Ex Racers and TBs

[C&C]

Thanks guys, all your info has really helped and i think im defo gonna 'give one a go'!

There are some lovely pics of your boys and girls here, they all look amazing and its great to see and here all the success stories.

I am wanting the new ned to do some RC activities and maybe some ODEs, i prob wouldnt affiliate but hey, if they are good at the job then maybe..... A good allrounder is what im after really, preferably with no vices and clean legs a bonus. Would love to do RoR classes as well. Im def looking for a gelding as i dont click with mares and i know that Darley only deal with geldings Something with a kind eye an nice temperment etc. Not worried if its a bit sharp or quick and is a bit quirky as long as its not dangerous

The one i had of my godfathers, many moons ago now, was a total sweetie on the ground and a bit of a 'dope on a rope', until you got on him! He proceeded to arse around (rearing) until he put you on the floor and then seemed happy with his achievement and once you were on again continued along like nothing had happened!! Weirdo! Lol. He was a lovely horse tho and could have had a wonderful life i think but it was not to be unfortunately and in the end he was left in a field to become pretty wild Back then i was not in a position to have him permanently, i was moving away and my godfather dint want him to go away with me. I think he was always hoping that he would race but he never did..... its a long story!

Good to hear all the positive feedback about Darley and im glad i have registered with them

 

[Wagtail]

there you go! i brought him because he was cheap. i was looking for something to play with over summer. unbacked or unfit. i didnt care and because he was the price i was after, i went to view him and fell in love hes just a very lovely person to have around. my plans with him and lots of hacking and XC and possibly some hunting. he does have a 'big knee' due to racing but it doesnt effect him and hes even better now hes shod.

He looks lovely apart from the knee. Really nicely put together and particularly well set on neck for a TB. I can see why you liked him.

 

[C&C]

He looks lovely apart from the knee. Really nicely put together and particularly well set on neck for a TB. I can see why you liked him.

Agreed - he is lovely. But then all the pics ive seen, they all look great

 

[C&C]

Thoroughbreds have always been my favourite breed, but after being constantly told how prone to injury they are, I have never owned one up until now! After losing my lovely 3/4tb (and then having the 7/8tb that I adored fail his vetting) I realised that every time I got a new horse it had a higher percentage of thoroughbred in it, so I decided to cut to the chase and buy a very sweet little ex racehorse!

I've had him a month now, and he is honestly a star, so easy to handle - very gentle and mannerly, bombproof to hack, and to be honest, a dobbin to ride! He is much more chilled out (and sounder!) than my knabstrupper crossbreed thing, who hasn't a drop of thoroughbred in him. He also has very good feet, which is a bonus. I would recommend one to anybody! The only thing we struggle with slightly is his weight, but we're getting there!

I also went to the charity Heros, and they had a lot of lovely horses and were very professional, so I would take a look at their website if I were you

Here are a couple of photos, I can't help myself I don't think he had ever been in an arena before I bought him, but after a lot of schooling sessions he is finally starting to look less like a giraffe!

What a handsome chap, love his rug My new ned will defo be treated to the full Horseware wardrobe Chance already has his. I love their stuff

 

[Wagtail]

Thoroughbreds have always been my favourite breed, but after being constantly told how prone to injury they are, I have never owned one up until now! After losing my lovely 3/4tb (and then having the 7/8tb that I adored fail his vetting) I realised that every time I got a new horse it had a higher percentage of thoroughbred in it, so I decided to cut to the chase and buy a very sweet little ex racehorse!

I've had him a month now, and he is honestly a star, so easy to handle - very gentle and mannerly, bombproof to hack, and to be honest, a dobbin to ride! He is much more chilled out (and sounder!) than my knabstrupper crossbreed thing, who hasn't a drop of thoroughbred in him. He also has very good feet, which is a bonus. I would recommend one to anybody! The only thing we struggle with slightly is his weight, but we're getting there!

I also went to the charity Heros, and they had a lot of lovely horses and were very professional, so I would take a look at their website if I were you

Here are a couple of photos, I can't help myself I don't think he had ever been in an arena before I bought him, but after a lot of schooling sessions he is finally starting to look less like a giraffe!

Beautiful.

 

[C&C]

I have an ex racer, he is brilliant. I have no trouble keeping weight on him, (infact he is a fatty!!) and he is fed the same as my welsh pony, he is not a loony at all - very laid back about life, much easier than my welsh pony!!!

I took him to his first dressage comp last nov, never been in an indoor in his life/seen white boards etc, didn't look at anything was super calm and came 3rd! Also taken him to pc showjumping rallies, joined in like he'd done it all his life - cantering around jumping in a big group. The first time i took him there he jumped a 3ft course with fillers with no issues at all.

