Ex-racers VS 'Normal' Horses

[Ancient Hacker]

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.

Kippen, I understand your perspective - it's possible that in Oz our TB racehorses are managed quite similarly. Not many people I know here would keep an ex-racing TB out 24/7 (admittedly here in SA it's partly a safety issue). Everyone I know with ex racer TBs regards them as being a bit high maintenance. On racing yards they seem to be kept in their stables almost constantly, except when out for gallops. (I won't comment on how I feel about that....)

I consider mine to be slightly pernickety, not for the faint-hearted ; of course they're absolutely lovely to ride, when not doing 360 degree spins etc; they make me hanker for a COB sometimes Here, in the heat, they seem to be prone to mild illnesses.... possible due to all the bugs around in the summer? All the TBs I've had seem to have had fairly sensitive skins, so I make sure every paddock has good shade, and on hot days there's a cool shower turned on for them. OK I admit, I think they get the equine version of prickly heat, or something! Maybe mine would enjoy being cool in the UK

As for stabling, the interesting thing is that as my stables are within the paddocks, and very close to my house, on hot nights I leave the stable doors open so the boys can get a bit of extra fresh air and wander around outside. You'd think they'd enjoy the evening breeze, but not a chance: they immediately exchange stables, produce voluminous amounts of excrement, and settle down for the night. So mine don't seem keen on sleeping out (which surprises me, considering the summer heat!) but they do seem rather keen to swap stables.

Maybe we cosset ours here because of the way they are kept in racing stables and before they finally come to us? Just a thought.

 

[Laafet]

And to those that say the average TB can't winter out, most TB broodmares winter out, a lot of them unrugged. It doesn't suit all of them, but then it doesn't suit some warmbloods.

 

[zaminda]

I've worked ini racing for years, and to be honest find most of the horses pretty good. When they leave racing and are no longer on full power grub, they wind down pretty well. I horse that has been jumping will usually have been chucked out over the summer, so they have less turnout issues, wherea a lot of the flat horses spend their down time stabled so they aren't used to it so much.
Always check the racing post website, if they have run, the comments of the races can be usefull. I have come across 2 ex racers which were sods, neither of which I would have touched from rp comments, one reared in stalls (later turned out to have kissing spine, arthritus and several other problems) the other had been difficult and gone through several trainers with issues coming under starters orders and things, was a complete pain in the butt, and went back. If you do your research, they are great!

 

[EstherYoung]

Our ex racers are/were horses just like our other horses.

The only real negative thing ours carried over from their racing days was physical wear and tear - they'd both done tendons racing, and they both ended up arthritic possibly before they should have done. Joe had gone into a showjumping home after his racing days and that really screwed him up mentally, but with both of them their racing homes did them really well in terms of their early upbringing. Ol's 'family' in particular loved him very much and his owner and trainer were in floods of tears when we brought him home.

These aspects of their training also came from their racing days:
- Brilliant in traffic and pretty darned bombproof
- Load themselves onto a wagon
- Lunging is always done at 'horsewalker speed'
- Good to clip
- Good with the vet/farrier
- Easy to get fit
- Good to ride in company

Unfortunately we lost Joe last year aged 25, but 21yo Ol is still going strong, albeit retired and acting as a babypony-nanny, and he's a very good do-er who gets far too fat in the summer and lives out without a rug in the winter. He's a very easy, straightforward horse to do and a nice 'person' to boot.

I think it's worth visiting some racing stables if you're thinking of going down this route, particularly if you've got no experience of fit 'blood' horses. Both me and my partner in crime had experience of riding out racers when we were younger and that helped a lot in working out what they would and wouldn't understand when we got our own.

There are also some very good trainers out there who prep their horses well for life on the 'outside'. A local trainer even brings some of his string to our pleasure rides as part of their 'business as usual' racing training. And of course the PTPers are regularly seen in the hunting field.

 

[kippen64]

Maybe we cosset ours here because of the way they are kept in racing stables and before they finally come to us? Just a thought.

Your horses sound like fun. Thank you for your kind thoughts.

