Ex Racehorse potential??

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loverly

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I have finally found a horse I like!! :D

Not at all what i first set out to look at. I ideally wanted a 4 year old warmblood to bring on over the summer - going out and about competing.

BUT have found a gorgeous thorougbred ex-racehorse by Presenting. 16.2hh dark bay, good paces. Seems fairly level headed but lively (which is what I like).

Downside - he's 10 :eek:

He finished racing 2 years ago having done a bit of it all - NH, flat and point to point but never actually getting any decent results. I also know of his previous owner who ptp him so will contact him.
For the last 2 years he's only really been a hack except for x-c schooling twice and a couple of weeks schooling.

He is still very green so he will be like a youngster in that respect and I don't intend to sell him on.

Opinions??? Go for him or keep looking?
 
Reg was 9 when Al got him, and he'd had 18 months off doing nothing from doing NH/ hurdles. He's a superstar and generally a brilliant horse. You can see hundreds of threads by my extolling his virtues because he is truly one of a kind- perfect hack, absolute gentleman and a classy eventer too. He's now 12 (last month was his b'day!) and he's just getting better and better :)
 
I'd go for him but then I am biased towards TB's :D His age wouldn't put me off it the slightest to be honest. He is starting a new life and career and by the sounds of it he didn't have a tough one before in racing.

As to being by Presenting - The ones I have worked with have all been truly lovely horses to work with. Genuine though can be quite unsure and need a bit of reassuring. They are the biggest huggers you will ever meet! Soppy so and so's! As to their ability - the could all jump the moon if you asked them too, careful yet effective. They usually have good bums and decent engines in them too so will give you a great feel on a gallop. Denman is by Presenting.
 
EKW said:
As to being by Presenting - The ones I have worked with have all been truly lovely horses to work with. Genuine though can be quite unsure and need a bit of reassuring. They are the biggest huggers you will ever meet! Soppy so and so's! As to their ability - the could all jump the moon if you asked them too, careful yet effective. They usually have good bums and decent engines in them too so will give you a great feel on a gallop. Denman is by Presenting.
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He was very soppy - constantly mutual grooming and even licking my boots non stop! Sounds like he is definitely a Presenting progeny, so hopefully he will be lovely to work with too!
 
I have an ex-racer, bought off the track last summer, hes a start from scratch job but despite the ocassional one step forward, two steps back he is getting there slowly, love him to bits :) I'd say go for it :D
 
Chilli was nearly 10yrs old when I bought him, he's 14 now. He raced as a 2 & 3yr old then was used for a bit of everything before being back in training & racing one last time aged 8.

He's been a fantastic buy. I've BSJA'd him, done a bit of riding club stuff &, more recently, done a fair bit of dressage. His age hasn't been an issue & he's been a lovely, mannerly, sound horse.

I'd say go for it if you like the horse.
 
I own a 14 year old ex-racer and her age defiantly doesn't get in the way. With TB's they pick things up quickly but they're also very witty so my mare will try and find her way around being schooled.
I think 10 is a perfect age, The only problem with my mare is that she needs a little more TLC with her joints (especially her knees) as she was on a racing yard until 12 which is when I bought her.
But please be sure an ex-racehorse is what you want, I've known quite a few people to sell them due to the lack of commitment for the re-schooling they need.
I say if it's what you really want then go for it, Good luck! :)
 
Another tb fan, I have two, things to look out for are physical problems from racing.. Such as dipped backs, watch how the back muscles move especially in the trot behind the saddle, I only say this because our ex flat racer has a kissing spine & depressed sacrum from constantly galloping. BUT her paces are gorgeous onc you can get her to concentrate.

Both of them take a short hack as a warm up before schooling to get them in the zone and concentrating x
 
Mine is 24 now and still hacks on a daily basis and is as fit as a fiddle. She wasn't the easiest to begin with all these years ago but I have learned loads from her and have had so much fun and she can still be pretty lively. If you look after them there is no reason why they can't go on for a long time.
 
Ginger Bear said:
Such as dipped backs, watch how the back muscles move especially in the trot behind the saddle, I only say this because our ex flat racer has a kissing spine & depressed sacrum from constantly galloping.
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I thoroughly checked his back out (as much as I can) as I lost my previous horse through kissing spine and suspensory damage - so know roughly what to look out for.

He was raced 16 times from a 4 year old - 8 year old which I think isn't too bad!

Glad to hear good stories (as well as the bad) :)
 
Go for it! I too have an ex racer who I bought as an 8 yr old. He's now 10 and has proved very trainable.
When I was horsehunting, I found a gelding by Presenting who had p to p'ed, he was stunning and had the nicest nature. Sadly he failed the vet and I was gutted. Is this horse big dark and handsome too?
 
I've heard really good things about Presenting prodgeny (sp?). Basically, anyone I've come across with a Presenting horse has nothing bad to say about them!
If you like him and he's got good feet, clean legs and is sound then go for it! He hasn't overraced which is a good thing.
My mum got her ex-racer as a 9yr old and he's picked up his new job (dressage) really quickly and he's just a pleasure. :)
 
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