Hes incredibly honest and genuine, would highly recommend them! Wouldn't have anything but a TB now.

This is him:

And at his first dressage comp: (sorry about the quality it was very foggy!!)

He looks lovely. I do like them with some white markings

 

[C&C]

Hi,

This is my 6yo Off the Track TB;

Very Kind and Sensible, no complaints at all!

This one looks SO much like the one i had of my godfathers its scary! Lovely

 

[C&C]

TB's/ex racers are like any other horse, but with an accelerator.

I have had two now and they have been very much individuals ..... this is my current beastie

Both mine were individuals and treated as such..... my old boy had rotten feet, but we managed that to enable us to keep sound and happy and he was an evil bugger, but again he needed to manged a certain way

Madam above is very different, is a sweetheart both to ride and on the ground, but she has her quirks.... all manageable.

Pretty girlie. She looks quite big?

 

[Firewell]

Def give one a go! If you read back on my past posts there are lots of comp reports from me and my ex-racer tb including a dressage report from weekend just gone.
My TB gelding is a brilliant allrounder, he loves everything and will give anything his best go, he's fab at dressage and has lovely paces, brave xc, careful showjumping ect ect. I do all RC clinics and hacking, schooling, cantering round fields ect and he's brilliant! He's only rising 6. He has good feet, confo.
I know TB's aren't for everyone in the way a cob wouldnt be for me but as long as you have a bit of common sense and a half decent seat I think you will be pleasantly surprised . Mine does of course have the odd 'moment' but generally he is the easiest and most straightforward horse I've had!

 

[Angua2]

Pretty girlie. She looks quite big?

Thanks.... pretty to look at and and also in attitude


you think??.

When I got her she was 15'2" at the back end, that was 5 years ago, I dread to think what she is now. We Reckon she is about 16'2" as there is not a lot of difference between her and something that is standing 17hh

 

[BSJAlove]

He looks lovely apart from the knee. Really nicely put together and particularly well set on neck for a TB. I can see why you liked him.

thanks! it is a shame about his knee. thankfully it doesnt cause any problems and with the correct shoeing, hes perfectly capable of everything i have planned i love him lots already

 

[C&C]

Def give one a go! If you read back on my past posts there are lots of comp reports from me and my ex-racer tb including a dressage report from weekend just gone.
My TB gelding is a brilliant allrounder, he loves everything and will give anything his best go, he's fab at dressage and has lovely paces, brave xc, careful showjumping ect ect. I do all RC clinics and hacking, schooling, cantering round fields ect and he's brilliant! He's only rising 6. He has good feet, confo.
I know TB's aren't for everyone in the way a cob wouldnt be for me but as long as you have a bit of common sense and a half decent seat I think you will be pleasantly surprised . Mine does of course have the odd 'moment' but generally he is the easiest and most straightforward horse I've had!

Im not to worried about the 'moments' they have, i think all horses can have them. My old boy who is Shire x TB can have a hell of a 'moment' when he wants to and will still quite easily put me on the floor today. He is 20 now and still has the mind of a 2yr old and thinks he is the mirror image of his dad on the racetrack! You wouldnt think it to look at him, as he has the 'im so innocent' look but he can be the sharpest tack in the box when he wants to be!

 

[doris2008]

Another vote for the TB's! I have had my ex racer nearly 7 years now, and although we have had a fair few ups and downs, he's lovely to have around. He can be quirky, but not in the crazy TB way you might assume. He's not fizzy or speedy and will happily hack on a long rein. Galloping is not exciting at all!
We have no weight issues - he's already in the fatty paddock keeping his welsh friend company. Feet have and always will be an issue with him. But we work with them and they get a break from shoes each year to let the nail holes grow out.
He's not your average slight boned TB..and is often mistaken for something more Irish!

 

[C&C]

Thanks.... pretty to look at and and also in attitude


you think??.

When I got her she was 15'2" at the back end, that was 5 years ago, I dread to think what she is now. We Reckon she is about 16'2" as there is not a lot of difference between her and something that is standing 17hh

16.2hh EASILY i would say

 

[C&C]

Another vote for the TB's! I have had my ex racer nearly 7 years now, and although we have had a fair few ups and downs, he's lovely to have around. He can be quirky, but not in the crazy TB way you might assume. He's not fizzy or speedy and will happily hack on a long rein. Galloping is not exciting at all!
We have no weight issues - he's already in the fatty paddock keeping his welsh friend company. Feet have and always will be an issue with him. But we work with them and they get a break from shoes each year to let the nail holes grow out.
He's not your average slight boned TB..and is often mistaken for something more Irish!

