Ex racers

[kassieg]

Looking for experiences really
I've broken & produced many a youngster, just sold my lovely eventer & wanting my next challenge.
Sensible part of my brain says get another youngster to break & produce, I love doing this ? the other side of my brain really fancies an ex racer for some reason, but I've heard of so many with issues I don't know if it's worth the heartbreak ?‍

 

[AandK]

I have one, 7yo I have had for 19 months. I'd fancied an exracer for a long time as my next riding horse, my retired horse is 'Irish TB' but of unknown breeding, he never raced so no idea if he is full TB, if he is he is more NH type as tall and stocky compared to my 7yo who was a flat racer.

The 7yo is everything I'd wanted and hoped would provide longterm soundness, well put together (instructor/vet/physio all say this too, so not just me!) great feet (something the retired one does not have!), sparky to ride but not too silly, great work ethic, lovely person, easy to handle etc. He is out 24/7, unshod, good diet etc. But sadly he seems to be the stereotypical walking vet bill (had an op Sept last year; hock ligament injury, bad impaction colic from GA and damaged tail - 8 months off. Cut foot in June - 1 month off. Now lame in front foot pending MRI results). I know they aren't all like this, but at the moment I think I would not get another in future. Hopefully in a few years time I will have a different view if he comes good! (crosses everything...)

 

[kassieg]

I have one, 7yo I have had for 19 months. I'd fancied an exracer for a long time as my next riding horse, my retired horse is 'Irish TB' but of unknown breeding, he never raced so no idea if he is full TB, if he is he is more NH type as tall and stocky compared to my 7yo who was a flat racer.

The 7yo is everything I'd wanted and hoped would provide longterm soundness, well put together (instructor/vet/physio all say this too, so not just me!) great feet (something the retired one does not have!), sparky to ride but not too silly, great work ethic, lovely person, easy to handle etc. He is out 24/7, unshod, good diet etc. But sadly he seems to be the stereotypical walking vet bill (had an op Sept last year; hock ligament injury, bad impaction colic from GA and damaged tail - 8 months off. Cut foot in June - 1 month off. Now lame in front foot pending MRI results). I know they aren't all like this, but at the moment I think I would not get another in future. Hopefully in a few years time I will have a different view if he comes good! (crosses everything...)

Hope he gets better ? that's helpful though thanks

 

[Squeak]

You'll get so many different answers on this. Some of the ex racers are as tough as old boots - I'm pretty sure there was one going round badminton in it's late teens but sadly there are also many that do have issues. The only thing I'd say to balance that out is that there's also a lot of non ex-racers that have a lot of issues too (Sadly!).

I've got an ex-racer and he is the most wonderful horse. Wonderful temperament and attitude to life. Will go out competing at the weekend and then babysit a youngster hacking the next day. Give him a week off and he'll be the same to ride as if he was ridden the day before. All with a smile on his face always.

 

[milliepops]

yeahhhhhhhhh OH said to me, when my previous horse was a medical write-off, "oh why not get an ex racer, I know a few from one trainer and they are such straightforward nice horses..." let myself get talked into it, trainer matched me up.. yeah charming lovely horse who has really come out of his shell, but... another write off. he has also been really quite tricky to ride but I'd say at least some of that is down to his medical issues. I'll take a bit of persuading before deciding to get another!

 

[paddi22]

I'm on my fourth one now and they have all been health disasters and generally average horses. I know people get some dream ones who are level headed and never sick a day in their life, but they are def the minority. all my tbs are way more high maintenance, have way more vets bills and mentally have been trickier than normal horses. if you are selling it on, it's also much more difficult when they are exracers as people know the issues that can come with them.

 

[samleigh]

Mine is sensible, doesn't need riding everyday, which is good, because she seems to have a permanent niggle or ailment

 

[leflynn]

You can have issues with any horse.... Had mine for 10 years, have had injuries but the type that could happen to any (fractured leg from a kick in the field), caught in a barb wire fence....

