Ex-racers VS 'Normal' Horses

[Puzzles]

So as not to hijack the other Ex-racehorse, because I am looking in the near (well, ish) future to buy and bring on an ex-racehorse, I would be really interested to find out what differences or extra considerations people have found when re-training and caring for ex-racehorses, compared to (for want of a better word) 'normal' horses.

 

[sarelis]

Hi, I have an ex racer, have owned him for the last 5 years. I don't really think it's possible to make a comparison, as temperament, hardiness, everything really, varies between individual horses in ex racers just as it does in 'normal' horses. I think some of the more common issues are things like keeping weight on in winter (although there are ex racers that are good doers), and just being generally sensitive- to pretty much anything! My TB is certainly more laid back than my old Hanoverian mare, and the sport horse mare I had before her. Although I do find it interesting to note the similarities between him & the other ex racer on our yard, things like waving front feet around during a feed, most seem to do this! Other than that they are completely different horses. Probably the more important things to take into consideration are soundness of limb after a racing career, old injuries & general wear & tear associated with the level of work they do

 

[Puzzles]

Thank you! Any trips regarding extra considerations would be very useful ... what about the methods used when re-training, i.e. more patience, more time, the introduction of the leg etc?

 

[RachelFerd]

Impossible to generalise. Many are nice horses who don't need any extra 'considerations' at all. Certainly applies to my grey boy - his only quirk is that he isn't good with mounting blocks. Nothing else is a bother - tbh he is easier to deal with then most people's privately owned horses.

 

[ghostie]

Hi, I have an ex racer, have owned him for the last 5 years. I don't really think it's possible to make a comparison, as temperament, hardiness, everything really, varies between individual horses in ex racers just as it does in 'normal' horses. I think some of the more common issues are things like keeping weight on in winter (although there are ex racers that are good doers), and just being generally sensitive- to pretty much anything! My TB is certainly more laid back than my old Hanoverian mare, and the sport horse mare I had before her. Although I do find it interesting to note the similarities between him & the other ex racer on our yard, things like waving front feet around during a feed, most seem to do this! Other than that they are completely different horses. Probably the more important things to take into consideration are soundness of limb after a racing career, old injuries & general wear & tear associated with the level of work they do

That's really interesting - my ex-racer waves his front feet around when he eats and when he's worried or excited about something - what is that all about?! I had no idea it was an ex-racer thing - any specific reason for it that you know of please?

I've only had my boy ten days and he's been of the track for some time so I'm not the best person to comment, but one thing I've found is he can be a real pain about standing still by a mounting block. A search on here suggests that's a very common ex-racer thing, and that I'm actually quite lucky as many won't stand still at all as they're used to people being legged up onto them when they're moving!

 

[Puzzles]

Well if it makes it any easier, how about your own individual experiences with your horses? Individual quirks, things you expected and what surprised you?

 

[RachelFerd]

Waving feet around when being fed is not an 'ex-racer thing' - I have worked with many racehorses and know very few who do this.

More likely it is something that happens when horses taken from a strict feeding routine, who are always fed *together* at the same time, every day - without fail, are suddenly subjected to the hit-and-miss feeding routine of the average DIY livery yard, where all the horses are fed at different times every day completely out of synch with each other.

It is one of my pet peeves to hear people say horses do something purely because they are an 'ex racer' rather than considering the complete history, lifestyle and circumstances of the horse. Far easier to blame the racing industry...

 

[Tuffles 23]

Hi when i was 16 i had an ex-racer straight from the track and he was a normal horse he put waight on well and was brill on the road and a great hack in company on his own he was a bit nappy but i also had a 15hh cob who was much worse lol

 

[sjp1]

There isn't really a rule of thumb for ex racers. Very much depends what yard they come from and what their individual personalities are. I had one who was a happy boy with no particular hangups. My last one had been in racing for ten years. He was loaded with a pitchfork behind him (and this I know for a fact because I knew one of the girls who worked at the yard), was quite often pushed onto the gallops with a quad bike up behind him etc.

