following on from x race horse post

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Tufty

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thanks I have now found its history. so tell me your thoughts. It is 5 years old has done 33 races various placings but never won . All sprinters flat races so all weather surfaces, has been raced since being a 2 year old. Really laid back (but very thin like a hat rack) obviously green as it only came out of racing in October. Very clean legs hacks out brilliantly, what will he be like once he has condition on him

ps - its for my friend and she is a real novice and I know on paper it sounds stupid but he really was the only horse that she tried that seemed genuinely quiet and she even jumped him over a small cross pole she felt so confident and she never jumps

TAKING COVER AND WAITING FOR THE ONSLAUGHT !!!!!!
 
I wouldn't. She's novice, he's green and I believe when they put weight they can become a handful. He probably didn't have the energy to misbehave.
 
I can not believe what am reading 5 years old TB ex race for a very novice, am stitting here in total disbelief if you are experanced why would you even consider something like that for your friend, the horse might be well behaved now but you say its a hat rack, it will be totally different when its conditioned and and i was always told a tb will get fit fairly fast and then it will take a lot of handling, Some people just dont have the sense they were born with. Sorry if it sounds harsh but this is just my opinion and I hope your friend does have fun with the horse
 
Horses do have a habit of changing once they are fit & well. TB's, especially ex Racers are not recommended for novices, so it would depend on the back up she will get. If he was fit & well & still quiet then it would be worth a gamble...
 
i would advise against a TB for a novice especially an ex racer. i have 1 and he's quiet, but can still have his moments, and they need retraining on how to be a riding horse, i'm sure your friend won't have the experience to do that. he could also be so quiet due to him lacking in condition.
i've seen so many horses get ruined due to having novice owners. i'd look into a different breed.
 
as all others have said i wouldn't if your friend is a novice i knew someone that brought an ex racer they were novice the horse now only ever goes in the school as cannot be hacked out and still has moments in the school. sorry prob not what u wanted to hear
 
My cousin has an ex race horse and she has been riding for 20 odd years. She struggles with him when he is throwing his toys out of the pram.

I have been riding again for a couple of years and I am not confident enough to even get on him, I have see him chuck a wobbly and its not pretty. The fitter he gets the worse he gets, she must be bonkers if she gets him. Just my opinion though
 
all your comments are just what my fears for her are but I just thought I would ask to confirm, she really likes this horse and everything else we have looked at has been a nonsense for a novice ride they have all terrified her. Does anyone know of anything in cheshire/lancashire/surrounding areas at the moment 15.2 8 years old basic sensible horse to hack out, do riding club on and have lessons on budget can be quite big for the right horse
 
Do you want to buy private there is a dealer in warringto way who I have bought three horses off and would highly recomened and his prices are fairly good.
 
yes nothing and we have tried a few dealers and a few private sales but some peoples idea of a novice ride is unbelieveable. I have now told her to say she cant ride at all to dealers !
 
Firstly looking at the history, the horse has had a very hard life. He will have been started from a late yearling to race as a two year old. Received hard training inbetween all of his races.

You often find, at this age, and what he has gone through that's the reason he is quiet, a broken spirit!!! I speak from experience in the racing world and having had lots of ex racehorses.

He may be nice and quiet to ride in his own environment and learnt to give less and less so they stop asking him for more. He sounds like he has completely switched off and knows if he plods around they will give up on him and he will have it a bit easier.

Sprinters are extremely sharp, out of all racing grades the sprinters are usually the most switched on of horses.

You may find, if you do buy him, that when his feet are under the table, you have a completely different horse.

Also you may wish to consider that he may not be used to hacking out alone as in racing they dont have the time to spend with individual horses, they go out in a string.

I would consider your friends abilities and her long term goals. I wondered if she had thought about this horse because it is free to a good home or for very little money, which is usual in racing. She would need to think that to put this horse right she would have to spend an awful lot of time and money on reschooling and her riding lessons to get a good partnership going.

If you look long term, this is going to be costly as she is a novice rider and it may be cheaper in the long run for her to consider buying a more suitable horse, that from the offset she can hack out and enjoy (and be safe).

