ex-racehorse search begins...

madhector

madhector

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soon to be up north!
www.darlingdressage.co.uk
ok, now i have sold the crazy mare, i am going to start looking for a nice little ex-racer, i have a grand total of £1800 to spend, but hopefully wont need all of it, was thinking of contacting a couple of racing yards locally, do you think this is a good idea? not sure how likely it is that they will have anything, dont want to take on anything that has retired due to injury, just something young that didnt have much talent as a racehorse, how much do you guys think i will have to spend?

also i was wondering about vetting and think will maybe get front legs x rayed, is this wise or not nessesary?
any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance
 
I have a contact who has connections in the racing industry and buys horses suitable to retrain as racehorses. I trust this contact's knowledge.
To buy a racehorse with good basic conformation, the right attitude and no known medical problems or vices she says you need £2 K for a gelding and £1.5K for a mare.
There are of course many horses off the track than can be bought considerably cheaper but there is usually an 'if or a but' somewhere.
 
Have you got time to help out an a race yard? might be a way of being there to catch something when it becomes available.....(and know something about it!) Deffo contact local yards as this is what a firend of mine did and she ended-up with quite a nice one for about 500 quid (few years ago). Much better option than going to sales although I know of decent horses that have come from places like Doncaster.

Not sure about vetting - depends on value of the horse/what you want to do/if you want to sell it on/your experience....presume you mean x-raying for athritis/navicular?
 
will do, thanks
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LOL .. just re-read what I wrote, I meant suitable to retrain as eventers!
You should find something for £1800, just don't be tempted to go for something because its cheaper, there is usually a reason why!
 
Would definitely be cautious, and see as much as you can of any potential purchase, movement in all the paces, and you can often track down videos of any horse you are considering on the racetrack, I think the company's name is Racetech??? Find out if the horse has had any falls on the track - this is SOOO important, as it can lead to long-term injury that only emerges during schooling. I speak with much sadness from experience, as we are at the point of having to make a very,very difficult decision on our ex-racehorse who has developed pain and unsoundness under saddle. We have gone as far as we can with the local vets, and the alternatives are, basically, offer him as a companion (and we all know what happens to most TBs in that situation, they're the hatracks that we see neglected in fields) or subject him to endless further tests, and having to travel some distance to the nearest equine hospital with sufficiently powerful scan and testing kit. He was very unhappy and anxious when he was in training, so at least we have given him 2 years of real content and happiness .... but the general opinion seems to be that he suffered an injury to the spine or pelvis as a result of a fall.
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thanks for the advice, sorry youve had such a difficult time with yours, i have one already that had problems with his pelvis, the vet thinks it was an old fracture that has left him with muscle wastage, hes ok at the moment but you never can tell with him, how old was your when you got him? i hope to get something around 3/4 that just had no talent, found a lovely little chestnut that hadnt even raced but too far away unfortuently
 
I bought an ex-racer out of Doncaster last May - he is absolutely lovely (and has no history of injury problems that I know about). We paid slightly more than your budget above (but not very much more).

I would echo the comment above - it is certainly possible to get very cheap (and free) horses out of racing, but you need to look closely at the reasons why they are being sold.

In my experience a lot of racehorse trainers who know little about other disciplines see anything that has failed on the track as a potential eventer!!
 
found this one...
CHESTNUT GELDING 5YRS,
TB, 15.3hh, nice looking, good conformation, very easy to do, nice paces, good to box, shoe etc. green flatwork but eager and willing to learn, quiet hack, started jumping, no vices

just come out of training, and been doing basic lunge work, and a little hacking, had a lovely chat with the woman thats selling him on behalf of trainer, and she thinks hes got real potential so going to go and have a look at him tomorrow, any questions to ask appreciated
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Good way to go! I love them, they're always more balanced to ride, if its been jump racing it will probably jump from any spot even if you get it wrong and they aren't all fruitloops like people think!

As for looking Malvern/Ascot/Doncaster -get there mega early so you can see who comes of the lorry bandaged up to the nines and who's hosing tight ice off! Don't believe what you're told and go with your gut instinct!

Vicijp/other trainers....ex-racers forum..hmm can't think of anywhere else!
 
We paid £2200 for Biggles - and he does crib bite - and I think we overpiad - but he's been such a good buy for us. He is so affectionate and very safe. My 16 year old hacks out on him all the time. When they stop at the house and he sees me when I open the door- he tries to come up the steps to see me. He is learning all the time and we love him.

I hope you find the right horse for you!

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