He's a dude and mostly quite easy and has decent feet so they aren't all bad

 

[humblepie]

I would say they are the best - the most elegant of horses, have on the whole had a good general education in life and so many specific competitions for them as well as non RoR classes.

 

[RachelFerd]

There are plenty of great ex-racehorses out there. There is also some complete dross.

Apply the same rules to buying an ex-racehorse that you would to buying any other youngster as regards temperament, conformation and type. Do your research into the yard the horse has come from, and the way they produce their horses.

The trouble is that it can be rather hard to get hold of the nice ones, as they are often rehomed without ever going near the open market. Much of what is available and advertised is going to be on the not-so-good end, because the nice ones have been accounted for before you can get near them.

Expect to pay over £2k for something unspoilt with genuine potential and more for something with real wow-factor. The giveaways are giveaways for a reason!

 

[nikkimariet]

Everyone knows Fig will always be my favourite horse. Best purchase I’ve ever made. And the best bred horse I’ll ever have owned.

 

[ycbm]

The last one I bought in December 2018 was PTS with severe neck arthritis May this year. Never raced. 9 years old. I still want another though, even though I know it's a crazy idea.

 

[ihatework]

I love TBs but there is no denying they are extensively bred and trained and really do come with quite a risk of physical issues attached.

If I were going for an ex racer I’d be looking for one that has proven to stay sound in training for a few seasons

 

[catembi]

Mine had ulcers which turned out to be from KS. He had KS surgery & didn't come right so is now a field ornament. He also has two moods - super chilled & psychotic - and can switch from one to the other instantly. There are some things that will instantly send him loopy - trying to load him by himself, trying to hack him by himself, if he sees another horse in a racing-style striped blanket... He was also superbly athletic, very light on his feet, very bright...but I could NOT keep him sound & in work. Serial self-harmer. I have had him 11 years & in total got maybe 18 months' 'proper' work out of him in all that time, if that... I got good at poulticing & putting wound powder on things though!

 

[BronsonNutter]

I have two. Both out of small yards and had a bit more 'life experience' than the ones which come out of big yards in Newmarket etc. One was a sprinter and the other hurdled, very different temperament-wise to ride but neither 'difficult', both good as gold on the floor.
they are both walking vets bills however.

 

[Trouper]

It is a lottery but you might shorten the odds by looking for something with a chasing not a flat background. I work on the principle that if they have stayed sound for a few seasons then they might, just might, be a better bet. I am not sure training and racing as a 2-yr old does any horse any good at all.
Alternatively, have a look at the racehorse re-homing charities where some of the guess work will have been done for you.

 

[fankino04]

My 1st horse when I was 14 was an ex racer (hurdles), she came with a whole load of issues, had an injured pelvis that hadn't been treated and turned her quite violent from the pain. Yard farrier wouldn't touch her as it turns out she had broken the previous farriers leg. I needed lots of help with her but she taught me so much and became my horse of a lifetime. We had an amazing bond and I know I'll never get another one as good again.

 

[paddi22]

the issue I find with exracers is the market and kind of people who will buy it off you.
- the person who is a good rider and wants a super one for a particular discipline will usually just retrain one themselves
- they are way too much horse for most amateur riders, unless they are very very quiet and even then a lot of people seem to have issues when they go on fun rides etc
- a lot of people will want it vetted and you can guarantee something will come up in the vetting and you will have to knock a chunk of money off it.
- you could take it around hick stead and go clear, and people will still look at it and see ex-racer prices.

the easiest ones I've seen rehomed are pretty, very quiet ones who just go as happy hackers for a pittance, or the hardy national hunt types who go to hunter trial/fun ride homes for hardy riders who just want a cheap ride.

 

[tinselbobs]

I've had two ex-racers and both were fantastic fun, but broke relatively quickly despite taking the retraining process slowly and carefully.

I loved both ex-racers as they had fun personalities and potentially a lot of talent, but they were always hurting themselves and both turned out to have very severe problems (KS and PSD). I would love another one as I really enjoy the retraining process, but I wouldn't have one as my "main" horse again as you spend a lot of time fixing them!

