Ex-racers???? Following on from my last thread

Prince33Sp4rkle said:
tricky one..................generally buying an ex racer because you cant afford anything else, is the worst reason to buy one, and the reason they end up with a bad name.

there are plenty out there that are straight, and genuine, but it does depend on HOW nervous exactly you are, if something is blowing, snorting, bouncing and cantering sideways, but not actually really doing anything, are you going to be ok to sit still and pat and ignore it, because even the most genuine ex racer will probably have those moments, and if you think you would freeze and panic, that will scare them and the behaviour would escalate, if that makes sense?

Fig is THE most genuine, willing little man ive met, a real can do attitude, but someone who went foetal and nervy would really unsettle him and might end up making him very upset indeed.

you dont have to BE brave, but you need to be able to fake brave at the very least, if that makes sense?

the other thing to consider, is that if you buy one, and it turns out to be bonkers, and thus completely useless, will you have the balls to have it PTS and thus save another cheap and barmy horse entering the uncertain world of being sold on and on and on?if you dont think you could do it, step away now. Not saying many people have to, but its a harsh reality you have to consider, something that failed at its first career and isnt all that keen on having a second one, is safer PTS IMO, unless you are going to be happy to gift, or sell at a loss to someone you KNOW will be able to turn it around.
If CS wasnt so good at dressage, he would be one of those, because something that rears, wont hack, wont jump and naps like the devil, isnt a viable option to sell on. His freaky talent for poncing is all thats saved him really.

lots to think about.
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Excellent Post !!

s x
 
I have recently bought an ex racer, he seems to be possibly THE most laid back horse on the planet! He's just about to turn 4 and raced once as a 3 year old, he came last by rather a long way and so they delivered him straight from the track to the field that I bought him from 8 months later.
He is proving very easy to do, and is progressing well under saddle. I have honestly never known such a laid back chap!
Good luck in your search.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
tricky one..................generally buying an ex racer because you cant afford anything else, is the worst reason to buy one, and the reason they end up with a bad name.

there are plenty out there that are straight, and genuine, but it does depend on HOW nervous exactly you are, if something is blowing, snorting, bouncing and cantering sideways, but not actually really doing anything, are you going to be ok to sit still and pat and ignore it, because even the most genuine ex racer will probably have those moments, and if you think you would freeze and panic, that will scare them and the behaviour would escalate, if that makes sense?

Fig is THE most genuine, willing little man ive met, a real can do attitude, but someone who went foetal and nervy would really unsettle him and might end up making him very upset indeed.

you dont have to BE brave, but you need to be able to fake brave at the very least, if that makes sense?

the other thing to consider, is that if you buy one, and it turns out to be bonkers, and thus completely useless, will you have the balls to have it PTS and thus save another cheap and barmy horse entering the uncertain world of being sold on and on and on?if you dont think you could do it, step away now. Not saying many people have to, but its a harsh reality you have to consider, something that failed at its first career and isnt all that keen on having a second one, is safer PTS IMO, unless you are going to be happy to gift, or sell at a loss to someone you KNOW will be able to turn it around.
If CS wasnt so good at dressage, he would be one of those, because something that rears, wont hack, wont jump and naps like the devil, isnt a viable option to sell on. His freaky talent for poncing is all thats saved him really.

lots to think about.
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Yes, your post made perfect sense.

If something was snorting, cantering sideways etc because it was genuinely scared and I didn't think it would do something stupid like completely blow up, or go straight up with me, then yes, I COULD fake brave. I have had to before, that's the thing I CAN fake brave, but honestly? I'm not sure how much I'd WANT to have to fake brave. If it was on the odd occasion or silly moment and I trusted the horse not to lose it's head completely then yes, no problem. However if it was an everyday occurance, then no, quite frankly. Hence this post as I haven't had enough experience with them to know whether that sort of thing would be an everyday occurance.

I am not that fussed about buying, I can carry on keep looking for a full loan. I have just seen a lot of posts on here lately with how pleased people are with their ex-racers, how genuine they are and how glad they are they spent that £600 on them and took the gamble etc etc and I just thought how I NEVER take a gamble, ever and perhaps it's time I did.