I dont mean to sound critical, I am trying to give you guidance and pointers. Ex racehorses are not always straight forward and can totally change when you get them home. Some people get them, and put them out in a paddock for a good long chill out, others work with thems straight away.

I think you friend being novice could get hurt or frightend or such a sharp, quick horse that may well have learnt some really dirty tricks to get rid of the rider.

Good luck
 
Steer clear. A TB is not for a nervous novice. An ex-racer is definitely not. One in poor condition will be very different when he/she is fit and well and full of beans. The people who are perfect for TBs are those that laugh a their silly antics and really enjoy their character traits. TBs are not for me personally, and would not be a good choice for your friend. Find something safe, sane and sensible and not a full TB.
 
Second that view Jella - I bought one 6 months ago and was a donkey as soooo thin, but after 5 months of calm and condition, haylage and putting on over 80kg's he's livened up some what!! They do have lovely personalities, got 2 ex-racers, but can be a little spooky as I think too much goes on inside their brains!
 
Following on from all the above is that racers can have more injury problems than 'normal' horses. T
hey've been worked hard from a young age, plus have that inbuilt TB self harming gene, which means every field, stable and horse poses a threat to them injuring themselves in some way!

I know I'm generalising and some ex racers are the strongest things around, but it's just another thing to bear in mind if you're friend is looking for an uncomplicated RC horse.

A friend of mine with an ex racer has had more time off work, than in work, in the time she's had her.
 
QR
I really dont understand where all this 'prone to injuring themselves' comes from.
We have 30 in work here, 20 out in the field - today I used my first bit of Animalintex this year (and in fact for months).
Plus, i sold a fair few this year and the only sprinter I sold went to a 13 yo girl to do Pony Club on.
I just wish people wouldnt generalise so much. It doesnt matter 'what' they are, its the yard they have been trained in that defines them. That goes for any horse - every one is different, ragardless of type/breed.
 
I have an ex-racer, a sprinter, and he is the most laid back horse I know - he can even stop a horse walker, knowing if he stands still he will stop the gate and he won't have to walk - he's that lazy.

I think I know the person the horse is for as she is on our yard. If I'm right, she has ridden my boy a couple of times and felt very comfortable on him - more so than on a TBXID and her old horse, a cob. People categorise horses - TB sharps, WB's thick and Cobs as lazy. This girl's cob cob was a lovely horse, but was very strong and had his own mind, my TB is lazy as anything. It doesn't matter what the horse is as long as it is safe, steady and sensible. I've talked at length to the girl in question about buying this horse, and given her all the pros and cons of having a TB ex-racer. She's a nice little rider with very kind hands, just her confidence has been knocked for six. It's up to her now to make the decision.
 
I agree with Vickijp, I think it really depends on the yard the horse has come from.
Big lad is VERY lazy, the longer i've had him and the more condition he's put on the slower he goes LOL. He was my first horse afer a 10 yr break, and I've had loads of fun on him as he is a great hack, he happily goes out on his own as well.
Clearly not all TB's are like this, but if you have done enough research, and can beleive what the trainer/ seller is telling you, I wouldn't let the fact it's a TB put you off.
smile.gif
 
I must say I agree with vicijp. TB's aren't everyone's cup of tea, but this whole idea that they are some sort of wild lunatic once they've had a bit of feed is absolute rubbish.

I had my first exracehorse many years ago at Pony Club, my latest has been very sucessful in his racing career, having run the Grand National and Gold Cup, and shock of horror he is quiet as a lamb, nothing phases him at all and I would have absolutely no hesitation putting a complete novice on him.

I think its horses for courses, if he was so quiet and well behaved when she tried him I see no reason why she shouldn't take him on, so long as she goes to an instructor well used to TB's and especially exracehorses. Plus there is so much support for people with exracehorses nowadays in the form of the Exracers club and RoR.
 
She would have a fab support network as we're on a small yard, with friendly helpful people and the YM (who also her instructor) is an extremely experienced horsewoman.
 
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