He was a lovely natured horse. Stressy, partly because that was his nature and partly because of the environment he lived in.

Silly things upset him really. When he first came to me our stables went straight out into a field. He had been so instutionalised, he had to be led out of his stable initially as he couldn't get his head around the fact he could just walk out by himself. Loading was obviously something we had to work on, but we managed without too much issue, he did sometimes do freak out and I remember one day up on the moor he wouldn't move except backwards for 20 mins because it just freaked him out!

On the upside he was the nicest horse I have ever had, he had a real bond with me because he had a happy life with me, he hated bits and I galloped him with no problem in a bitless bridle, he always pulled up at the end of a gallop with no problem at all, he never bucked and he was just a lovely boy.

Well worth the investment in time. Yes, you have to retrain them to stand while you get on, but that is easy with a polo, they are fab to clip, easy to shoe, used to horses cannoning into the back of them, fine with horses galloping all around - actually all things my 'normal' horse is not very good at!!!

 

[Welshie Squisher]

I can't answer your question but did want to say I recently rode an ex racer at a riding school I return to on odd occassions if I'm having a confidence crisis or just not rode in a good while.
I rode an ex racer to get back on my cob.....lol
I have never felt safer on a horse, he totally changed my views on ex racers, he was a joy to ride and I am now wanting a TB, I've settled for a TB/cob cross

 

[ghostie]

Waving feet around when being fed is not an 'ex-racer thing' - I have worked with many racehorses and know very few who do this.

More likely it is something that happens when horses taken from a strict feeding routine, who are always fed *together* at the same time, every day - without fail, are suddenly subjected to the hit-and-miss feeding routine of the average DIY livery yard, where all the horses are fed at different times every day completely out of synch with each other.

It is one of my pet peeves to hear people say horses do something purely because they are an 'ex racer' rather than considering the complete history, lifestyle and circumstances of the horse. Far easier to blame the racing industry...

Ah well, he's thoroughly institutionalised now on a strictly run full livery yard so perhaps the leg waving will diminish once he works out that he will always get his meals dead on time There was me thinking that it was just a habit that has been picked up by a TB way back when and then passed on to others until it worked its way around the racing world (makes no sense now I think about it!)

 

[L&M]

I had an ex racehorse for a while and the main issue I had with him was that he wouldn't hack out without company. He would rear up which was not much fun. He had already been re-schooled, and was quite 'stodgy' in the school but relatively odedient.

Due to the hacking issue I sold him to a friend as a hunter, which he really enjoyed as was at his happiest being in a group of horses, as I imagine he was used to this from his racing days.

I am currently helping a friend look after 2 ex racers. The older one has been sucessfully re schooled to do dressage. They will both hack out, but the younger one is very spooky on his own.

To handle they can be quiet challenging as don't like being separated, and when turning out/getting in can be a handful. They don't like the wind or rain so are better stabled on rough days, or just lose the plot and trash their paddock wanting to come in. This may have nothing to do with being ex-racers but imagine when in training were predominately stabled, so maybe feel happier in that environment.

I wouldn't have another ex-racer, but am not a TB person anyhow.

 

[Little Squirrel]

Waving feet around when being fed is not an 'ex-racer thing' - I have worked with many racehorses and know very few who do this.

More likely it is something that happens when horses taken from a strict feeding routine, who are always fed *together* at the same time, every day - without fail, are suddenly subjected to the hit-and-miss feeding routine of the average DIY livery yard, where all the horses are fed at different times every day completely out of synch with each other.

It is one of my pet peeves to hear people say horses do something purely because they are an 'ex racer' rather than considering the complete history, lifestyle and circumstances of the horse. Far easier to blame the racing industry...

Couldn't agree more!

 

[RachelFerd]

Ghostie, when I go in to feed my livery yard in the morning (I am first up, so do all the feeds) there are 4 ex racehorses and there are around 14 'normal' horses. There are 3 horses that kick the door - 1 warmblood, 1 hairy pony/cob and 1 ex-show horse.