Well, in all honesty I don't think I would end up with a COMPLETE nutter as if I do get one and that's a very big IF, I would probably get one from one of the charities either on permanant loan, or make a small donation for it. If I get one through these then it's likely they will have (hopefully) matched me up with something fairly suitable so not a total nutter. But if I was to make a gamble for a few hundred quid and it turned out to be a nutter then yes, I would consider the PTS option rather than seeing yet another poor horse passed from pillar to post. I do know a few very good, brave riders though that if I was in that situation would probably have it off me for cheap and try and turn it around.

But this is all very hypothetical. Chances are I wouldn't get one, but it IS something I have been considering after seeing so many success stories. I am not a confident rider, don't think I ever will be TBH. However, I'm not a TOTAL numpty either and can cope with stuff if I'm forced to. So perhaps I could find something suitable, who knows. May be worth getting in touch with some charities, explaining exactly how I am and see if they think they have anything that's suitable. Or I may just stick with looking for a 'normal' horse. Just don't know what's going to happen at the moment unfortunately.
 
Reading through the posts do give Mary a call at Moorcroft, honestly she wont give you anything that isn't right. She had some real stunners when we went there, and plenty who moved lovely and would have been more than suitab;e for an amature dressage home.
My mum got Charlie from HERO's, we fell in love with him as he is very special and as a dressage horse he is really going to excell, he is a lovely hack as well totally bombproof. HERO's were good don't get me wrong but for you where temp really is as big concern I would go to Moorecroft as I felt Moorcroft gave more time into getting to know the horse before rehoming and it's a much smaller operation.

In fact while we were there they had several horses who would have suited you dowen to the ground ;). Also it's not risky as they want to rehome you with the right horse so it doesnt get brought back and if you do end up with the wrong one you can give it back. It was a real pleasure going to Moorcroft to try the horses. If we had not have seen Charlie who was just so talented we would have got one of theirs.

When I got Jae I was prepared for the worst if i'm honest. A 4yr old ex-racer when I was looking for a nice quiet irish 15 hander... what was I thinking!!! However I have to say it was like I had died and gone to heaven from day one. I didn't have one teething problem. I can fake brave like PS said when I have to but honestly If I think i'm in danger of falling off I won't ride that horse! I had a 15.1 12yr old Iirsh mare on loan before Jae who was too strong out hacking and I didn't feel safe on her, but J I felt safe on right away.

I did BD after only 3 months of having him, his first ever show and he didn't put a foot wrong and we got placed. I did clear round jumping next. Again he didn't even get excited at the show and jumped round clear straight away. Water trays, fillers he just jumped with not a 2nd glance and calmly and sweetly jumping as well. I went hacking with my mum, cantering over open fields and he was perfect. Our first ever ODE a BE80 and I'm shaking with nerves.. I kick and he goes clear even though he has never done it before. If he does have a moment, it's usually because he is just really happy and gets excited but if I feel he's like that I put him on a circle, do lots of transitions to give him something to concentrate on and he buckles down straight away. He just wants to please so much, it's so sweet.
Hacking, I hack out on my own, with company and sometimes with my mum on foot when she walks the dog. Occassionally he will stop and snort or do a spin or a spook but if he does I just spin him back around, give him a boot and on we go lol. Even my nervous sister has hacked him round the village, and he's being used at the moment to give my mum her confidence back jumping.

I think any person who has a half decent seat and a bit of common sense is fine with a TB. You just have to not be silly like with any new horse you don't know, I imagine get the right one and you would find him or her easier than your WB mare.
They aren't all crazy rejects but they do all have different personalitlies and you have to find one right for you.

You sound like me, you are experienced rider and you aren't a clingy nervous novice but at the same time you don't want anything thats going to be a handful or put you in danger. You were fine with your green WB mare when she was a bit jumpy and spooky and needed reassurance at her first dressage ect, you'll be fine with a TB, a nice one that is genuine and has a good honest temprement :).
 
Firewell said:
Reading through the posts do give Mary a call at Moorcroft, honestly she wont give you anything that isn't right. She had some real stunners when we went there, and plenty who moved lovely and would have been more than suitab;e for an amature dressage home.
My mum got Charlie from HERO's, we fell in love with him as he is very special and as a dressage horse he is really going to excell, he is a lovely hack as well totally bombproof. HERO's were good don't get me wrong but for you where temp really is as big concern I would go to Moorecroft as I felt Moorcroft gave more time into getting to know the horse before rehoming and it's a much smaller operation.

