Ex Racehorses :(

MrsElle

MrsElle

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Someone I know asked if I would consider taking on an ex racer. I didn't want another horse, tempting as the offer was, so decided against it.

The situation was getting dire. The grazing was running out, and I started worrying about this mare. Then I did a bit of digging.

Oh my, the life the poor girl has had :( She was given to a stable lass as a three year old, having failed to make the grade and never raced. The stable lass took her to the sales, where she was bought very cheaply for a teenager with no experience. Mare languished in a field for two years, unhandled, until she was sold again. However, there was a problem loading her and the poor girl ended up tearing her chest open somehow. Someone on the yard ended up buying her instead, so she was safe, and spent a lot of money on vet fees, getting her better. Unfortunately she was in no position to keep the mare, having got her as a pity buy, so loaned her out to someone else. To cut a long story short, in the three years since leaving the track, she has had seven owners/keepers. Following the loading incident she has been reluctant to load (understandably), but will do with time and patience. Unfortunately, at some point someone didn't have that and spent three hours trying to beat her into a lorry. She still carries the scars :(

There was other stuff going on too, but it would take me ages to go tell what the poor girl has been through.

She is home with me, and is not going anywhere.

She is a loving girl, adores cuddles, is a bombproof hack, although green in the school, and while I wasn't planning on getting back in the saddle anytime soon, after her back and teeth have been done and a new saddle fitted, I will get an instructor out to give us a few lessons to get us up and running.

Unfortunately this won't be an isolated case of TB abuse. The problem is that they are either given away or sold for peanuts to people who rode a donkey on the beach at Scarborough when they were 6 and think they know it all.

I was in tears earlier, talking to ex owners/keepers and building up a history of the poor girl, but feeling brighter now and looking forward to seeing her come out of her shell and blossom :)
 
Don't know why everybody is so quick to be down on the treatment of exracehorses, not that this horse even was one, but that's beside the point. Lots of horses end up being passed around, especially young horses and lots of horses end up in homes who either can't or won't treat them properly. It's nothing to do with racing and everything to do with the low value of horses now and the inexperience of alot of people just looking for a cheap horse.
 
This horse's problem wasn't the fact she's an ex-racer, but that people are fools. Poor girl, hope she's found her feet now.
 
Bonnie, while I agree that the treatment of horses in general is a problem, due in part to over breeding plus recession driving the prices down, there are a huge amount of TB's out there (including failed racers like mine ;)) who are past from pillar to post.

The problem is that there are so many of them, and they are so cheap that they are bought by people who really shouldn't.

My mare had three homes where her owner/keeper was scared of her, due their lack of experience and her size. If she was Shetland or a little Welshie she wouldn't have been passed on.

So, while I do understand what you are saying, I do feel that ex racers (or almost racers), get a raw deal.
 
. I was looking at Done Deal earlier and there was a 3 year old on there for £50 ! Nice looking little girl too :( I do hope you can help her forget her past and so pleased she's found you.
 
I noticed at least two being given away on a FB page the other day :( Very sad.

Best of luck to you with your mare, sure she will pay your kindness back ten fold :)
 
i dont think this is just an ex racehorse thing. ive seen too many cobs given away and treated unfairly...many more than i have seen TBs. also if the horse has gone to the sales you cant blame the seller as to who buys the horse. its idiotic people who think that having an ex racer makes them look good that gives them a bad name. as i said ive seen more cobs and welsh ponies sold next to nothing and going to inapropriate homes as some parents over horse their young children then when something goes wrong, blame the pony and get rid. many times i have seen this.

On a happier note, i wish you all the luck with your mare! i have 2 ex racers and know how much joy they can bring.
 
Sorry for the rant about ex racehorses (including those that didn't make the grade :)), but I was quite emotional last night after finding Bay Mares history. I still do stand by my opinion that if she was the same personality in a little Shetland body she would have never been passed around the way she has. Her size is the issue, not her in general. She is an absolute sweetheart, she has a few days to settle in, then I aim to start long reining her as I can't currently ride due to injury. Looking forward to getting to know her, and sorry for any offence to those involved in the racing industry :)
 
There is though I believe a misconception about them ( flighty spooky not safe) so MrsE you do have a point I think. Also as already said they are so cheap that they do end up in the wrong hands.

Anyhow where's the photo? Shame you weren't closer or I'd offer to come and practice Masterson Method on her for you. X
 
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