I could be a bit sensitive as my own Thoroughbred was skin and bone when I first met him. Was also considered bit of a fanatic as regards the condition of my horses and slavishly devoted myself to their care. My two (a Highland Pony and a TB) are now retired and in full care at a retirement farm but when my finances improve, I will find another Thoroughbred to lavish care on.

 

[glamourpuss]

I love, love, LOVE ex-racers. As a poster above said they are usually good to shoe, box, clip, hack out, with vet etc.
The only generalisation I would make just from the observations of my own horses are : they love to have a job.
TB's as a breed are intelligent & athletic & once a horse has been in training it's like a little switch goes on in them. As a result they tend to be nicer animals for working & don't seem to settle with being field ornaments or 'pets'

 

[Victoria25]

I went to see my ex racer last year and the woman selling him sound horrified when I said do you have tack or shall I bring my own for him to try him out? She then explained oh we havent ridden him (had him just under a year) as we were too scared so going with my heart and not head (story of my life) we took the risk and brought him home the next day. He just had that 'something' about him I liked and thought if worst comes to the worst he can be a companion for my Arab. I then got in touch with his ex trainer who confirmed he was completely sound when he left him and the owner before the lady I bought him from actually told me she sold him as he kept throwing her daughter off (turns out shes bought as a first horse for her teenage daughter) .

Sooooooooo anyway cut a long story short, he hadnt done any reschooling at all, wasnt used to a 'normal saddle', didnt know the words walk on, deffo doesnt know the word stand so we've just treated him like a baby (big baby nonetheless) worked him for the ground for the first few months, lots of walking out his own (not happy at first), lunging with tack on, long reining etc ... hacked out a few times with other horses then left him over winter ... just restarted hacking out on is own this month and touch wood, he's been brilliant (although we havent trotted as yet ha).

Normal horses are all different to each other anyway - he's completely bomb proof which is fab, excellent with vet, dentist, at first found him a bit 'mechanical' but hes coming round slowly ... where as my arab is daft as a brush, jumps over scary grids (which shes seen all her life) and loves cuddles ...

Good luck in finding your perfect match

 

[leflynn]

Mine is making me realise he is much better behaved/trained than other 'normal horses' at the minute.
Good to shoe
Good to catch and lead
Good on the ground barring his lack of spatial awareness but thats just him
He's happy to be stabled alone or in company and doesn't freak out
He loads and travels like a dream
He's so far good in new places
Pretty darn bombproof (realised this as I flung his rug onto him last night and clattered about making a racket)
He does lunge at horsewalker pace or racehorse pace then settles
He keeps himself fit, which is handy if I can't ride/lunge
He has now become cheaper to feed now I've got the hang of it
Learns quickly

He keeps me on my toes to stop us both being bored schooling and last night I realised how easy/good he is I guess any horse can be that it's just ex-racers can often have bad press, which is a shame as they are lovely

 

[Ancient Hacker]

It's great to see so many people loving their ex-racers - and the words of wisdom. Very true that they are angels with vet, farrier, loading etc and I think the observation that they NEED to have work to do is very accurate.

In some parts of the world (like mine) ex-racers can be bought very inexpensively and that is a huge mixed blessing. Some end up in entirely the wrong home, despite the best intentions; many seem to go to the right people who understand about re-training them, and go on to give so many of us so much joy. One of the things I've realised over the years is that many of them have quite a competitive nature, which can make them a bit different, especially those who've had very good racing careers.

The thing that always amused me in the horses that have come straight from the track: you have to TEACH them what a carrot is!

 

[PandorasJar]

We have an ex racer on the yard who is adorable. An absolute grumpy old man - like the programme. Grumbles away but secretly loves the attention!

He loves his routine and is very cottoned on. We come up with the winter feeds and he won't pay attention (even when walking past his gate) until he knows it's his turn... then he clears all the other horses out of his area and waits for it to be put down. He's very loyal too (still likes a race though and not always with warning!)