In fact while we were there they had several horses who would have suited you dowen to the ground ;). Also it's not risky as they want to rehome you with the right horse so it doesnt get brought back and if you do end up with the wrong one you can give it back. It was a real pleasure going to Moorcroft to try the horses. If we had not have seen Charlie who was just so talented we would have got one of theirs.

When I got Jae I was prepared for the worst if i'm honest. A 4yr old ex-racer when I was looking for a nice quiet irish 15 hander... what was I thinking!!! However I have to say it was like I had died and gone to heaven from day one. I didn't have one teething problem. I can fake brave like PS said when I have to but honestly If I think i'm in danger of falling off I won't ride that horse! I had a 15.1 12yr old Iirsh mare on loan before Jae who was too strong out hacking and I didn't feel safe on her, but J I felt safe on right away.

I did BD after only 3 months of having him, his first ever show and he didn't put a foot wrong and we got placed. I did clear round jumping next. Again he didn't even get excited at the show and jumped round clear straight away. Water trays, fillers he just jumped with not a 2nd glance and calmly and sweetly jumping as well. I went hacking with my mum, cantering over open fields and he was perfect. Our first ever ODE a BE80 and I'm shaking with nerves.. I kick and he goes clear even though he has never done it before. If he does have a moment, it's usually because he is just really happy and gets excited but if I feel he's like that I put him on a circle, do lots of transitions to give him something to concentrate on and he buckles down straight away. He just wants to please so much, it's so sweet.
Hacking, I hack out on my own, with company and sometimes with my mum on foot when she walks the dog. Occassionally he will stop and snort or do a spin or a spook but if he does I just spin him back around, give him a boot and on we go lol. Even my nervous sister has hacked him round the village, and he's being used at the moment to give my mum her confidence back jumping.

I think any person who has a half decent seat and a bit of common sense is fine with a TB. You just have to not be silly like with any new horse you don't know, I imagine get the right one and you would find him or her easier than your WB mare.
They aren't all crazy rejects but they do all have different personalitlies and you have to find one right for you.

You sound like me, you are experienced rider and you aren't a clingy nervous novice but at the same time you don't want anything thats going to be a handful or put you in danger. You were fine with your green WB mare when she was a bit jumpy and spooky and needed reassurance at her first dressage ect, you'll be fine with a TB, a nice one that is genuine and has a good honest temprement :).
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Thank you, this post ^^^ has really cheered me up.

You're right, I think you are a similar rider to me, or at least you sound it and do get where I'm coming from.

Horses like your mums and J is exactly what I want down to a T. You're making me very jealous :p I am going to see this horse on Friday as it's only half an hour from me but if it isn't suitable then I will give Moorecroft a ring (in fact may do that anyway today) and explain me and the situation and see whether they think they have anything that it suitable.
 
SummerxStarsx said:
Thank you, this post ^^^ has really cheered me up.

You're right, I think you are a similar rider to me, or at least you sound it and do get where I'm coming from.

Horses like your mums and J is exactly what I want down to a T. You're making me very jealous :p I am going to see this horse on Friday as it's only half an hour from me but if it isn't suitable then I will give Moorecroft a ring (in fact may do that anyway today) and explain me and the situation and see whether they think they have anything that it suitable.
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Thats OK. I won't lie and say they are 'perfect' all the time but for my mum and me who are sensible with them, they are always manageable and I think that's the key.

For instance I wanted to jump a tiger trap left by the hunt out hacking. Mum on Charlie went through a gap and waited the other side of the jump, I shouted at her to make sure she was OK which she was, I kicked J on, we jumped the tiger trap and then I made sure I pulled him up quickly so we didn't gallop off and scare Charlie. It's just common sense things like to make sure we don't get ourselves in to trouble.

Charlie IS sharper than Jae, but he is just a little more nervous and will take more time, he would never do anything horrible.
Both are very easy really, my mum told her dressage lady Charlie could be a bit spooky and sharp and I think the dressage lady thinks we are bonkers as he is positively a saint in comparison to the very switched on dressage bred WB's they have at her yard lol. I think my mum is just used to her old TB who needed a rocket up his arse just to get him cantering lol.

I have fallen off J once in over 2 years of ownership and that was a silly fall because he spooked at something, I was in la la land and I just flopped off the side lol. Considering all we have done I think thats pretty good!

