Ex Racers

[criso]

My last now retired one was built very uphill and did get mistaken for a warmblood, bay tb v2.0 is as you say more forward.


However, I just think for many leisure riders this type of detail is lost. For what they want (nice hack, fun rides, a few local competitions,) most horses with the right education and temperament could fulfil their needs and I don't think a highly bred continental warmblood fits their needs any better than a tb. If you add a little bit of low level showing to the mix then then tbs edge ahead as many are the right stamp for riding horse classes and have dedicated ex racer classes.

Again my recent experience was that lightly raced was most desirable as then they qualify for ROR and in many of the ads for unraced ones they pointed this out almost as a disadvantage.

 

[cptrayes]

To be quite honest, my own experience of highly bred warmbloods is that they are incredibly twitchy and sensitive beasts. Everything has gone into producing movement, at the expense of so much else. My first, by a GP showjumper, was practically a nutter. My second, by a GP dressage stallion, although he is fit and lean, is today giving me laminitis symptoms and has an extremely sensitive gut. My third, also by a top class show jumper, was put down at ten in April due to extreme behavioural problems. I've heard of so many warmbloods that their owners can't manage.

For least risk, I don't think you can beat a good old IDx (but maybe not the more highly bred Irish sports horse)

 

[TarrSteps]

I don't know, I see so many people around tiptoeing round warmbloods they are scared of and some seriously sharp ISH's that I get quite smug chaperoning them round on my little racehorses. And I'm definitely no more than an average rider though one that clicks with TBs.

I was genuinely shocked when I bought my recent one at how buoyant the market was but as I said for a very certain type.

I would agree in principle. Yes, TBs can be quick in their thinking but if they have survived racing they have already seen a fair bit of the world and often been handled in a way that is very straightforward and expected to get on with it. If they are amenable they will also likely have been ridden by not always the very best riders on the yard so have proven themselves fairly generous. They also know what it's like to be under pressure and be "forced" - in the nicest way, we force horses all the time! - to get with the program. All useful life skills.

Of course if someone buys one that hurts or is out of racing because it couldn't cope mentally then that's a different situation.

But the good ones are usually pretty predictable and once the rider learns to deal with that horse they will likely not to get too many surprises. They also tend to not be huge natural movers, which makes them easier to ride.

Young sport horses are usually less educated about the world and have never been under pressure. They tend to be mentally and physically less like they will be when they are mature. And, if they move big, jump big and think fast then they will do that even when the rider doesn't really want that, which can create no end of trouble. It's quite common for people to buy 3/4/5 year old sport horses without really knowing what they are getting into and end up with a big horse with holes in its education, especially if they assume it will be "easy" because of the horses' breeding.

Of course, if you buy the TB to hack around that should be a 4* horse the you're likely to have issues, but again, that is about the horse not the breed.

 

[alfirules]

I agree, unless the ex racehorse has a good competition record, it's really hard to sell them on, I had a gorgeous ex racer with excellent conformation, sound, completely vice free and the easiest horse to do, went beautifully on the flat and jumping 1.05 easily, but because I didn't have a horsebox I couldnt get out competing. I regrettably had to sell as I was in debt and struggling financially, but in the end only sold him for £3500, with all tack (a saddle worth £900) and rugs, but he was worth so much more, but people are so put off by the fact he raced!

I'm desperately trying to find another one now straight out of training as a blank canvas, the only thing I would be picky about is that it must be fairly well put together, sound and vice free, but can't find anything! I guess might find more after christmas....

I love a good thoroughbred though, and I know so many successful ex racehorses it disheartens me that a lot of people generalize and think they are all nutters!