Aw he is lovely, i do have a soft spot for chestnuts as my old boy is chestnut Your right, he doesnt look like a full TB at all, i like

 

[Firewell]

Yes definitely agree all horses have moments lol, I've seen some cobs have one hell of a moment ha ha.
Enjoy the horse hunting!
Oh mine isn't expensive to feed either, eats tons of hay but only a bit of chaff and balancer for hard feed.. Easy!

 

[Damnation]

I had an ex racer for 3 and a half years who was PTS last September due to a slipped dish in her back.

If she hadn't of been in pain she would have been amazing and wouldn't of napped. Anyone could handle her, good to load, travel, for farrier. I could ride her in an arena with 15 horses and she wouldn't be bothered.

I put novices on her too for a bit of walk and trot and she never misbehaved. Excellent manners, beautiful looking horse. Wintered fantastically, I rarely worried about her weight.

M current horse is a Dutch Wamblood imported from Holland, and she is pretty much 1/2 TB. I would have another one in a heartbeat.

They are such a misunderstood breed infact I hate breed stereotypes because guarenteed there will be nutcases in each breed as well as the calmer ones! TB's are so intelligent and try anything for you, especially if you get the right one

 

[Sleepeeze_dad]

Didn't know this was a "grow n' show" thread

So here we go - just to finally blow any preconceptions anyone has ever had about all ex-racers "are looney toons" who "aren't safe to go near", temperamental, bolters etc etc...

And just to prove is what I say he is - here's his race card - http://www.attheraces.com/search.aspx?query=sleeping+dragon&type=H and he's one of B.C Allen's kids. Well I didn't say he was any good...

Have to say there aren't many horses I've met where when you're both green you can both learn together like I can with my Ex-racer. Such a fantastic temperament I can get pretty much get away with murder. So from this (told you I was a numpty novice) -

to this in 4 months (only a small crosspole cos he's not learnt how to not hurdle yet and how not to catleap unless he's doing 20mph+). Will be building on this in the summer - I'm not a competer and I'm in it to have some fun - as long as he is too so in no rush.

And he does look good in the sun...

Think you should all go out and get one

 

[LisaJM]

Another big up for Thoroughbreds from me

I'm on TB number two... my first girl, Megan, was lovely but just wanted to gallop everywhere - she hated schooling and wouldn't jump, so I resigned myself to that fact and instead we had loads, and I mean LOADS of fun doing pleasure rides and hacking out at home (I still miss her).

I now have a completely different TB - Lily came to me by chance as a 9 year old; she had produced 4 foals and hadn't been backed, so I had no idea what I was going to end up with. She's amazing, so calm and loving, really affectionate - she loves nothing more than me blowing up her nose!!!!!! And so far, she has turned her hoof to a little bit of everything... I love her to bits now too.

This is Lily doing her very first dressage that we came first in - I was gob-smacked

 

[LisaJM]

They are such a misunderstood breed infact I hate breed stereotypes because guarenteed there will be nutcases in each breed as well as the calmer ones! TB's are so intelligent and try anything for you, especially if you get the right one

TOTALLY agree

 

[C&C]

Didn't know this was a "grow n' show" thread

So here we go - just to finally blow any preconceptions anyone has ever had about all ex-racers "are looney toons" who "aren't safe to go near", temperamental, bolters etc etc...

And just to prove is what I say he is - here's his race card - http://www.attheraces.com/search.aspx?query=sleeping+dragon&type=H and he's one of B.C Allen's kids. Well I didn't say he was any good...

Have to say there aren't many horses I've met where when you're both green you can both learn together like I can with my Ex-racer. Such a fantastic temperament I can get pretty much get away with murder. So from this (told you I was a numpty novice) -

to this in 4 months (only a small crosspole cos he's not learnt how to not hurdle yet and how not to catleap unless he's doing 20mph+). Will be building on this in the summer - I'm not a competer and I'm in it to have some fun - as long as he is too so in no rush.

And he does look good in the sun...

Think you should all go out and get one

Lol - i am being turned very quickly with this thread

Looks like your are doing great together, another chestnut, love um

 

[C&C]

Another big up for Thoroughbreds from me

I'm on TB number two... my first girl, Megan, was lovely but just wanted to gallop everywhere - she hated schooling and wouldn't jump, so I resigned myself to that fact and instead we had loads, and I mean LOADS of fun doing pleasure rides and hacking out at home (I still miss her).

I now have a completely different TB - Lily came to me by chance as a 9 year old; she had produced 4 foals and hadn't been backed, so I had no idea what I was going to end up with. She's amazing, so calm and loving, really affectionate - she loves nothing more than me blowing up her nose!!!!!! And so far, she has turned her hoof to a little bit of everything... I love her to bits now too.

