Ex-racehorses

What should I rename The Barn?

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exracehorses

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Hello HHO,

I am currently doing some research into ex-racehorses going on to second careers, and I'd be really grateful if you could answer the below poll. Also, if you would be willing to share your experiences of owning or riding an ex-racehorse, I'd really like to hear from you — even if it's just a sentence or so! Please email exracehorses@googlemail.com with your stories.

Many thanks
 
I used to ride an ex-racer, he was the most genuine horse I've ever had the pleasure to ride, and such a gentleman. Never put a hoof wrong and always tried hard to please.
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I have two, a four year old and a 2 year old.

I have had 2 previously as projects as I used to work in a racing yard before early mornings got the better of me and keep in touch and they know I know what I am doing with regards to care (not so much riding, I am not pretty but can ride tbs)
The one I have now is out of a group one winner, he was a bit slow but he was the best thing that ever happened to me, and brought me out of a very big depression. I will never sell him, he is an absolute gem and one of the nicest horses I have met. He lives out but is in a medium turnout at night as they temd to be wimps of the highest order.
I think ex racers have stinking reputations but most are completely misunderstood. People fail to recognise quite how high the workload/level of training they have is, don't bring them down properly and feed them the wrong stuff. I have found that hard work and lots of good quality hard feed (three times a day) = very happy ex - racehorse. By hard work I mean consistent, solid work. I also think they are the warriors of the horse world, athletic and an amazing breed. They are just not fashionable at the moment, which is a shame. I think it is mostly because people don't understand them and some don't have the experience to look after them so blame it on the horse.
My baby has been out of racing 3 months and is competing affiliated dressage already, He is also going to hunt all season. My last ex racer is now eventing at intermediate level. I had another one which now hunts and looks as big as your average chunky warmblood. The 2 year old is in the field, I am fortunate enough to have my own yard so she costs me nothing she just keeps my brood mare company.
 
I put 'I might consider it'. The reason for my response is due to the fact I have always had natives so wouldn't consider myself experienced enough to own a TB. I only really want to hack and do RC activities so I'd feel this wouldn't be enough work for a TB.

However, my friend (DraytonsBarney) does the same activities as me and her ex NH TB is perfectly sane and happy. The other reason I am a little unsure of them is because most ex racers I know seem to have a lot of lameness issues.
 
I have just got my first, and am thoroughly enjoying him. When I was looking at him, I did wonder what I was letting myself in for, i.e. was I going to struggle with him out hacking etc, and I have ridden all my life and have ridden some absolute sh*ts, but it still crossed my mind! That said, yes he is a sharp ride, but nothing at all I cant handle, I have ridden A LOT worse that were supposedly 'normal' horses, and he is remarkably easy to suss out and very easy to work with.

He likes to work, he isn't any worse for not being ridden for a couple of days, but he enjoys going out and about and using his brain. The schooling has a long way to come, but I work on things out on a hack, on sunday I taught him to move off my leg. So any resemblance to leg yeild is a long way off, but by the end of our hour hack he was moving nicely off of my leg in both directions. He is also a super duper gate opener too now, first attempt at a gate I couldn't get him anywhere near it, but with patience and a little bit of being firm he is now brilliant! I cant be doing with getting off any horse to open a gate!!

He is no different to any youngster really....I am looking forward to the future with him, just hope I dont have any lameness issues, something I am uber paranoid about!
 
iv had mine 3 years now and hes now 11 with the mind of a 3 year old
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still love him though. wouldnt change him for the world!!
 
I have owned by first ex-racer (in sig) for the past year and a half. When I was searching for another horse I wasn't looking for a TB let alone an ex-racer. However I came across him and he is the most genuine horse I have ever come across. He is very forgiving and will always try his heart out.
He really enjoys his work but copes just as well having a few days off.
I felt he was ideal for me as he we still a youngster in his head but had all the basics done with him and had more experence of ridden work than a just backed horse.
He has taught me so much in such a short space of time, I am more understanding of riding and how I ride now because of him. I really would consider having another one as him along with others I have met and ridden since buying him have been amazing animals, couldn't rate them highly enough.
 
I brought my ex flat winner only 2 months ago - and his only fault is he is too perfect. He show jumps, cross countries and works in outline and does some cracking dressage tests. He has just had two weeks off after a very nasty kick and was an angle to treat and even held his "poorley" up for me to see to. He walks to me in the field, he hacks out alone and in company - he gallops yet is soooo stopable its untrue. He is an absolute gem, he trailers and boxes and shoes - dont know about clipping yet - but hey he can be forgiven that.

