Ex racers - where can i find one?

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Vicki_Krystal

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Somerset!!!
vpequestrian.weebly.com
Also in lounge but thought id try here too!

I dont know any yards etc and the only links i can find are to yards that have already got them from training and have already added their premium on?

Any ideas?
I have an empty stable, a loving home but not enough money for anything that has done anything?

Mine are all on holiday bar one 4yr old and im bored and keep looking at the stable!
 
Join the clan!!

Ive registered with the ex racehorse rescue centres but thats no good if you want to sell in the future.

Other thing I have tried is to look up the local trainers on the internet and contact them direct, there was a sound/sane one I was interested in but shes quite weak so it was a no, but they've all said they will let me know.

They quite often pts the failed ones, even the sound ones as its not worth the time/expense to advertise them so they are quite relieved when a good home comes knocking!
 
In the Horse and Hound last week an advert for Heros Retrained ex reachorses I think they loan as well as sell, might be worth a try. They are based in Oxford. Good Luck.
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other than ask directly, you could try asking your vets/physio/farrier/back person. They often hear of horses looking for new homes when they visit yards and while they cant/wont tell you of any veterinary problems a horse has, they arent likely to tell you about any horses they know looking for new homes because they are knackered! I wont be looking for one til the spring (hope to team chase next autumn) but our secretary has come to me 3 or 4 times in the last 6weeks about ex racehorses looking for new homes for free. Also the local huntsman and farrier has also told me of 2 he knows being given away - without history of problems , just an elderly owner who cant handle them. All of those have found new homes, but the point is, they do come up - you just need to let the right people know that you are looking!
 
I am selling a lovely ex-racer for a trainer. Stunning chesnut 16.2hh 5 yr gelding with flashy paces. great confirmation and powerful back end. Clean legs, good feet and no injuries. Obviously needs experienced, confident rider to bring on but real competition prospect and nice person as well. Have a look at www.sweventing.com on for sale page. he is called Monty. He was sold at sales for 28k as a yearling so well bred. Only raced 7 times on flat and twice over hurdles and was too slow. Now is a bargian of £2500 but offers invitied to the right home. Lady can only afford to keep him with me a few more weeks and I really want to find someone for him who can fulfil his potential.
 
I have an ex racer that came to me through the Darley rehoming scheme. The website is www.darleyrehoming.co.uk
its worth a look as they sell them to you for £100 pus vat after an initial 3 month trial period. They do stipulate that you have to let them know if you intend to sell in the future and you have to sign a non racing agreement but other than that if you are lucky enough to get one, the horse is yours forever!
 
Depends a bit on what you want, but I'd try lay up/rehab yards. It's not uncommon for horses to come out of training for fairly minor reasons and then someone decides it's not worth going on with them for whatever reason, even if they're bascially fine.

I do think people overestimate how many horses come out of training because they're "too slow", even in the current economic climate. I have to say, in my experience, they're often underperforming for a reason. It might be something very simple, even as simple as being in a system that doesn't suit, but it might mean the horse doesn't look like "riding people" expect. I'd also really caution people to check out an older horse's history thoroughly and don't assume nothing has been checked/done. I'm not saying people won't be honest, but I think the level of "accepted maintenance" is much higher in racing and if a horse is sound at the moment most people will assume it's a-okay (which it might very well be), even if it's had a history of problems in the past.

All that said, there are lovely people in racing who just want their horses to go on to good homes. And there are people currently who don't have the wherewithal to keep a horse in training who would be happy to not be paying out.

I know a couple that have been rehomed for free or close to it and a couple looking for homes now. BUT they're not perfect. They're horses.
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One is lovely and unraced but has an old injury which may or may not be completely cosmetic. One has thrown in the towel in his last two races but who's to say, without looking into it, if it's because he's hurting or fed up. None of which is to say there aren't lovely ex race horses out there - my "horse of a life time" raced before I got him and is still being ridden at 27 - just injecting a note of practical caution.
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And completely hijacking the thread.
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I got my most recent one from here in H&H. She is 4 and ran twice on the flat. She was a few hundred pounds more expensive then you would pay at the sales but I got to try her properly, give her a jump and hack out which I think makes it worth it.

The lady that buys horses for me to ride often goes to Ascot sales and has had some good ones and some slightly iffy ones!!! But you dont know with them till you get them home, its exciting but risky!!!

Vicki
 
I know someone who got one from here:
http://scotnortherc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=rehoming
but may be too northern for you

I bought 2 of mine from Doncaster horse sales - a great choice though it is sometimes difficult to work out which may fall in your price bracket. I have been very interested in ones that went for many times my budget and I also ending up buying a one that I had barely glanced at as I thought would be way out my price league. I still have him 14 years later
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If you have a quiet yard with turn-out why not go to Ascot.
You need to be confident of your own ability to judge a horse as there are absolutely no guarntees at Ascot. But you can buy a quality horse for about £800.
I wouldn't touch a horse that someone else had "re-schooled". In my experience they only sell them on when they can't cope with them anymore.
 
I agree, go to any racehorse auction. In Ireland they fetch around £400. That's for a sensible, sound, unblemished 3-5year old. Have a word with the seller, they will tell you about the temperament etc.
 
we've one for sale at our flat yard in surrey - has been in training, but never raced. 4yo by tumbleweed ridge - I've done a bit of schooling with it and it goes well on the flat, pops a fence and XC schooled very well. Not sure what they want for it, but certainly not loads and is a very sound mare ... pm me if you may be interested.
 
If you google rehabilitation of racehorses they may be able to help. I can't remember the exact web addres but I went to them a few years ago when i was looking at buying and ex racer with issues. They were so helpful and really help you to get an ex racer to do something else with it's life. They would probably be able to point you in the right direction as they are crying out for people with good homes to give and would probably provide good support through the process too.
 
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Inca - what a lovely website. Very well presented for sale ads - lovely pics and honest / realistic descriptions!

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I was thinking the same
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but...hope I dont get shot down here and dont mean to offend anyone but does Monty need that much 'sawing'
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just watched the vids.
 
ring around trainers and ask

My latest one wasnt officially up for sale as they hadnt even tried her properly on the racecourse- she had only had the one run where she fell at the first fence - but the trainer ( who owned her) was overstocked and accepted an offer for her as they needed her stable for client's horses ( which pay more!)
 
As an es Racer owner I would recommend lookingon ExRacers.com for possible horses and honest descriptions. It also has a Forum where you can discuss many ExRacer specific issues with like minded people who have probably been through the same issues you will encounter.

Good luck
 
Thanks. You can probably tell I do it for love rather than money! I really enjoy placing horses in the right home and do my best to really get to know the horses and be totally upfront with buyers.
 
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