Ex-race horse retraining yard start-up

[rrua]

I am a rider based in Cheshire looking to set up a business which retrains and furthers the career of ex-racehorses in affiliated eventing, dressage following racing, aimed at owners wanting their horse to have a continued competitive future. I admire and follow the work done by the RoR, and would like to structure my business around similar principles and training techniques, yet keeping it personalised to owners needs and without an emphasis on sales. I am hoping some of you may be able to offer some insight and advice through your experiences.

I wish to provide owners with a service where they can extend and enjoy the career of their horse in a different discipline at affiliated level. I am well aware of the added considerations needed when dealing with thoroughbreds, which further extends to ex-racehorses, through previous experience producing and retraining a number ex racehorses.

Although I do not as yet have a reputation or the results to promote myself through a proven track record, I have numerous experiences and references from working on professional yards, am currently competing at BE100 with my ex-racehorse and am surrounded with professional and international support from trainers to farriers. I always believe it is important to give people a start in life and would hope I may find owners willing to back myself.

My passion in life is horses and through the correct care and training I wish to bring out the best in these animals, and in saying this I would only be willing to take on horses I saw potential in, possessed a trainable and willing attitude and good health, I would aim to start small with potentially 6 horses and aim to get results and build from there.

To my knowledge although the West is a hugely populated equine orientated area with numbers breaking, re-schooling yards I am yet to find a yard that specialises in ex-racers.

My main questions at present would be;
1. Do you think there is a demand for such a venture?
2. Is this something race-horse owners would be willing to fund and require?
3. How much I source such owners?

Thanks.

 

[Flora]

Having had several ex racers through out the years, I find that most people I know that take ex racers on, usually put all the work into the horses themselves as it is a great feeling in achieving every little step forward!
Good luck with your new venture and I hope it does work out for you

 

[Victoria25]

I agree with Flora Im afraid - the people taking them on (especially straight from racing that would need reschooling) are very experinced themselves and probably wouldnt need help reschooling

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

good luck with your new venture. have you got good facilities to retrain them? and a nice place for owners to have coffee etc? you need to get in with all your local racehorse trainers though remember they will want the owner to purchase another horse to stay in training with them not lose an owner and horse into another discipline.