Ex-Racehorses

Bug2007

Bug2007

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Hello I'm new on here today.....meant to be working :eek:

I have 2 horse and a rescue pony....... 18yr Welsh/Arab x and 3yr TB ex race horse and a 27yr Welsh Pony.

Really into my ex-racehorses and just wondered how many other people have them and their experiences with them.

Lady Lion (or Bug as she is known) is a 3yr old dark Bay filly who is the most wonderful horse. we got her direct from the trainer this time last year as a 2 yr old and haven't looked back since. we went to see her after the trainer answered my wanted ad in the paper. she has raced six times and won once but then showed no interest in doing so again. I saw her ridden by a 14 yr old boy then i sat on myself which was more then i was expecting to do, but two days later we had her home. she was a menace to start with, unruley with no manners. being a quick learner she is now a model of obediance on the ground.

We have re-backed and started to ride away now, she hacks alone or in company, i can have a canter on the local gallops and bring her back when i want in a snaffle. she has just started to pop some little jumps in lovely style and her schooling is very good for a 3yr old.
When i advertised for a racehorse i was expecting to have parted company with it serveral times by now, but she is a gem, not a novice ride but amazing. we don't really like the pigs or daffoldils but will still go past. anything else including bags flying down the road at her she does nothing other than try to catch it to see if it has some kind of food in it.
Think she is x Lab as she follows us around like a dog and will do anything for a treat.

What are yours like? :)
 
My TB was bred for racing but didnt make the grade. I can honestly say shes one of the most sweetest, honest horses around. She hacks out alone or in company, shes 100% in traffic, jumps really well and is excelling in her flat work. Planning to do lots of dressage with her. It has taken me a year to get to where we are now schooling wise as she was a very green 3yr old when i got her, but its been worth it :)
Lots of people have ex racers on here and they will tell you similar :)

ETA: welcome to the forum :)
 
welcome to the mad house! :D
i got my ex racer 3 months ago as a green just turned 4 yr old. I am having the best time with him and we are both learning as thing or two!
I would never have anything but a TB, i love them!
 
I have a 5 year old dark bay mare who I got a year ago. Like yours, she had no manners when she came home but is now very sweet, particularly with me (she still gives others a hard time on occasion but we're working on that.

I think their time at the track exposes them to so many odd things that it takes rather a lot to spook them - or very little; the one time Bella has really spooked was at a ground squirrel that charged across the trail in front of us. She did a full-on splay-legged spook - then looked terribly embarrassed.

I've had horses for most of my life but I have to say she is one of a kind. She's so eager and willing and she has a wonderful, boundless curiosity about everything. She learns quickly, will try anything and is amazingly steady. As an example, I rode her today bareback with a cast on my leg. Not what you expect from the dreaded ex-racehorse!
 
Welcome to the forum!

My first horse was an ex-racer. Granted, he was older and had been reschooled before I got him, but I have never sat on a horse before or since that gave such a feeling of complete confidence and trust as he did. At the age of 13 I would hack him alone all over, he had a huge jump on him, did a super dressage test and was utterly charming to do in the stable.

When he developed bone spavin (in addition to the splints, windgalls, broken wind and heart murmur that we'd bought him with) we retired him at home and he spent the last of his days with a companion pony just mooching around. Even then, I could pop a bridle on him, hop on bareback and pootle him round the garden on a Sunday afternoon. I wish I could have cloned him!

I am sure you and your horse will have many, many happy and fun years together. Enjoy!
 
Love hearing the ex-racer stories...i rider race horses during the winter and love it so decided to give on a home and will never have anything else now. :D

Wouldn't suggest someone inexperienced has one, if the wrong person ened up with Bug then she'd have seriously hurt someone. that is why you hear these stories about race horses being crazy and dangerous, it's because they have gone out brought a cheap horse and not had the experience to handle it correctly.... they give them a bad name.

I am a strong believer in not blaming the horse for your problems. you do get some monsters but they can be turned around in the right hands... from what i have heard on here so far you'd agree with me.
 
hi
I am on my 2nd ex-racehorse. They are total opposites. this first one i got as a two year straight of the racetrack. he was a gem and was a riding horse within 2 weeks and by the time i sold him after two years of working away with him he could jump 1.10m and was a little star.
now the other one i got as a four year old and for the first year all i can describe him as is a nightmare. i sat on the ground more time than i was on his back, falling of multiples of 20 time in one 15minute ride. hack was a no go area.
after a year of fighting with him i sent him to a trainer who took him for three weeks. i dont know what they did but he came back a gem. and still is, he puts in the odd buck of excitment but goes galloping in the field not a problem. he hacks alone, in company, jumps 90cm and has being going out showing this session.
the only thing he wont do is stay in the field on his own.
but a little star now.
 
I've had two ex racers.

My current one is a 9year old ex-national hunt racehorse, and who I've owned for 18 months. He is very kind and lovely, but we still have problems associated with him not being able to handle situations which may slightly resemble racing, and it's starting to look like I may never be able to compete him.

A previous ex-racer we had, was much younger, and he was much easier and more trainable. I think if I have another it will be a youngster who hasn't spent his whole adult life knowing nothing but racing.