He is one of the most genuine, eager to please, inquesitive little beastie you could ever wish to own
 
Oh forgot to add - he is the most sensitive horse i have ever ridden - so would not suit everyone. If you think about thinking about someting i.e. canter, halt etc it happens! but if you use too much leg he squirms everywhere
 
i have an exracehorse and he is really quiet to hack out and completely bombproof, he has just gone out on loan and is getting schooled onto compete at a bit of everything but he use to race on the flat and isn't the best jumper in the world
 
I've answered Yes- i have owned an ex-racehorse - which isnt technically true - i had one on loan. He was a grumpy bugger, but got my confidence back after having my old girl pts. when he arrived he wasnt very fit and seemed to be a dope on a rope, but as he got fitter, he was more and more difficult - although when he wanted to he could do a lovely dressage test (just jumping was a big problem!) however he was 100% on the roads and not at all spooky)
 
I've answered I would consider it , because having looked on HorseQuest under their "Ex-race horse" section - I've fallen head over heels with some of them!
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Thank you jesterfaerie - he is a super star - is very jealous though - which does not help when he takes on my 17hh warmblood on for "baggsies ime out the gate first" (lol) - he is only 15.2 but such a sparkey little chap.
 
Yes. I bought my first one last year. I wouldn't have bothered to go look at him if he hadn't been for sale so close to me as I wouldn't consider myself the most confident rider and thought any TB would be "too much horse". However, he sounded ideal, was in budget and 4 miles from home so off I went. We have had one or two small issues, but he is the most gentle, even tempered, genuine little horse I have ever known. He has perfect manners, is an angel to look after, hacks out on his own and is rock steady in any traffic. We are happy hackers and he is the same whether ridden every day or only at weekends in winter. I would definitely consider another but would always choose to buy one that has been professionally reschooled as I don't have the confidence to do it myself.
 
We 'saved' a 19 yo one (ex NH horse) who was going to be PTS as nowhere to go. He is 25 now and still doing well. He is bombproof and safe although has his quirks (one being jogging) but he doesn't have a malicious bone in his body. I also helped rehome another who was facing being PTS as the owner couldn't sell him as no one seemed to want him. He had a plate in his leg following a hurdling accident so was looking for a new home. He was full brother to a very good NH horse who sadly broke his leg racing.

I spoke to some friends who worked in a racing yard but also did a little bit of buying and selling themselves. They took him on (didn't pay anything for him!) and actually put him in training again through a local trainer but discovered he wasn't really cut out for racing - too slow. They have since sold him to a local lady who competes him in all disciplines at RC level etc and from what I here loves him to bits. He will be 9 now I think and was almost PTS at 6 just cos he had no home to go to!!! My friend still keeps in touch with the owner and gets picture updates of them competing.
 
I have had my ex-racer precisely one year today and it has been a year of the biggest highs and lows I've ever experienced.

He's had an interesting life - very well bred (by Mark of Esteem out of a Busted mare) and won a couple of races when he was 4 by a country mile in Brazil (where he was bred), then brought to England for a lot of money where all I can gather is that he somehow got sickened off with racing. He was also kept as a stallion until he was gone 6, I guess in the hope that one day he may show the speed he obviously has on the track but it never happened in the UK.

He came to me an angry defensive horse who was a little too handy with his teeth but who was so willing to work under saddle I'd have forgiven him anything. Lots of patience and gentle handling later I have a fantastic relationship with him - he follows me round the field and is so much more chilled out.

In the year I've had him he has nearly died from peritonitis and had three months box rest/controlled exercise due to a tendon sheath inflammation but has taken it all in his stride. His work has gone from strength to strength - flatwork consistently in an outline, jumps 1.20 without thinking about it and tonked round his first hunter trial like he'd been doing it all his life. Fab to hack on his own or with others and not spooky in the least. Falls asleep with the farrier and whilst being clipped and lets the vet do absolutely anything with him.

In summary my experience is that he has needed consistent and sympathetic handling but has been so rewarding in terms of the changes to his character and his willingness to please in his ridden work....I wouldn't hesitate to have another!!
 
I own Toffee Cream (bay mare, 18yr old) by General Wade out of Dairy Queen. She was pretty rubbish as a racehorse and raced only twice coming last and second to last.She was sold at Ascot sales as a 3 yr old for £1200.

I don't know what she did after racing but the people who owned her before me got her very cheaply from a showjumping yard where they had only had her for 8 months. The people I bought her from were total beginners and didn't have a clue she was bought as a penis extension for the husband.