They can sometimes have a waiting list at Moorcroft so it might be a good idea to ring now and if they do get busy so don't feel bad for chasing them. At the end of the day it won't hurt to go and look and if you don't feel you have found the right horse for you it doesn't matter does it :).

Good luck, TB or not I hope you find the right one soon :).
 
There are never any guarantees with horses. I've had ex-racers who were absolute saints and never batted an eye at anything, I've had an ISH who is a complete and utter wimp and who trembled at the slightest vibrating leaf or scary puddle, I've had a connemara cross who delighted in sticking his head down and dropping a shoulder if he was bored - you just never know. One of our current TBs is a chestnut mare, she is like a pet dog to handle and nothing phases her. She is a fast but safe hack and hunter. However, show her some jumps and she turns into a fire breathing monster - it's what she absolutely loves and suddenly she's cantering sideways with her head up in the air, rushing everywhere and blooming hard to stop. So my 13yo daughter is happy to jump her and I just stick to hacking and flatwork with her (I'm too old to fall off which is what would happen I'm sure!) That's what is so entertaining about horses - they are all individual characters!

We went to the Moorcroft demonstration last weekend which was fantastic, I've never been before and wanted to meet Mary as I've heard a lot about her. I thought their set-up was fabulous and they take a huge amount of time and care to making sure that their ex-racers get the best start to their new lives. It is unlikely they will have what we are looking for (PC eventing/hunting home) any time soon as they have a lot of people already waiting for the same type, but it is a fantastic organisation and well worth a call or an email.

Good luck in your search - I can't wait to see photos of your next horse whatever it is
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
tricky one..................generally buying an ex racer because you cant afford anything else, is the worst reason to buy one, and the reason they end up with a bad name.

there are plenty out there that are straight, and genuine, but it does depend on HOW nervous exactly you are, if something is blowing, snorting, bouncing and cantering sideways, but not actually really doing anything, are you going to be ok to sit still and pat and ignore it, because even the most genuine ex racer will probably have those moments, and if you think you would freeze and panic, that will scare them and the behaviour would escalate, if that makes sense?

Fig is THE most genuine, willing little man ive met, a real can do attitude, but someone who went foetal and nervy would really unsettle him and might end up making him very upset indeed.

you dont have to BE brave, but you need to be able to fake brave at the very least, if that makes sense?

the other thing to consider, is that if you buy one, and it turns out to be bonkers, and thus completely useless, will you have the balls to have it PTS and thus save another cheap and barmy horse entering the uncertain world of being sold on and on and on?if you dont think you could do it, step away now. Not saying many people have to, but its a harsh reality you have to consider, something that failed at its first career and isnt all that keen on having a second one, is safer PTS IMO, unless you are going to be happy to gift, or sell at a loss to someone you KNOW will be able to turn it around.
If CS wasnt so good at dressage, he would be one of those, because something that rears, wont hack, wont jump and naps like the devil, isnt a viable option to sell on. His freaky talent for poncing is all thats saved him really.

lots to think about.
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Great sensible post!

My ex racer can be a complete donkey at times it all depends on his frame of mind, sometimes he will happily jump 2ft 9, others he will try and dive out of a set of poles on the ground. One day he can be hacked on the buckle end, the next you might be going backwards down a bank as he's taken offence to a large rock that was there yesterday....

I've learnt to fake brave like nothing else and trust him as he has only hurt me once when he met an electric fence a bit close for the first time :rolleyes:

Good luck finding something, takes time but they are out there, ex-racer or not :)
 
Firewell said:
Thats OK. I won't lie and say they are 'perfect' all the time but for my mum and me who are sensible with them, they are always manageable and I think that's the key.
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Well, I am a 'sensible' rider who would never do anything reckless or silly that would a horse in a situation where they would become unmanagable. Except for on G who I do tend to bomb about the countryside, jumping logs etc and razzing him around, simply because I know him inside out and backwards and know I CAN and not be in any danger. But I can't imagine EVER wanting to be or being like that with another horse and definitely not with an ex-racer.
 
