD in his stifles and was F***** but bless him he never showed me how much pain he was in!

I would make sure your not buying from the field as thats what I did and if he had of been in work the vet would have picked it up!

After 3yrs he had to PTS because of it and I would never touch another tb because of it!

But some people have lots of luck!!!
 
I have had 2 (on my 3rd now) both of the other 2 have been fab. 1 was a bit doolally but went up to Int level BE before she became a bit to tricky to ride at home and I couldnt be doing with her anymore. She never had a day of lameness at all, she ran 5 times on flat as a 2yo. She was sold back to her breeder who promised to keep her, she didnt, sold her to someone who thought they had just brought a 4* horse, I ended up buying her back for £1 to stop them putting her to sleep. She now lives out with some tree huggers at one with nature!

My other was also happy and healthy and went up to pre nov and medium level dressage. She did develop a heart murmur when she was 10 and so went off to be a mum (in my sig)

Not sure about the new one, she ran twice on the flat, I have only had her 3 weeks so we shall see...


My friend had one who was a nightmare, he was only 6 but his hocks were pretty much buggered, it was something unusual which took the animal health trust alot of time to find, they tried treating him to no avail so had to be pts
frown.gif
 
I had an ex racer.He raced from three in hurdles, then national hunt. I bought him as an 11 year old and he pointed for another 3 years, he then team chased, and hunted with me. At 20 he got artritis and went to a gentleman as a light hack. He never had a days lameness and never fell!! He is now 24 and ridden once a week
 
I have an 8 year old american tb who has been sooo frustrating at times but is looking like he wil be worth it
smile.gif
First year was a nightmare - thought I was doing the right thing by turning him away to have a bit of horsey time but instead he used this to try and kill himself and our vets bill in the first year ran to nearly £5k. My vet told me to put him back into hard regular work and touch wood has been sound ever since. He has taken me over my first 1.20 jump, we have learnt flying changes together and have qualified for the ex racers club championships and hopefully trailblazers as of next weekend. Would have another one in a heartbeat !
smile.gif
 
My Ex-Flat racer ran 45 times non stop between the ages of 2 and 6, winning 6 times and earning over £50,000. He was then re-trained up to advanced medium dressage at Fry's in Yorkshire before coming to me! We have been unbeaten at BD elementary and have been to BD Regional and BRYDS championships. He is such a lovely boy, a great hack too and I will never part with him! <3 He is a pretty usless jumper(charges and knocks tham flat) but I only do dressage, he does HATE mud though so not built for hunting or eventing! Amazing dressage horse who has really set my career into motion! LOVE THE EX-RACERS!!

img0292.jpg


<3 ,3
 
My horse in the siggie is an exracer who has amazing talent at all disciplines - he raced about 15 times in all starting when he was 2 - he at the mo is on a break due to a stress fracture of a cannon bone and a dodgy suspensory scan - in all fairness he probably always has been 1/10 on a left circle on hard ground or certainly intermittently lame - i would defenately buy one again but would be wary of something that had done too much as a 2 year old - But they are certainly rewarding mind you i wouldnt pay more than £2500 and that would have to be very special !!

Sharon xx
 
I have an ex flat horse that raced from 2 years old until he was 7 when I bought him. He is utterly beautiful and goes well on the flat but is quite tricky at times and not keen at all on sj! He is incredibly accident/injury prone and has been off more than he has been in work!! Having said there are ex-racehorses that are more than worth a punt - I just wouldn't buy one with a lot of mileage again. He is an incredible athlete though and I am quite sure that with a different start in life he would have made a cracking event horse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top