Ex racers

[ribbons]

There is always the odd exception to everything in life.

 

[Spotsrock]

The fact you have re schooled them for eventing says it all.
They are destined for confident strong experienced riders.
It's when they end up in the hands of novice or not very experienced people that problems arise, and the worst of all is a rider with low confidence having one, result is usually carnage.
I'm sorry but these horses may behave like sea side donkeys most of the time when they have a confident rider on board. They look and behave beautifully. The minute they feel upset Or worried it's a different story, and if the rider becomes anything less than positive there will be problems, often huge.
They are often a fantastic mount for the experienced but they should not be in the hands of anyone less.
It most certainly is about breed. All breeds of horse, dog, cat or cow have different traits. For the TB ex racer add to that their earlier life style and it makes them the hugely talented, often lovely tempered but always sharper ones.

My boy can be a little quirky in that he humps his back and pretends to bronc, he doesn't scare me but I try to be sensible with him while I figure out how far he will go as we have not been together that long. However, jumping I can be quite nervous, when this happens I clam up, in those instances, he tends to drop to a pace he is comfortable with and take over getting us safely over the jump calmly then waiting for instruction. It is like the less confident i am the more he looks after me. I do have a one in a million horse but there must be several million tbs out there

A girl I used to yard with was lovely but a terrible rider and very nervous person, scared witless of her well behaved 14hh cob. Bought a 16hh ex racer and we all reached for the nearest undertaker's number! Now if this was my horse I would sell it or fill it with heating feed. It is so slow and laid back it's virtually dead. Nothing wrong with it as it has decent care and regular attention from professionals, it just really is that laid back. I work rode one like it actually in training too, you could set a firework off under these horses tails and nothing would happen!!

 

[pickwickayr]

I have owned 2 ex racers. The first I bought as a very small immature 4 yr old. I bought him from his breeders, they had him sent to a racing yard at 3 to b backed and do afew races before returning ti them to b turned away for 6 months. I re backed him and he was the most genuine and loving horse. He was so laid back u had to feed him oats to perk him up! He is now a successful riding club all rounder. The second ex racer I bought was totally different. Bought him from a stable boy at his racing yard he was 9 years old. He had great manners perfect to handle etc. He wind sucked but not with a collar on. I re backed him and schooled him to about novice dressage , then when he was ready took him to a local show. He went berserk. Bucking spinning leaping in the air, shaking and dripping with white sweat. He was terrified and very dangerous. I perservered for 2 years and he was always the same when I took him out. I decided this was not fun and as I ride/ teach for a living I can't afford to fall off and b broken! I had to sell him on. He also cost ne an arm and a leg to feed! And was so accident prone most weeks I needed the vet out lol

 

[Swirlymurphy]

We've had our 5 yo ex-racer since May (his last race was April) and my daughter (aged 13) and I are reschooling him as a Pony Club/eventer/hunter. So far the signs are good - we have taken it very slowly - allowing him time off in the field, putting some good feed inside him, and with lots of patience and flatwork, he is now developing into a very nice riding horse with lots of potential. He is my daughter's first ex-racer, and I've not had one for a good few years but I have always had TBs or TBxs and have lots of competition horse experience. My daughter has weekly instruction and she does the schooling/competing, I tend to do the hacking/fitness work now.

The pros? He's seen a lot, unfazed by farm machinery, flapping plastic bags, noise etc. We've got a potentially very good horse for very little outlay. He's only 5 so we can hopefully have a good long time with him. He loads really well, great with the vet/dentist. Had a bit of a wobble with a farrier but better with the new one. He has been brilliant out hacking, even cantering in open country and in company although no-one has yet ridden upside of him. He is really taking to his schooling very well and tries very hard.

The cons? He has paper-thin skin and everything rubs - I am spending a fortune on sheepskin. He can be bolshy on the ground - much better now than when he first arrived but in the wrong hands he could become dangerous. He can chew for England given half a chance - wood, metal, leadropes, rubber tools, anything. You have to judge precisely when he's had enough work otherwise he can throw his toys out of the box which could be scary if you are not very confident. Although he loads well, he is still convinced that every journey should end with racing and he comes off the trailer in a muck sweat having grown about 2 extra hands. He can be a swine to catch as being turned out 24/7 is THE most exciting thing ever.

As others have said, an ex-racer needs confident and knowledgeable handling - they are generally fairly sensitive souls with big brains and big hearts, and really just want to do their best for you, but you need to know how to ask them properly so that no-one (horse nor rider) loses confidence. If you have a regular instructor, ask them for their advice. If you don't have a regular one, you need to find someone as you will need their help. Don't be tempted just because they are 'cheap' to buy - you will be spending your money in other ways - feed/lessons/kit/vets etc.

If you have the right experience, knowledge, support and facilities, then I am sure you will be fine. As others have said, go through , HEORS or the TRRC if you can - they are great organisations who will offer ongoing long term support.

 

[TrasaM]

But I thought you said in your previous post about this mare she was being kept to race further???

Hi wench..yes, she did another race and came last again ..I'm now intrigued to see if they drop her distance down in which case I'll place a bet on her to win. don't know about phoning them about her again but would hate to hear shed been sold on to someone else before I had a chance to view and make decision.