Swirlymurphy said:
There are never any guarantees with horses. I've had ex-racers who were absolute saints and never batted an eye at anything, I've had an ISH who is a complete and utter wimp and who trembled at the slightest vibrating leaf or scary puddle, I've had a connemara cross who delighted in sticking his head down and dropping a shoulder if he was bored - you just never know. One of our current TBs is a chestnut mare, she is like a pet dog to handle and nothing phases her. She is a fast but safe hack and hunter. However, show her some jumps and she turns into a fire breathing monster - it's what she absolutely loves and suddenly she's cantering sideways with her head up in the air, rushing everywhere and blooming hard to stop. So my 13yo daughter is happy to jump her and I just stick to hacking and flatwork with her (I'm too old to fall off which is what would happen I'm sure!) That's what is so entertaining about horses - they are all individual characters!

We went to the Moorcroft demonstration last weekend which was fantastic, I've never been before and wanted to meet Mary as I've heard a lot about her. I thought their set-up was fabulous and they take a huge amount of time and care to making sure that their ex-racers get the best start to their new lives. It is unlikely they will have what we are looking for (PC eventing/hunting home) any time soon as they have a lot of people already waiting for the same type, but it is a fantastic organisation and well worth a call or an email.

Good luck in your search - I can't wait to see photos of your next horse whatever it is
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Thank you :D I'm going to give Moorecroft a call on my lunch I think and just have a chat.
 
leflynn said:
Great sensible post!

My ex racer can be a complete donkey at times it all depends on his frame of mind, sometimes he will happily jump 2ft 9, others he will try and dive out of a set of poles on the ground. One day he can be hacked on the buckle end, the next you might be going backwards down a bank as he's taken offence to a large rock that was there yesterday....

I've learnt to fake brave like nothing else and trust him as he has only hurt me once when he met an electric fence a bit close for the first time :rolleyes:

Good luck finding something, takes time but they are out there, ex-racer or not :)
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Thanks :) I know, obviously it IS all an indivdual thing and even the safest horse can have silly days. I don't mind occasional silly, just not everyday silly, I just want to be able to relax and enjoy the horse, not worry every little thing will set them on edge or they'll take offence to everything out hacking or asked of them in the school.
 
SummerxStarsx said:
Yes, I was thinking Darley too as know a friend who got one from there and they were good. Will wait and see what this horse is like on Friday I think and then if no good will start getting in touch with the charities.
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If you get a horse from Darley make sure you get it thoroughly checked. I have heard of two case of Darley rehomed horses that have subsequently had xrays for lameness issues and it was discovered they had screws in their legs from previous fractures that their new owners were never told about at the rehoming centre. It could of course be that Darley didnt know and put the scars down to something else.
 
We accidentally bought an ex racer 18 months ago (badly worded advert, we felt sorry for him, turned up with cash and trailer), only once we saw his passport did we know he had raced (have since also found out he has done BE and I have also contacted his trainer who said how nice he was!)

I lost my confidence with my last pony and we were very stupid to just buy this one but he's been the best £800 we've ever spent! Excellent to hack, has given me so much confidence jumping, we’ve won and been placed dressage, sj and xc , been on holiday etc. Don't get me wrong he's not a complete dobbin, if you touch his mouth jumping he will leap and buck, he's had me off a few times bucking or high jinx leaps jumping but he is so laid back 99% of the time it's amazing. I would have a TB over section D (last pony was half section D!)

Have to add though, he reacts badly to some feed and even too much hay can send him mental, he holds his weight very well and does well on not a lot!

Second the good feet though, his feet are appalling, has corrective shoes and is off to the vets tomorrow for a lameness work up :( :( :( (in the farrier’s words legs like Twiglets, feet made from driftwood!:p)
 
SummerxStarsx said:
Well, I am a 'sensible' rider who would never do anything reckless or silly that would a horse in a situation where they would become unmanagable. Except for on G who I do tend to bomb about the countryside, jumping logs etc and razzing him around, simply because I know him inside out and backwards and know I CAN and not be in any danger. But I can't imagine EVER wanting to be or being like that with another horse and definitely not with an ex-racer.
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You can be like that with them once you get to know them. With Jae and my late Vaya I like going for a canter and jumping logs out hacking, Vaya even though she was fizzer than J used to love doing sponsored rides! It's just like anything really you get to know them and you learn what they will and won't tolerate :). Never say never! :D
 