1 of the ex racehorses scatters his food across the floor when he gets it, the others eat up quietly without any hysterics. There are several 'other' horses that scatter their feed all over the place.

I don't think there is any particular pattern to behaviour around feed. In my experience racehorses don't tend to be very possessive around feed since it has never been taken away from them, they have never had to fight for it, and they have always had plenty of it

 

[Kiristamm]

That's really interesting - my ex-racer waves his front feet around when he eats and when he's worried or excited about something - what is that all about?! I had no idea it was an ex-racer thing - any specific reason for it that you know of please?

It is to do with the horse wanting to move whilst they eat (Step then eat some grass then take another step etc). My ex racer didn't do it but my pony has done it since he was 8 months (Now 20!).

 

[ghostie]

It is to do with the horse wanting to move whilst they eat (Step then eat some grass then take another step etc). My ex racer didn't do it but my pony has done it since he was 8 months (Now 20!).

Thanks, that's a really interesting theory! I don't mind it, particularly given that he doesn't actually kick his door, just wafts his legs about, but it interests me. Anyway, I'll stop hijacking the thread now - sorry OP!

 

[Firewell]

My horse is an ex-racer and to me he is actually much nicer than most normal horses! However he only was in training for 3-6 months and raced once so he probably cannot remember much about his racing training.

My mum has had a couple now that have been 8/9 yrs when she got them and they have always been in a racing environment. They have been super horses (we chose well, ones with good temps, paces and confo ect). The only big difference we have noticed is that both of them don't like staying out in the field much!! They seemed to prefer their stables more and were very calm in their stables, however if my mum is literally 2 mins late getting them in from the field they get upset. Also they like being out with a herd and aren't good being out individually or just with one other horse, they get quite clingy and insecure out in the field.

Not sure if thats the same for all ex-racers but it seemed a bit coincedental that 3 out of our 4 ex-racers we have retrained have been the same about being out in the field.

Otherwise mostly they are absolutly gorgeous to handle having always been handled by professionals who know what they are doing. They also have gorgeous light mouths, move forwards well and are really good at being off the leg. To be honest it's very easy to school on a horse that has had that grounding! They are brilliant to canter over fields in company as they are so used to doing it, just dont hold them back! They hate being pulled in a mouth but slow down brilliantly when you use your seat, if you pull the ones we have had can get upset and leap around. However drop your reins and sit up and they slow right down.

Thats it really! We've always treated our ex-racers like any normal green horse, take our time with them and they progress really quickly .

 

[imogen345]

My aunt had an ex racer as 10yo off the track. Seen videos of him at this age rearing and running back at full speed at shows looking very hot headed. But after about a year I remember being a kid and he was the only horse I could turn out and wouldn't pull me over. I also as a kid used to spend hours grooming him whilst mum rode her youngsters and he was a gentle giant. Also turned into a great all-rounder. Retired late 20's with not a day lame and passed away in his 30's.

My aunt later down the line then wanted another ex racer due to him being so fab, and lost her confidence from it, due to having a bad accident/injury on the new ex racer and having to send him back to the rehoming centre as he had kissing spine.

I have been to view ex racers that have been bred by ignorant people who lack knowledge in breeding and would never pass a 2 stage vetting. One, the girl got off and cried as she was too scared to canter, not to mention the horse was also lame in the process.

I have purchased one for myself last week (don't know how came about as I was actually looking for another Welsh D as my horses live out) but she has lived out well 2 years after racing. I had her vetted and researched her lines, race records and every detail I possibly could.

Don't forget to always look into their lines, just because the purpose is for racing, that is still the horses genetic make-up and plays a role in whatever they do and their conformation...