They are lovely, intelligent and kind beasts though :)

My current one is the bay in my sig. It's a shame he hasn't got the head for going out to parties, as he'd do well.
 
We have a number of ex-racehorses on the yard, and I had an ex-steeplechaser for a short time.

All lovely horses, who have taken to life as happy hackers or otherwise with ease. None needed re-backing, as they're usually started very well.
 
I've had my ex racer Charlie for 6 years now. The first 2 years he was a nightmare, had his own opinions on everything, frequently had me off. Refused to go forwards and backwards was the only direction that he was willing to go in! He would often run round a course of jumps and refuse these. With time effort and patience we have overcome all of these issues. I have re-schooled him myself. He is a lovable, intelligent boy who will do anything for you. He is now a very careful jumper and will complete a showjumping course with no problems now. Yes they are hard work but well worth the effort. His favourite treat in the week is to be allowed a gallop. At a show he is usually the best behaved there and will spend time in between classes asleep!
 
Ok, I will be the first to break out the photies then :D
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This is our ex racer Bella (nicknames Bellzilla, Hells Bells, Bella-nator), ridden and handled by my daughter. We've her for nearly 3 years, I bought her as a 3yo 2 months out of racing for my daughter's 16th birthday. We were told that she had been reschooled,was a suitable teenager's horse and she was my daughter's 1st horse coming off ponies... yes, I kow I recipe for disaster, but we knew so little at the time that we didn't even know this!

She's been a real education for both of us, but particularly my daughter as she hasn't been an easy one either on the ground or under saddle. They seem to take 2 steps forward and one back and there's been times my daughter's wanted to give up but when it comes to it she can't bring herself to, she says when all is well with Bella there is no horse like her.

Like Misinterpreted's horse, we've found it hard to take her to comps, even small ones, it just sends her into meltdown, and as she is normally bold it is kind of sad to see, but my daughter hopes to be able to one day.
 
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I've got one! He's 6, ex flat racer, reasonably successful with 2 wins & 5 seconds & some other placings, retired Oct 09.

He's a very easy horse. I've had him since March & he's learned to jump, hack, stay in the lorry without trying to climb out (with my old mare to keep him company) & the flatwork is coming on well. He's just about ready for his first comp.

Very laid back, totally non spooky, never naughty, always tries his hardest even if he doesn't understand, learns very quickly. I would def have another one.
 
I love my racers. I worked in racing for a number off years and love tbs. Since leaving racing iv had different horses wb,ish, cobs but always go back to my ex racers. My lad iv got now is very nervous and scared off everything and a prat to hack but take him hunting and you will have you best days hunting ever. He was being put down so I offered stupid money and they accepted. He's a stunning grey gelding and huge, I'm 6ft tall and I stuggle getting his saddle and bridle on. But love him to bits.
 
I've had two exracehorses, both have great temperaments. I've had my current horse for 4 years he is such a sweetie, very laid back, great to hunt. They tend to have very good stable manners from the way they have been handled from youngsters at racing yards.
 
I've had my ex-racer for a year now, having bought him when he'd been out of training for a few months.

I absolutely love him to bits! He makes me laugh every day and I'm sure he thinks he's very important as he used to be a racehorse don't you know!

Since I've had him we have competed in dressage, showjumping, showing and last weekend did our first hunter trials. If he's not sure of something first of all, he soon learns and is very bright.

Never in a million years did I think I'd end up owning a TB but I'd definitely have an ex-racer again. :D
 
I think once you've had one you won't have anything else.

Love them:D

So good to see so many people with them..... bit of a racing person, got a ex racing Greyhound too!!!:rolleyes:
 
Me! I have a six year old ex-racer, bought as my first horse. He is pretty much nothing like my criteria for the horse I wanted, he’s too big, too young, too green and I specifically wanted something I could go out and jump… well we cleared an 18inch log on Monday morning and I was over the moon! :D

My two best friends at my yard, also have ex-racers all three are relatively safe and sane, one is rather sharp and needs lots of work, one is so laid back he’s horizontal and mine is sort of in the middle.

It can be quite up and down at times, but I think everything is starting to come together now and we’re building lots of trust in each other, I couldn’t imagine having any other horse now though. He’s one in a million!

Haha, greyhound is next on the list, I want the matching set! :D
 
We have more ex racers on our yard than anything else to be honest, also some that come over that are having a short break from traning etc.

They are lovely creatures and it's so nice to know that people are giving them a chance for another purpose in life apart from just racing.
 