Oh to echo others ours get fed fibre nuts and chaff to be on the safe side, J probably would get obnoxious on high energy feed. Jae has brilliant feet, very hard so does Charlie and so did Red but Vaya had quite thin feet. I have to make sure Jae has a good farrier as his feet do grow very quickly and he needs a farrier who will keep them short but apart from that he's shod 6 weeks and I don't think about them inbetween. Vaya wasn't bad but she could be a bit footy on stones and she needed shoeing every 5 weeks instead of 6. I always put overreach on in the field just in case!
I often school Jae without stirrups and the same when I had Vaya. I even ride without saddles sometimes :). J very rarely spooks schooling and never at a show, never ever at a jump. He only spooks sometimes out hacking but when he does, I know he's bored and looking for things to do so he gets to do some lateral work or go trotting up some steep hills hee hee. Vaya never used to spook out hacking, she even put her ears back and pushed past a hairy cow with horns once because it was blocking the path home!
Jae is a very laid back horse, the sort you have to kick more than hold. Vaya was very sprightly but she was all mouth and no trousers!!

I've gone on loads sorry!
 
It just shows that with any type/breed of horse you'll always get sharp/quirky ones. I definitely known a few sharp and hot Section Ds, but when you find a good/safe one they really are that.

I've had my D from a 4yo (8yo now) and he has never, ever bucked, reared, napped, etc. He really is the most safest horse (200% in heavy traffic) and I've put complete beginner children on him and let them go off around the arena on him. I'm very lucky that he has lovely movement and is built uphill, he's working at Advanced Medium, competing Elementary (Medium by the end of the year) and the aim is PSG. His only faults are is that he is spooky (although very controllable as in it's easy to rectify) and he gets worried when he thinks he's getting it wrong, so walk gets choppy and tense, but this is also been sorted by lots of praising and just repeating everything.

So I hope it's a lovely safe Welsh D you're going to see as they really are fab!
 
MillionDollar said:
It just shows that with any type/breed of horse you'll always get sharp/quirky ones. I definitely known a few sharp and hot Section Ds, but when you find a good/safe one they really are that.

I've had my D from a 4yo (8yo now) and he has never, ever bucked, reared, napped, etc. He really is the most safest horse (200% in heavy traffic) and I've put complete beginner children on him and let them go off around the arena on him. I'm very lucky that he has lovely movement and is built uphill, he's working at Advanced Medium, competing Elementary (Medium by the end of the year) and the aim is PSG. His only faults are is that he is spooky (although very controllable as in it's easy to rectify) and he gets worried when he thinks he's getting it wrong, so walk gets choppy and tense, but this is also been sorted by lots of praising and just repeating everything.

So I hope it's a lovely safe Welsh D you're going to see as they really are fab!
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Well owner has said he is really good boy to ride, never nasty, doesn't do anything, really good to hack. He is forward but has very good brakes and is snaffle mouthed at all times etc so we will see I guess! Your D sounds lovely, very like my friends. How big is he/she if you don't mind me asking?
 
I bought my last horse as a just-turned 4 year old (that week) ex-racer. He'd been raced as a 3yo (was too slow) and had been gelded late. He was the most quiet 4yo you could imagine. Bombproof, occasionally a bit lazy etc, but such a lovely work ethic and always up for trying new things (he was great at Trec!). He and I had a fantastic 1st year. When he turned 5 he got a lot physically stronger (filled out and became quite chunky) and a lot more excitable.

I think you would have loved him as a 4yo but as a 5yo he probably would have dented your confidence. There were a couple of rides/competitions where I felt nervous on him, although on the whole I absolutely loved riding him and I always felt like hacking out was me and him against the world. He could spook and spin but he always tried to take me with him, if you know what I mean. I really did worship him. And I'd have another ex-racer like a shot, except mine was hideously accident-prone and eventually had to be PTS aged 7 with incurable PSD (together with SI problems and undiagnosed right fore lameness). My OH won't let me have another ex-racer due to the injuries and vets bills.

My take on it is that no horse is perfect, and it's always hard finding the one that will suit you and you just can't tell before you get them home. Ex-racers are more likely to be sharp and silly, but by no means are ALL like that. There are probably more silly TBs out there than silly other breeds, but the gems are still out there.

Moorcroft always seem great, although a friend had a very bad experience with Heros and a totally unsuitable dangerous horse with kissing spines.

GOOD LUCK whatever you decide. I hope you find a lovely horse that you can have fun on and that will restore your confidence even further.
 
Yes be careful of Darley,
I waited over a year for them to find me a horse and it was stumbling so bad from its back-end I didn't feel safe- they was trying to rehome it!!