I have only had this mare for 1 week but due to having good trial facilities I knew her temperament would be suitable for me and I can't wait for the progress to be made. She is very straight forward, had some running back/napping first 2 days especially when leaving yard to hack alone, but I am treating her like a youngster as she is still only 6 and we have stripped it all down to the foundation phase which is going very well.

As you can tell, all above, not one of the ex racers have anything in common and I could list a dozen more. Good luck if you take one on as it is a very rewarding process.

 

[bumblelion]

As others have said you can't generalise them, they're all different. My boys now 13yrs, raced most of his life, flat and then NH. Iv owned him 5 years now. It took me a while to gain his trust, particularly with things like applying creams etc (was blistered), even putting boots on was mission impossible! He's very sensitive to certain situations, not good to get loaded but once on fine. More relaxed in a chifney than his headcollar! Can be strong at times to lead, and gets his knickers in a knot if there's too much going on! E.g. Leading him past a horse working, any kind of comp environment blows his brains! Was on a comp yard for a while and he never settled, too many horses in different routines, it just didn't work! He's now at home and is so laid back!

He needs routine, likes to know where he is! I'd say he is one of the more sensitive and complicated exracers out there, iv met many that are so laid back! I blame his dad-zafonic as he was known to be sharp! In the winter I really have to turn him out every morning to keep him happy! It's his routine you see! He won't even eat his token feed (supps) as he's too busy stressing about getting out!

He's great for the farrier, dentist, vet etc. A real good doer, he has no hard feed all winter (just supps and handful of chaff!). Unflappable with things like plastic bags, bird scarers etc, whereas my other horse seriously freaks! He's pretty good out hacking, in company and on his own, although if something really upsets him (we met some galloping deer once!), there's no way of chilling him out and he will nap all the way home, getting more and more worked up!

Hes a real gem though, will try his hardest to please me but I have to constantly install confidence in him and tell him he can do it! He's his own worst enemy, scares and winds himself up! He's not got a malicious bone in his body, great personality and is so much more chilled out than he was. He picks things up quickly, stands fine at the mounting block etc. Hes a real softy and is my horse of a lifetime! The bond we have is unreal! We trust each other 100% and he's now much more trusting of other people!

He's a little monkey out in the field, very playful etc! More like a youngster! I know I could never compete on him, it literally blows his brains that environment but do you know what?! I don't care! I get so much satisfaction from schooling/hacking him!

 

[3BayGeldings]

Mine is fantastic. Quietest horse in the world, hacks out perfectly alone or in company, not an iota different at a show or wherever he's taken. Also with great manners and keeps his weight on and has good feet. You really can't generalise ex-racers!

 

[paddi22]

Mine is lovely but a nightmare. He has to have a set routine, be kept in regular work and treated very sensitively or else he is an absolute nightmare!

When managed correctly he is willing and enjoyable to ride, but I constantly have to figure out psychologically the best way to make him do stuff, if that makes any sense. Otherwise he is a rearing, napping monster who loses all sense of reason and his own safety.

I had a 'normal' horse for years and hand on heart I miss the straightforwardness, even though he was confident, bolshy hunter.

I adore my guy to bits and would never part with him, and when he is going well there is nothing like him, but he is very complicated. He just seems very neurotic and nervy, and you have to figure out where his head is at before you can find the correct approach to take, and this often has to be done instantly while riding to see off trouble. He gets bored easily schooling, gets stressed if he doesn't understand what you're asking and needs an inordinate amount of reassurance in situations he isn't used to.

On the plus side he is the loveliest horse on the ground, well mannered, nothing fazes him and he travels well.

 

[kippen64]

So as not to hijack the other Ex-racehorse, because I am looking in the near (well, ish) future to buy and bring on an ex-racehorse, I would be really interested to find out what differences or extra considerations people have found when re-training and caring for ex-racehorses, compared to (for want of a better word) 'normal' horses.

Please folks, don't shoot me if I make a mess of this.