Pan

 

[Puzzles]

Thanks for your replies everyone! All of these stories are really insightful and interesting to read. I know you can't generalise with ex-racehorses (or, indeed, any breed or type of horses) but I'm keen to known people's individual experiences with their ex-racer(s). When I was 12-13 I used to ride an 11-year-old ex-racehorse who was nappy and very intolerant of carrying any weight over 11 stone: he would rear and I've lost count of the number of times he came back to the yard on his own. Luckily I was a wee midget then and only ever focused on his schooling (as noone else would ride him and I was the most naive and ignorant person on the yard) so never had any problems. I fell in love with his sensitivity, character and intelligence - despite his niggles, at 2 years old he in many ways had a far better education than most 4-year-olds.
One of the horses I look after now is a TBx (she's the bay in my signature) and more of a 'typical' TB (though I hate to stereotype because it just isn't representative) than any full TB I've ever known. However she winters out 24/7 beautifully, without a shelter but on 2 hard feeds a day and very much rugged up.
Thank you again! I feel all the more inspired now

 

[Puzzles]

Also - where did you get your ex-racehorses from? Straight from training or though another organisation etc?

 

[Buggles2007]

They are all these own person. Have one, ride point to pointers and TB's never bred to race. All different. Like any other horse.

 

[Buggles2007]

Got mine straight from training as a two year old. But also work ride for a local trainer. Eight horses all very different.

 

[Girlracer]

Major (my ex-racer) has been a great project. I think the time immediately after racing is very important, they are used to strict routine. Major got wound down obviously as he was fit then got turned away in a field to be a baby (he was rising 3) he didn't know how to eat grass as he'd never been turned out, everything (even sheepskin) rubbed him as his skin was like silk and he was a lean, well skinny runt. (i didn't have him off the track but a close friend did). His eyes were on stalks, he was like a ticking time bomb. She told me she went to collect him from the trainers and fit prancing ginger racehorse got led over in a chiffney and she wondered what she'd let herself in for.

This is the best pop out eye racepony photo i can find!

However after 2 years chilling (he did come in for one winter to be re-backed but she didn't feel he was mentally ready) he arrived at my yard (as a 5yo out of the field) as a complete laid back dope who had no problem eating... everything.

When i re-started him i did a lot of ground work, then when o got on i kept repetition and kept it very chilled out. He was totally laid back about it all took to everything so easily. I kept him in a routine and worked hard on the things he found difficult. He didn't know what my leg meant when i first got on, and the biggest mistake i made was not making clear that he has to GO when i use my leg, even now he doesn't really go off my leg and i'm having to work hard to correct it. He was so un-balanced, the thing that i found hardest was un-like starting a 'normal' horse with no muscle i was re-starting a horse with a lot of muscle memory and all of it made to run in a straight line. Circles were... impossible, it took time... a lot of time. Even now he finds it hard but he is getting there, typical TB he's built downhill, on the forehand so that was the next thing! I can't help as far as buying a NH horse goes and reschooling it to jump normally as Major flat raced so had never jumped.

I find he has habits i gather stem from racing, but equally he's seen a lot of things from a young age so is the easiest horse at a show.

Don't get me wrong he has not been easy he's made it hard but it's so rewarding knowing that actually looking at the futures of a lot of racehorses out there i've almost saved one from an un certain future. It's nice to have so much info of his past and breeding too, and of course he's pretty fast

This was him at the end of the summer, he will be 7 in May.

 

[Puzzles]

And how have people gone about re-training/rehabilitating your ex-racehorses?

 

[Puzzles]

That's a great story girlracer! Major is gorgeous ... I love that first 'pop-eye' photo. You answered the question in my last post before I even asked it!

 

[elbandindos]

where do I begin.

I have 4 exracers, 3 exhurdles/national hunt 1 exflat. IMHO the ex falt racer has been far more difficult than the others.

The exhurdles do seem to have less emotional problems than the exflat, but that could also be a sex thing as well

all have come straight from racing, given a few months off to recuperate and then brought slowly into work like any other horses would be.