I walked away very quickly
 
id only been riding 6 months when i bought my exracer haha!

i tried him out he bombed off with me in the school....

but brought him home he was nice as pie... good out hacking alone and in company although didnt like to stop at junctions and was scared of cyclists in hivis....easly combatted though! :)

hes a good boy never done a dirty stop on me and never tried to have me off the worse he has ever done is blind bolt once which i fell off wasnt hurt and he stayed sttod by me albeit shacking like a leaf bless him.....the only other thing he can do when hes being lazy (which is 99% of the time lol) is though in the tiniest buck on the planet when i ask for a collected canter from a slow collected trot...although this could be hes just finiding his feet :)...

also bucks when we do a flying chance which feels awful.... other than thats hes a brilliant 1st horse...and im by no means a confident rider :)
 
He's 15.1 :)

This is my friend riding him (she is 5'1" and quite nervous at the moment after a very bad fall from her own pony)....

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Oh wow, he is divine! Lovely boy.

Am excited about tomorrow now, LMAO, I think I have visions of this D being like yours. It'll probably be a proper hairy chunky monkey who won't move.....ah well, will get him anyway and stick some Anky on him, that oughta do it :D
 
Mine raced 18 times & was quite good, but threw in the towel when he was over-handicapped.

He is absolutely 100% at home in the school in all weathers, high wind, rain etc, & in the dark by the light of a single floodlight. He hacks out okay following a bike, with the odd random skip about. To be fair to him, he would probs be better if I hacked out more, but it's once maybe twice a month as I don't like the road outside the house.

Fine in lessons, okay-ish at dr comps altho a nightmare to plait, insane at sj comps. Some of that's probs my fault too cos he lives at home with just my ancient mare, so doesn't get to see other horses much.

95% of the time he would be totally fine to stick your granny/total novice on him, 4% of the time you need to be confident to sit still for a few seconds & wait for him to stop being a t*t & 1% of the time (sj warmup...) you need your guardian angel!

None of the cliched 'TB' things are an issue - he lives out, keeps weight on & doesn't lose shoes!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

T x
 
MillionDollar said:
ANKY and fully clip ;) I wish I had a pic when I first got mine, he was an obese hairy yak :p
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Yes, I was actually going to have a talk with the owner if I DO like him and ask whether she'd let me clip feathers etc if he has any. Not sure whether that'll be okay or not, he may not even have any, we'll see I suppose!
 
catembi said:
Mine raced 18 times & was quite good, but threw in the towel when he was over-handicapped.

He is absolutely 100% at home in the school in all weathers, high wind, rain etc, & in the dark by the light of a single floodlight. He hacks out okay following a bike, with the odd random skip about. To be fair to him, he would probs be better if I hacked out more, but it's once maybe twice a month as I don't like the road outside the house.

Fine in lessons, okay-ish at dr comps altho a nightmare to plait, insane at sj comps. Some of that's probs my fault too cos he lives at home with just my ancient mare, so doesn't get to see other horses much.

95% of the time he would be totally fine to stick your granny/total novice on him, 4% of the time you need to be confident to sit still for a few seconds & wait for him to stop being a t*t & 1% of the time (sj warmup...) you need your guardian angel!

None of the cliched 'TB' things are an issue - he lives out, keeps weight on & doesn't lose shoes!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

T x
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Thank you :)
 
PapaFrita said:
I had a TB who was so laid back he was horizontal. He was absolutely safe as houses and only 4 when I got him :)
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My first ex racer, and I am not overly confident. I forget he is 4, and forget he is an ex-racer and just get on with it. Don't get me wrong I've had my wibbles, but he's done nothing wrong. I paid more than you are looking to pay though. He came from trainer/owner/stud.
 
Puppy said:
For those of you who like your ex racers, this chap really caught my eye whilst I was browsing NFED this morning -

http://www.nfed.co.uk/cgi-bin/class...play_db_button=on&db_id=73586&query=retrieval

Not what we're looking for at all, but I do like him. ;)
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Caught my eye in the sales catalogue for Ascot on Monday

http://www.brightwells.com/Librarie...4477-bbe4-5d8a48bb7bc9/119.pdf?download=false

Sadly not really big enough for me, wonder how much he'll make, he looked nice on the studs website. If only he was 16hh! I haven't been to a sale before however I am not keen to buy horses sold under condition 9 of the sales, would prefer condition 8.
 
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