The way I see it is this. Your average Thoroughbred isn't going to appreciate being kept out in a UK field all winter. Their care needs are generally higher than your average horse. Even here in warm Australia the difference in the care needs of Thoroughbred and an average horse is still something to consider. It really depends on what you are willing to do and what you hope to achieve with your horse. If you just want a horse to plod around on and who can live out (in the UK) most or all of the time, a Thoroughbred is not for you.

Gee, I sound like a party pooper. Sorry about that.

 

[flump]

I got my first ex racer at 13! she was a 3 year old! We gave her a year off then rebacked her at 4, having ridden ponys all my life I had a nasty shock the first time I pony club kicked her lol! (Still have her now, well my mum does)

I now have 2 exracers (my 3rd had to be PTS )

One is retired and one is in work

I find they are brilliant hacks alone or company
Great in big groups
Well mannered in stable

Only faults is that Parker still hasnt learnt that we dont do routine much anymore and has a fit at the thought i may not be there on time!

 

[Ibblebibble]

Please folks, don't shoot me if I make a mess of this.

The way I see it is this. Your average Thoroughbred isn't going to appreciate being kept out in a UK field all winter. Their care needs are generally higher than your average horse. Even here in warm Australia the difference in the care needs of Thoroughbred and an average horse is still something to consider. It really depends on what you are willing to do and what you hope to achieve with your horse. If you just want a horse to plod around on and who can live out (in the UK) most or all of the time, a Thoroughbred is not for you.

Gee, I sound like a party pooper. Sorry about that.

totally disagree lol!! my old TB was 18 when i got her, first year i kept her stabled at night over winter, she box walked, dropped weight and was stiff going out to the field in the morning, i moved to farm livery where she could live out all year, and rugged sensibly that is what she did and was much better for it. she was also a lovely ploddy hack who my complete novice hubby used to ride around the local village.
I now have another TB (ex racer) on loan and again he prefers to be out rather than stabled, he's not a ploddy hack but he certainly is a safe hack, he's obviously done plenty of roadwork as nothing phases him. My friends 'ploddy' cob is more of a livewire than the TB!!!

 

[kippen64]

totally disagree lol!! my old TB was 18 when i got her, first year i kept her stabled at night over winter, she box walked, dropped weight and was stiff going out to the field in the morning, i moved to farm livery where she could live out all year, and rugged sensibly that is what she did and was much better for it. she was also a lovely ploddy hack who my complete novice hubby used to ride around the local village.
I now have another TB (ex racer) on loan and again he prefers to be out rather than stabled, he's not a ploddy hack but he certainly is a safe hack, he's obviously done plenty of roadwork as nothing phases him. My friends 'ploddy' cob is more of a livewire than the TB!!!

In my defence, I did say generally and average. Not all. Even here in the sunny climes of Australia, my own 17 year old Thoroughbred who is out in a paddock is rugged, fed ad-lib hay and has a shelter. I just wanted to point out that the care needs of a Thoroughbred should be considered. That might be something that a person who has never previously owned one might want to think about. Cheers.

 

[Lolo]

Please folks, don't shoot me if I make a mess of this.

The way I see it is this. Your average Thoroughbred isn't going to appreciate being kept out in a UK field all winter. Their care needs are generally higher than your average horse. Even here in warm Australia the difference in the care needs of Thoroughbred and an average horse is still something to consider. It really depends on what you are willing to do and what you hope to achieve with your horse. If you just want a horse to plod around on and who can live out (in the UK) most or all of the time, a Thoroughbred is not for you.

Gee, I sound like a party pooper. Sorry about that.

Reggie after a winter in a field doing nothing at all (he went on holiday as he needed a proper break and sister was having an operation that would leave her out of action for a while!):

I agree with RachelFerd totally.

Reg is a poppet to handle and to hack out- he merrily nannies 2 small children on their 12hh ponies and goes for canters with them the day after going for proper gallops round the same area. He is snaffle mouthed at all times- the only gadget on him is a flash (he didn't like the drop, but likes the flash).

