ex racehorse for hunting/teamchasing

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Clarebear*

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hi i am interested in getting an ex racehorse, which i would like to hunt, team chase and do rc activities on and would like to have a go at eventing. How many of you hunt ex racehorses? and how would you go about choosing an ex racehorse with my aims in mind, what are the best preparations for hunting an ex racer and how did you go about it? also would you recommend a jump racer or flat racer with my aims in mind?
Thankyou :)
 
I have an ex-racer, he used to hunt. And was very good at it, he is ex p2p so jumping hedges was his forte!
Saying that, I also had an ex-flat horse who was an amazing jumper.

It depends on the horse, the p2per didn't do SJ... he liked to take everything at a gallop and dangled his legs. Sometimes getting a flat racer means you can teach them to jump properly.
 
Just for that sort of thing, I'd go for an older pointer (so 8/9)- they'll have hunted a fair few times and will be a bit more experienced, and will have seen the world.
 
An ex racehorse doesn't automatically make a good event/hunt/RC horse. Agree an older p2p would at least have been out, then balance it up against wear and tear. If looking at an ex racehorse I would look at it as if you would any other young untried horse. I bought 2 ex racers, terrific fun but neither made eventers.
 
I would say the right would would be perfect for what you want but at the same time the wrong would could be a diaster! Personally I would go for an older chaser or p2per that is a chunkier type. Pedigree is not the bee all and end all my current horse is by a stallion who has a shocking stud record and not a much better race record yet my boy would be ideal for what you are looking for, similarly the horses race record is pretty much irrelevant as long as they are constantly pulled up and are handling a decent distance then you should be fine. Good luck TB/exracers are very rewarding, I am on my 3rd and I can't imagine owning a different breed :D
 
If you're looking predominantly for a hunter/team chaser, i'd look for a horse between 8 & 12yo, that has run over fences without hitting the deck, something that doesn't always get the trip, or never quite stays consistently all season,

My hunter (was eventer) was a racehorse, and is a wonderful hunter, his form over fences was mixed, he'd win, then spend the rest of each season pulling up! But he absolutely loves hunting, he evented a bit, but couldn't stand the hard ground, that's the down side to having raced!

I've hunted lots of them over the years, & the worst was actually one that had been second in a hunter chase, couldn't jump his way out of a paper bag!

If you can watch any footage of them before you buy, it's well worth it, just to see if they hang left or right, front run, and whether they are particularly error prone

Flat bred horses are a different ball game, mainly because they usually haven't left the ground, so if you we're looking for one for this season, I'd buy a chaser, (I'd buy a chaser anyway.... Proper racehorses!)
 
I'd look up Victoria Baxter eventing as she only deals with ex racers and will have lots of contacts and may already know of some suitable ones
 
I have a super little horse here, flat bred, winner on the flat and jumped hurdles too. He's a confidential hunter, stands, walks, and is a pleasure in a snaffle. He also has an amazing clean jump over anything. I think it depends a bit on the pedigree and temperament.
 
I was given an ptp (hurdled as a 4&5year old) 2 weeks ago. Raced last month. I've just come back from Wales and West bsja 5 day show and my goodness Im smiling from ear to ear!

Behaved impeccably well, took her into the warm ups (didn't compete though), hacked around and generally seeing the showjumping scene!

Would definitely agree with others on here. An older ptp horse would be ideal - mine is 8.
 
Thankyou everyone, very usefull advice, one more question would you reccomend geldings over mares for what i want to do? its just the ex racer mares i know all seem to be quite quirky ( but don't know whether half of that is rider error ;) )
 
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