 

[Caol Ila]

I've never owned an ex-racer, but I've known many. Unlike your average young horse who's been bumming around eating grass and maybe getting some light work for a few years, racing TBs have been working at the edges of their athletic ability. That's no indictment of racehorse trainers or anything -- it's just the nature of the job. But any athlete pushed hard will have a greater risk of injury. Not always, of course; some horses are tough as nails and can look forward to long second careers, yet in my experience, those ones are a minority.

Additionally, the thoroughbred has been bred selectively for a few hundred years now -- especially flat racing lines -- to be as fast as possible. You get a horse who is extremely powerful and light, but often sacrifice some hardiness and longevity.

 

[fankino04]

I should add with my girl I got her at 6 and lost her to a freak field accident at 19 in those 13 years she had a bad case of thrush ( my inexperience) and 1 colic that lasted 24 hours but no other ailments but she was a bugger to keep weight on in the winter. She had a fairly easy life with me just doing general riding club and fun things.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I'm on my third ex racer after having WB. First one I just didn't get on with, second one put to sleep with PSD. Both were flat racers. My current by is ex national hunt so lots more stocky than first two. I wasn't looking for another ex racer but after trying 10 or so other horses of varying types he was the only one I didn't want to get off. If you can find something that's too slow that hasn't had many starts I think you could find yourself something nice. You take your chance as with any other horse.

 

[shortstuff99]

This is going to make me unpopular but I've never met a good one, they've either been broken in the body or broken in the brain. They're also not as easy to sell/make a profit on as others.

My choice would be a youngster to bring on.

 

[TPO]

the issue I find with exracers is the market and kind of people who will buy it off you.
- the person who is a good rider and wants a super one for a particular discipline will usually just retrain one themselves
- they are way too much horse for most amateur riders, unless they are very very quiet and even then a lot of people seem to have issues when they go on fun rides etc
- a lot of people will want it vetted and you can guarantee something will come up in the vetting and you will have to knock a chunk of money off it.
- you could take it around hick stead and go clear, and people will still look at it and see ex-racer prices.

the easiest ones I've seen rehomed are pretty, very quiet ones who just go as happy hackers for a pittance, or the hardy national hunt types who go to hunter trial/fun ride homes for hardy riders who just want a cheap ride.

This x100

I love exracers and have had 3, including current one, but they are how I lose money not make it!

If you are looking to make a profit and guarantee a sale then IMO ex racers are not the way to do it unless you can source excellent horses for peanuts and turn around quickly for a 2-3k before they start costing you more to keep and run on.

 

[RachelFerd]

So much utter rubbish being spouted on this thread! I can assure you that there are plenty of WB and ISH walking vets bills out there too.

And for the ridden issues? Sadly most people aren't capable of riding sharp, blood horses and prefer to blame the horse than improve their riding.

Edited to add - I have had 4 ex racehorses.

1. (Mare) was too slow p2per - had a bunch of physical issues, wasn't up to the job
2. heavily raced flat horse (miler) - has manageable physical issues, has now evented on and off for 10 seasons up to BE Novice and is now teaching a younger rider the ropes
3. heavily race flat horse (sprinter) - had mild manageable physical issues, exceptionally easy ride, evented up to novice over 5/6 seasons and is also now teaching a younger rider the ropes
4. lightly raced hurdler - had severe lameness issues as a 6yo (PSD) now fully recovered, eventing at novice and CCI** - easy ride and good in all three phases

So 3 out of 4 making it to Novice BE isn't exactly a bad statistic... and horse 2 and horse 3 were never even purchased to event - they were gifted to me due to owners going bankrupt and aren't particularly well put-together etc. but they do the job because they are willing, athletic blood horses that want to run and jump.

 

[shortstuff99]

I said my opinion would be unpopular but I've ridden and owned plenty of horses who haven't had a single issue until old age, I'm yet to meet an ex racer that hasn't.

