Ex racehorses

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Dizzydancer

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I am feeling like i want a project! I dont have a huge amount to spend on a horse to buy but i can afford the keeping costs as mum pays for oldie!!
I am just wondering would it be a good idea to get an ex racer, i have a school iv ridden since i was 3 (now 21) always like a challenge, my best friend breaks in youngsters so she will be around to help if needed.

can they become good allrounders with time etc? Or are they cheap and cost a fortune through re training and injuries from racing etc!!
 
We have a number of ex racers on my yard - some who were pretty successful in their day.

Wonderful horses, having second careers as RC horses, hunters or just happy hackers.

As with most TB's, it's their temperament which will be the key. Some are not suited to life outside racing - most, however will thrive.

Contact your local training yards to see if they have any looking for a good home.
 
Hello
They make the perfect projects for experienced people like yourself!

There is one coming up for sale at my place......PM me for details if you would be interested!
 
I advertised in our local paper for a project ex-racehorse, i got twelve calls, I had a pick of loads. But got the first one we saw a 2yr old that had raced five times. £900, wasn't expecting to spend that much on one, but she was perfect, she is three now and is brilliant, wouldn't swap her for the world, mum owns her while i pay for my old boy, but mum rides mine and I have taken Bug over completely, all bar the money side!!!!!

She now hacks out alone or in company, is really brave, jumps little logs we see out hacking, canters through water and has done a water tray....she is amazing and wouldn't be without her.

Would do it again if I had kept to the plan of re-training and selling on, but she is a keeper and hopefully my future eventer.

Go for it!!!!
 
I would totally recommend them - although mine has his moments - mostly involving a situation which he could possibly interprit as a race, he is generally a lovely honest horse who has happily wondered around the yard with my OH's 4 yr old on his back.
They take time and patience to re school, but provided you take it slowly and dont push them, I think they make cracking allrounders.
I think they have got more popular over the years, and therefore arent as bargainous as they used to be!
 
I have an ex-racer at my yard - he was 11 when he retired from racing he has been an absolute gem to retrain. He went out to his first dressage competition a few months ago and he came 2nd in a big class. He is amazing to hack (safest on the yard) and a complete gent to handle. Although he is not mine I have done pretty much all the ridden work on him and have never had any major issues at all. So yeah I would say they are definately worth a look and can be really successful if you choose one with a good nature.

Some pics - Joe racing

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Joe at show
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They have just retired another one and could possibly be looking to rehome her. She is very sweet and very pretty only thing is she really hasnt done anything in respect to being ridden normally so would need alot of work.
 
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Mine is 6 & was quite a successful racer. He is fab...very steady & sensible, fantastic paces, learns very fast & has just started going out n about to comps. He looks absolutely gorgeous (biased proud mummy, maybe...) & is 100% sane & willing. I'm hoping that we will BD & BS within the next 6 to 9 months. He also has the best feet of any horse I've ever had. :-)
 
There is one on our yard at the moment that one of my friends is trying, he's 10yrs old and not long been retired because of a tendon injury. She was going to give up on him just because of that, she only wants to do local shows but, although all I have done is approach him, he has such a soft manner - if I wasn't such a nervy rider I'd have him as a second horse. But I guess he wouldn't be suitable for me :((
 
I've had three ex racers now and I think theyre great, mine had been used to road work in training so became good hackers, and I got mine before they ecame popular and everybody warned me off them but tbh I didn't think mine took a lot of reschooling...but yeah great project for someone like yourslf.:)
 
Love them too :)

My yard is solely ex-racers, and they've sold a lot on too. We have one that's done GP and PSG dressage, shown at HOYS, plenty that have jumped GP too, they all "hack out" around the massive field we have, and go on the canter track..no problems...we don't really event where I live, but hey :) And some of them are super hot and fizzy and difficult, but some of them are absolute dopes on ropes and amazingly easy to handle and ride
 
Some of them make fantastic horses for people like you, as long as they have patient handling and a symperthetic rider, they can turn their hoof to anything, i have owned two, and curently ride a tb mare, and she is one of the best horses i have rode. You have to be careful when buying though, a lot of tbs are very prone to leg problems.
 
I'm currently reschooling an ex flat racer and hurdler and he is one the most trainable horses I've ever worked with. As someone else has said, temperament is really important so look around. There are so many varying shapes and sizes of TB and if you are a competent and patient rider, you will find one to suit you. I love them!
 
I highly recomend exracers i have successfully retrained quite a few all doing very well eventing, hunters general riding horses.
All very easy to do obviously you get some that are not so easy but most of them that ive had have been easier that the cobs and ponys ive had. There more worldwise a well and have coped with such change early on in the life ie traverling, people, crowds ect

wish you all the best
 
Thanks guys i think i have definately decided i want one now its just a case of being patient and finding the right one as i am in no major rush and tbh might be best to wait till spring so i dont have a huge expense as soon as i buy one to put weight on it with no grass in fields!!
 
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