I have two, and they couldn't be more different. Crafty my four year old lives up to his name on a daily basis! He is arrogant and quite sharp but only four so I guess still a big baby! When I checked out his sire after buying him it said 'breeds precocious youngsters', and this couldn't be more true.. But he makes me laugh constantly and even when he is pratting about I feel so comfortable on him and have high hopes. My other is a 4yr old too, Woody. When I went to try him at the same race yard I bought Crafty from he did not seem to know where to put each leg on the arena and when he got them in a tangle he would have a paddy and throw a buck! In the stable he was all over you like a rash, and loved kisses (Crafty just pretends he doesn't really!), so affectionate.. So.. I took him home and hacked him about a bit and it turns out that when walking out you could put your granny on him! We eventually got round to a bit of schooling then I took him on a couple of hunts. He acted like he had being hunting his whole life, trying to jump anything too! I had him at the front and back, and at one point the hunt got split up and we were in a small group pulled up. The fox ran past us shortly followed by hound literally a foot away. Woods stuck his head out to try and touch them out of curiosity, but just didn't bat an eyelid! Sorry, long post!
I wouldn't go into getting an ex racer lightly, especially not a race fit one, but if you know you have the time, knowledge and patience I think they are fab and so rewarding.
 
Ooh, me, me I have one! :D
Because we did not have a lot of cash to spend on a new horse, we started looking at ads for ex-racers, phoned loads of owners up and visited 2, with me buying the second one. The first one had been out of racing a few months, and he was fine, but I can sometimes be a bit nervous (not always great for a TB, but knew that there are some that are laid back), and although he was great to ride, I felt that if I did get into a situation where I panicked over something, he may pick up on this, and also he would not stand still at all (not his fault) so was no-good to take on the roads yet where we live. These things were fixable with training, lessons etc, but thought he was just not right, as I wanted to start on something I felt pretty confident on, and I was not on him.
The next one was just rising 6 and had been out of racing a couple of years, and he is very chilled - exactly what I was after. I love him to bits, he is very affectionate, he loves his work, can be a bit cheeky at times, and we sometimes have a little spook, but I trust him now 100%. I know he will never be the type to bolt off or rear etc, when he has a spook, the worst he has done is just jump sidewards at a bird coming out the bush (most horses would do this) and he once spun round as I was taking him past a stationary tractor (that was there when we went past on the way out and he want past with no issues, horses eh?!). He is great on roads too. I am just starting pole work with him, and hope to do some local comps eventually and hopefully ROR, but not sure about this as he has a German passport, so not sure he can do ROR on this?? Does anyone know what we need to provide to enable us to do ROR, as there is a ridden class in September I would like to do :confused:
 
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I'm on my 2nd ex racer and he is just fantastic. He flat raced in Hong Kong and then hurdled til Sept 09 so really has been there and got the T shirt! He was skeletal when I got him in Feb 10 and it was initially a slow process of putting weight onto him and doing groundwork with him every day. First sat on him 2 wks into April and he is now progressing so well on the flat and changing shape dramatically. He has been so accepting of his training and is just a really nice boy. My 9 yr old has been led out on him round the fields and he (the horse!) is extremely calm. My son keeps saying "I can't believe I'm riding a real racehorse!". I did have a WB for a short time after selling my first TB, but I just love TBs and most definitely will not ever have anything else!
 
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Hello *waves*

Had my off the track TB since end of April. Love her to bits! She is a smashing horse and she is now hacking alone and in company, started schooling and we had our first canter last night! Whoop Whoop! She has just turned four. :)
 
I have and do ROR comps with him. Laura1234 - have you looked at the ROR website, if the answer isn't on there, try e mailing them or give them a ring. I am sure I have seen it written down somewhere but cannot remember.
 
I have two :) I have dylan aka hermitage court who is 9 years old very ginger and very tall( 17hands ) and quite a sensitive little flower. He is like a big dog to handle and even though we have had a few ridden issues - they are now smoothed over and he did his first county show on sunday with no hysterics :) He can do a reasonable novice test and we have been over a 1.30m showjump with him acting like it was nothing( I on the other hand had my eyes shut :) ) I also have rio aka daft lad (snigger :) ) who is 3.5 years old ,dark bay and a little bit smaller at 15.3hh. A very different personality and who answer to 99% of things is yes ,come on lets go! As he is only a bubs he hasn't done quite so much but he will hack out alone and went to his first dressage comp on friday and came back with a 4th - shame he is a project :(
 
Hi there!
I have two - a 20 year old bright bay (the one in the picture) who I have had since he was 12 and an 8 year old dark bay mare.
You couldn't get two more different horses!
My old one has got two damaged superficial flexor tendons - both seriously bowed, has had a fractured leg, and prior to me getting him, a broken knee. He has a weird lump under his throat - possibly as a result of a wind operation when he was younger. However he is still sound and enjoys hacking and prelim dressage. He can be a cantankerous old git in the stable and bit me so hard 4 years ago on the backside, that I still have the lump. However I love him to pieces, and he would hack down the motorway and not bat an eyelid at the traffic - however if a crisp bag was to move, he would turn himself inside out.
My new one is a 16.1hh 8 year old mare - raced in NH flats twice - not suited. I got her in April straight from the trainer and she is a dream. She has a temperament to die for and is the prettiest horse I have ever seen. However she has just come home from hospital after a sinus operation and is taking it easy in the field for a few days. She has about 20 staples in her face, so isn't looking too great at the moment. I am intending to do some unaffiliated dressage with her and get her schooling well and do some gridwork before deciding what to do next.
 
hey, everybody....I've been looking for an exracer for months, unsuccessfully, anyone know of some in the south west, please? n devon preferably
 
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