The major problem with my exflat girlie was she had never been turned out since being a foal and was very unhappy at first in this environment, then she got to liking it too much

All 4 are now a pleasure to have about, they have always been handled as horses not as exracers, given clear boundaries, handled calmly and consistantly and a routine to a degree. Do to work I cannot have the horses routine holding mw rigid on time but they are turned out and brought in within an hours timeframe, from may to nov they live out full time,
they need no more food than amny other horse, have their teeth doen evry 6 months, physio when needed, use ordinary tack, bomb proof in the heaviest traffic hack out alone and in company although I prefer company.

They range from a 15.1 typical TB build, to a 16.2 who could be described more of an ID than a TB ( is full TB honest) would not swap any of them for all the tea in china.

Patience, time, and being prepared to give them a chance is what I recommend.

edited to add, that the big lad is OH's horse, he is his first horse and OH is to all intents a novice rider, H came straight from trainer, and in the 4 years he has been with us has not put a foot wrong, he has changed many a persons opinion of exracers during those 4 years

 

[catembi]

Mine is fab. V laid back at home & behaves in lessons; will behave at a quiet dr comp; brain is blown by sj warm-up. (Work in progress.)

He absolutely won't hack out alone & will rear & threaten to throw himself on the floor; will hack out perfeactly happily following a bike or another horse. He prefers company travelling.

He also lives out, well rugged, with a field shelter all year round & looks great on it. His feet & legs are totally fine & he doesn't lose shoes. He is my first ex-racer after a long line of ISHs which were expensive & went wrong, & I never thought I'd say it, but I'm def a TB convert & would get another ex-racer in a heartbeat.

T x

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I have 4 ex-racers. Ok I worked with 3 of them in training so know them inside out and the 4th one was a copmplete mystery to me as he is a 6furlong sprinter. The others were National Hunt Horses so were more used to a slower pace of life.

The Sprinter had never had to go round a bend in his life nor work on the bridle but he is learning. They are very quick leaners. He came to me in April last year with an injury. He got turned out in June for the first time since a yearling. He then spent all of this winter living out in a field with another TB- Ex-racers and their shetland pony friend and he is looing fab. He has 1 heavyweight rug on and that is all he has had and he is as wooly as a mammoth!

My own personal preferd method of reschooling is where possible just jump on the darned things and get going! You spend weeks and weeks lunging, long lining yada yada before you get in the saddle and in reality all you are doing is getting a horse half fit. If the horse is going to explode the first time you sit on it after a bit of a break then I would rather it was fat and lazy and only blast for about 30seconds before it is knackered that to get on a half fit one that can keep up the bucks for a good 15mins due to the lunge work.

Bash on! Treat them like a backed youngster that just hasn't been schooled and you will be grand!

 

[Puzzles]

Thank you all! It's a relief to read that it doesn't have to be overly complicated and that even a novice has one as his first horse.
Please keep the posts coming

 

[Always Henesy]

I have an ex point to pointer who had a very successful career until he was 13 1/2. I picked him up for £400 despite him selling for £25,000 when he was 9 - he is now 15.
He is the most gentle, nicest natured and well mannered horse. My 4 year old can lead him to and from the field. He lives out 24/7 with the odd night in if the weather is really bad. He has had the winter off as I don't have time to ride him with the short dark days. I rode him for the first time in 3 months this week and he was just his usual happy self. He is bomb proof in traffic.
He also has the most amazing paces and is very clever. It took him 2 hacks to learn how to work long and low. He now engages his back and works in a lovely outline....that took him 4 hacks to learn. (we don't have a school - so most schooling is done whilst hacking)
He is very loving and likes a one to one relationship.
Most horses I have had have been ex racers and all have been wonderful horses. I have also had an ISH and a cob and they were a nightmare in comparison - so I don't think you can stereotype TB's really.
xx

 

[bushbaby28]

I haven't found too much difference between my cob and my ex racer - both are complete numpties, both can be plods (in fact the tb even more so), they can both be a pain to lead, and they both have their spooky silly moments when ridden

generally i've found him quite sweet and willing and they'll give most things a go. I can ride him every day or just once a week and he's the same, and i've never had much trouble keeping weight on - he just gets chaff and ad lib hay.