This is Lily doing her very first dressage that we came first in - I was gob-smacked

What a smasher, i'l bet she produced some gorgeous foals, good to hear she is prooving a gem and turning her hoof to everything. Weldone on the 1st prize, you both look very smart. Great pic

 

[Nickles1973]

Since we're all posting piccies, this is one of George taken recently whilst on our first away day



Uploaded with ImageShack.us!


I'd not taken him anywhere since he'd arrived with me and I was expecting at least a little high jinx but he was super cool! I took him to a showjumping comp, not to compete but just for the experience and he took the whole thing in his stride. Even calmly watching as the competitors warmed up over jumps in the collecting ring. Another piece of evidence to support the not all TB's are loonies idea!!

 

[Sleepeeze_dad]

What do you think and would you have one?

but now i am looking to get another horse i have decided on something a little more lightweight (the Welsh D i had on loan dint work out and i sent him back!)

Keep it quiet in case bedbug is lurking... My wife's horse is a sec D and I far prefer my guy to hers but if she asks I never said that Each to their own

 

[C&C]

Keep it quiet in case bedbug is lurking... My wife's horse is a sec D and I far prefer my guy to hers but if she asks I never said that Each to their own

Lol - I can honeslty say that now i have had a Welsh, i'd never have another!! I was just glad to be in the posiotion to send him back!!

 

[C&C]

Since we're all posting piccies, this is one of George taken recently whilst on our first away day



Uploaded with ImageShack.us!


I'd not taken him anywhere since he'd arrived with me and I was expecting at least a little high jinx but he was super cool! I took him to a showjumping comp, not to compete but just for the experience and he took the whole thing in his stride. Even calmly watching as the competitors warmed up over jumps in the collecting ring. Another piece of evidence to support the not all TB's are loonies idea!!

This is your horse from Darley??? He looks lovely Do you own him now? I have read the process of all the rehoming centres (through HEROS) and Darley is the only one where the horses passport is signed over to you as the new owner (if all works out). All the others remain the property of the Centre and you have to pay a considerable donation plus monthly donations, compared to the one off payment Darley ask for?!?

 

[Girlracer]

My ex-racer is rising 6 and i've had him 7 months now (boy doesn't time fly!), i had to start from scratch with him as he had raced then been turned away and that was it. And i have to say it's the most rewarding experience i've had horsey-wise.

Of course you get the odd complete nutcase, but i think this is the case for every breed. A thoroughbred managed in the correct way is no crazier than any other breed i think. Avoiding cereals and heat giving feeds, plenty of turn-out and exercise and a good routine is all mine gets and he's quiet as a lamb. Of course he has situations where he's fizzyer than others, but the most he'll do is have a bit of a jog and a bunny hop he's not nasty. Here's a little photo of my boy -

He's also the one in my signature. And i agree i've only ever heard good things about Darley and i actually considered it myself before finding Major.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

You should definitely consider a retired racehorse (I hate the term "ex-racer" makes them sound as though they were naff on the track!).

It depends upon how much time and effort you are willing to put into one as to where you go to find one. Some of the rehoming centres do fanstic jobs of these horses and some are just in it for the money. If you want to go back and start from scratch with a horse then email some local trainers, this time of year is kick out time for National Hunt horses that either aren't paying their way or are being retired due to age. The same applies for some flat horses that have been plying their trade on the all weather all winter.

I have 3 retired racers, 2 of them I brought hom from work with me straight off the track, the 3rd one I have I sent out emails to trainers asking for if they had any leaving training. Again he is straight off the track.

Good luck in your search! They are the best fun you will ever have!

 

[charlie76]

I am in the process of selling my Tb, simply because he is not quite big enough for us. He came out of training 4 months ago and is progressing very quickly. I would have another tommorow. He is so straight forward to ride and handle. We will miss him.
This is him last week, just 4 months into retraining:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Zoebbz05#p/a/u/2/RqpSVbzZPPU

He is also showing a fab jump to, very bold and careful. He would be a super allrounder or a competition prospect. He is far easier than the WB's I have!

 

[Nickles1973]

This is your horse from Darley??? He looks lovely Do you own him now? I have read the process of all the rehoming centres (through HEROS) and Darley is the only one where the horses passport is signed over to you as the new owner (if all works out). All the others remain the property of the Centre and you have to pay a considerable donation plus monthly donations, compared to the one off payment Darley ask for?!?

Yep he's my Darley boy lol! I had him on 3 month trial and then Victoria came to our yard to check we were both happy. I paid my £100 plus VAT (which at the time was 15%!) and he is now all mine till death do us part lol! The only condition is that should things not work out you have to tell Darley that you are looking to sell, and in some circumstances they may take the horse back from you to guarentee its future is always secure.