I bought Toffee Cream 5 yrs ago as her owners were going to have her PTS because she was "a f***ing nutter" I was going to bring her on and sell her again, after 3 months she was coming on really well after 6 she could perform a novice dressage test (all beit in the school) jump a 3' course and was a dream to hack she was a sharp sensitive ride but never spooky. I would have sold here but the day before her potential new owners were coming to see her she got kicked in the stifle and tore all the ligaments. After 3 months box rest she came sound but I had Fallen...

I loved her so much that i knew i would never ever be able to sell her. She is a little monkey and is constantly injured, everytime we get somewhere she gets a different injury, never serious but enough for her not to be able to work for a little while and then she is twice as difficult to bring back into work.

Toffs is 18 now and has just had nearly a year off recovering from an "unspecified back injury" she is slowly coming back into work but she will most likely end up as a very pampered, very spoilt field ornament!

I will never be without an ex racer although i know Toffs is one in a million, ex racers have so much to give and are so willing, they are powerful, graceful, elegant creatures that can communicate on a level of no other horse.

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I put 'I might consider it'. The reason for my response is due to the fact I have always had natives so wouldn't consider myself experienced enough to own a TB. I only really want to hack and do RC activities so I'd feel this wouldn't be enough work for a TB.

However, my friend (DraytonsBarney) does the same activities as me and her ex NH TB is perfectly sane and happy. The other reason I am a little unsure of them is because most ex racers I know seem to have a lot of lameness issues.

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lameness issues/.... hell yeh lol... hes lame again tonight! :-)
 
Well, myhorse is a 25yo ex-race horse, compltely batty, unbeatable in a jump off, unstoppable anywhere else. He gave me the confidence to start jumping again,and I wouldn't swaphimfor the world. He's no one's cup of tea, but he's a star and I adore him.
 
I have an 8yo american tb (bred for the dirt track racing) . An awesome horse who can be horizontal one day and breathing fire the next - has bought my riding on leaps and bounds and seems pretty happy to turn his hand to anything as long as it doesn't involve getting his feet wet (far too important for that !!
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) he qualified for the ex racer society finals a couple of weeks back and can't wait to go now
 
I have 5 ex racers and all are bloody amazing...some a bit quirky and sharp but none of them dangerous in the slightest. They range from 4 yrs to 22 yrs and one who is now 6 I took as a 3 year old and is the easiest horse I have ever dealt with
 
Av raced lots as a 2 and 3 year old and was then retired (she stopped growing and was too small). She is a pleasure to have as a pet but we have spent a long time getting over issues which mainly revolve around her doing things independently. She will follow another horse anywhere and has actually turned out to be very brave with ditches/water/scary fences e.t.c. but nappyness is her main problem...it turns out that in training she mainly went at the back of the string and did little work on her own which is where it stemmed from. After much blood sweat and tears (from both of us!!) we are having so much fun hunting, dressaging, showjumping, hacking and basically having a go at everything!...am hoping to try some eventing next year :-)
 
my old horse was an ex racer. He was amazing to shoe, clip,load, in traffic etc. He had an abcess lanced with no anaesthetic, and loaded himself. I wormed, clipped etc with no headcollar. He never stopped or ran out at a jump and was the most loving, loyal horse and 100% bombproof
Downsides? If he "locked on" to a jump, you had no chance of stopping him. I couldn't canter in company, 11 years of racing was ingrained! And he was very funny about feed, kicking out while he ate
I would have anohter, but also I wouldn't. I could never replace my horse of a lifetime and I could never love another like him as I won't let myself. It literally broke me when I had him PTS and I doubt I will never own another
 
i have 2 (17yr old and 8yr old) my boy is the most genuine honest horse you could wish to find. my mare on the other had has a few issues due to being badly treated in the past. i would always considered an exracer in the future however i think i would have a youngest straight off the track.
 
Never owned one myself but helped to reschool one for a friend many years ago - fabulous horse! So genuine and a real gentleman. Would definitely consider one when next buying.
 
Thanks to everyone who has replied, and who has emailed – it's lovely to hear of so many inspiring stories.

I'll respond to all emails soon but meanwhile please do keep sending in your stories — I'd love to hear about the ex-racers you've owned or currently own, and what they went on to do in their second careers.
 
Have 2, one's 9 now and finally started competing BD. He was very nappy when I first had him 2 1/2 years ago, would stop in the school and not go out the gate on his own at all. Is now good to hack and the most laid back horse I've ever had.
The other boy is 7, I've only had him for 3 months but he's a real character and hopefully will become a dressage pony as well.
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