Retraining, he tries his hardest all the time, is soft and sweet and kind and generally is a nice horse. Very genuine and although it's not been easy most of the difficulties are from inexperience of both horse and rider.

But, another racehorse we know of who's just come out of training is his polar opposite in temperament despite an almost identical start in life. She's feisty and opinionated and knows what she wants- a far cry from easy-going Reg! The challenge of retraining her would be a very different one.

 

[Mince Pie]

I have an ex racer, raced from a 2 year old to a 5 year old and come to me 12 weeks later. She is fine at the mounting block, can be mounted from the floor, does hack alone but does 'hurry' a bit but isn't very spooky. She lives out, has been barefoot practically since she came out of training (with an 8 week spell of fronts only), doesn't take much feeding and is a very chilled out girlie! My cob on the hand is a spooky wodgit!

 

[kippen64]

Please folks, don't shoot me if I make a mess of this.

The way I see it is this. Your average Thoroughbred isn't going to appreciate being kept out in a UK field all winter. Their care needs are generally higher than your average horse. Even here in warm Australia the difference in the care needs of Thoroughbred and an average horse is still something to consider. It really depends on what you are willing to do and what you hope to achieve with your horse. If you just want a horse to plod around on and who can live out (in the UK) most or all of the time, a Thoroughbred is not for you.

Gee, I sound like a party pooper. Sorry about that.

I feel a bit weird quoting my own post. What I wrote about was how generally (and I do mean generally and not always) Thoroughbreds need a level of care that should be considered when deciding if one would be a good choice. At no point is either riding or schooling mentioned. So to the good hearted folks who have pointed out to me that their Thoroughbreds are easy to ride, I never said that they weren't. I wrote my original post based on the experience that here in Australia, the level of care that a type of horse requires can be and often is one of the factors that a person might bear in mind before going out horse shopping. Nothing more and nothing less.

 

[Rose Folly]

As so many others have said, there is no rule of thumb, and ex-racers are just like any other type of horse. It entirely depends on their individual make-up.

Throughout my childhood my family were passsed ex-racers by a big owner who was a friend of my father's. I rode the first one when I was 10, and hunted one at 13 (and I was and am just an average rider). One pulled a lot when out hunting, the others were very well-behaved. We never 're-schooled' them, just rode them.

At present far and away the best behaved of my three liveries is the ex-chaser, who was racing until March 2011. He is totally laid back, so gentle you can (literally) put a baby on his back, amazing out hacking (it's my stout cob mare who has hysterics over cob-eating wheelie bins on dustbin day), and though strong in gallop he does stop more or less when asked.

He came to us very lean and with a history of ulcers (the vet I ride with tells me 80% of the racehorses she deals with have, or have had, ulcer troubles because of their racing diet). That could be something you should be aware of. I was worried about how he would fare this winter as our horses live out 24/7 though with access to barns and hard standing. He has come through really well, and is steadily putting on weight. He's on a very simple diet of cool mix, mollichaff and sugarbeet, with linseed the only 'booster', and ad lib haylage. His only supplement is Biotin for his wretched TB feet, and the farrier is delighted with how they are improving. He is warmly, but not ridiculously warmly, rugged and has his full coat. In this current mild weather he doesn't have a rug on in the daytime.

So just enjoy your race horse when you get him or her. Just treat it as you would any other well-bred horse, and you should be absolutely fine! Have fun.

 

[Laafet]

I have worked with racehorses/TB breeding stock for the last 10 years and reschooled ex-racers. IMHO if you get an ex-racer the sooner you stop treating him or her like what you perceive a racehorse to be like and like any other well bred horse then the more successful that horse will integrate into normal society. I get fed up of people going 'oh he does that because he is an ex-racer' err no, he does whatever due to the person who is handling him. Some racehorses are little wotsits but many are well mannered nice people who adapt to whatever job they are asked to do. Plus most have been well handled since birth which helps, they are far easier to work with than a bolshy 4 year old untouched warmblood.