I'm also used to hot horses, I mainly ride Iberians (including one which is PRE x TB and super hot!) But I don't really enjoy the ex racers, sorry!

 

[BunnyDog]

Buying OTTB's (Off Track Thoroughbreds) is HUGE here.

It's obviously a bigger country with more tracks and horses, but by and large Tb's are very solid types with the same exceptions that you can find in most breed/sport populations.

I help people find and buy some here. Before Cudo I owned only Tb's and while yes some are hotter I would wager that Chad has put me through more fiery rides than any of my Tb's. And Cudo has spooked MUCH harder and longer than any of my Tb's.

Anyone looking at buying any horse should do the proper legwork and evaluation and for me that includes cervical spine xrays (Neck) so we know if a horse has any neck arthritis/ Spinal cord pinching due to Wobblers or narrowing of the spinal cord spaces. BUT I work for one of the 3 Equine Neurologists in America and I have had 2 horses diagnosed as Neurologic. So I REALLY don't want to be in that position again.

(Which is only to say that you often times see/avoid what you know/have experienced. So if I'd had a horse with Kissing Spine I would try like hell to avoid that too)
But we have a retraining of Thoroughbred competition here in the states called the Thoroughbred Makeover. It's run by the Retired Racehorse Project and in 2015 I won the field Hunter (Fox Hunters) division with my horse that I retrained. It was nice because I won a check for $5000!!!

Em

 

[TPO]

No one said that any other type or breed didnt have issues but the risk is definitely increased with ex racers.

You are a talented rider who has produced your own horses and as stated were gifted some.

OP is looking at opinions on horses to produce (presumably for a profit!). Ex racers wouldnt be the safest of bets with that as an end goal and even people who spout utter rubbish can see that an unblemished youngster makes better commercial sense than an ex racer.

While you have achieved X with your horses they have physical issues that you *might* not have had with a horse that hadn't been in training and if you were to sell yours their value would be less than horses achieving the same but weren't ex racers

 

[paddi22]

So much utter rubbish being spouted on this thread! I can assure you that there are plenty of WB and ISH walking vets bills out there too.

And for the ridden issues? Sadly most people aren't capable of riding sharp, blood horses and prefer to blame the horse than improve their riding.

Edited to add - I have had 4 ex racehorses.

1. (Mare) was too slow p2per - had a bunch of physical issues, wasn't up to the job
2. heavily raced flat horse (miler) - has manageable physical issues, has now evented on and off for 10 seasons up to BE Novice and is now teaching a younger rider the ropes
3. heavily race flat horse (sprinter) - had mild manageable physical issues, exceptionally easy ride, evented up to novice over 5/6 seasons and is also now teaching a younger rider the ropes
4. lightly raced hurdler - had severe lameness issues as a 6yo (PSD) now fully recovered, eventing at novice and CCI** - easy ride and good in all three phases

So 3 out of 4 making it to Novice BE isn't exactly a bad statistic... and horse 2 and horse 3 were never even purchased to event - they were gifted to me due to owners going bankrupt and aren't particularly well put-together etc. but they do the job because they are willing, athletic blood horses that want to run and jump.

I don't see the point you are trying to make? the fact that you mentioned all four of your horses have issues seems to just back up what everyone else has said? Novice BE is a fairly basic goal that most athletic horses can get to if they've a good brain? I've a 14 hand rescue trotter aiming at novice next year and she's got there a lot faster than any omy exracers have, and with no injuries or lameness ever - and does it barefoot with no hard feed!

 

[palo1]

yeahhhhhhhhh OH said to me, when my previous horse was a medical write-off, "oh why not get an ex racer, I know a few from one trainer and they are such straightforward nice horses..." let myself get talked into it, trainer matched me up.. yeah charming lovely horse who has really come out of his shell, but... another write off. he has also been really quite tricky to ride but I'd say at least some of that is down to his medical issues. I'll take a bit of persuading before deciding to get another!

Sorry to hear this Milliepops. This must be gutting for you.