Ideas for homing a well schooled ex racehorse

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ellemcc

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Could anyone please recommend best ideas for advertising/personal contacts/organisations to try while trying to find a home for an ex racehorse? I ride full time and only really have time (and energy after a long day of it!!) for one of my own. I had the little TB in question to retrain and sell as a relatively short term project or event her myself. Although I have reschooled her, won BD (competed up to Elementary) and jumped her for fun (she wasn't naturally the boldest), I had a gut feeling she was not 100% happy. To cut a long story short, she had kissing spines but was a great candidate for surgery. She has come back through rehab ten times better a horse and has done all of her hand walking and pessoa work, and she is now being ridden again. She feels stronger and happier than before and feel sure she could do a fab job for someone wanting to do dressage, hacking, fun jumping, maybe RoR, and general riding club activities. Svend Kold who operated on her would recommend her to anyone interested. I am just concerned to find her the right home, someone who can adore her (thrives on attention), enjoy her schooling (would carry on up the levels BD) and give her the chance she deserves after racing and then several years of trying her best in discomfort! Where can I find someone sensible with a passion for TBs?!
 
I know of someone else who is trying to sell on another ex racer who had kissing spine and a calcified spinal fracture, be interested to see the responce this post gets.

Personally I wouldn't touch it, sorry.
 
Thanks GlamourPuss for an unhelpful reply!! 'It' has a name, with BD points registered to it, a right to exist, and the backing of Svend Kold who operated on her...
 
Thank you for the kind support FfionWinnie, she deserved a chance and so many ex racehorses just don't get one. Just worried about advertising her in the best place so that she is not just viewed as a cheap horse!
 
ellemcc said:
Thanks GlamourPuss for an unhelpful reply!! 'It' has a name, with BD points registered to it, a right to exist, and the backing of Svend Kold who operated on her...
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good for you!

you could try the ex racehorse clubs forums. scotnorth or exracer club. Hope you get somewhere great for her, she sounds lovely.
 
Get her to a pc rally or two and send an email round the local pc saying who will be riding her on what dates and that she's for sale. An email round your local rc might work as well.
 
there seems to be some insensitivity going on this thread... she isnt asking anyone is interested shes asking where to advertise for someone that is.
I have an ex racer who is currently going having treatment for a number of issues. despite this he is proving to be one of the best ive had. hes such a sweetie. putting yourself in my shoes i would probably offer a lwvtb just so you know that the buyer and horse are right for each other, if thats not what you want to do contact heros or TRC for some advise, they may even advertise on there websites. Im always ringing the TRC for advise and they are always happy to help.
good luck, i hope you find he/she the home she deserves :)
 
I think it is helpful to give opinions on whether people would buy, I wouldn't either. But, if I was looking for that type, whilst I wouldn't buy, I would take a horse that's had ks surgery on permanent loan, with a contract drawn up to say the horse could be returned if there are any future complications. I'd recommend advertising as sale/ permanent loan.
 
I would say that if there has been a problem and the horse has had surgery to correct, what's the problem? Admittedly I don't know enough about KS, but my thinking would be that it is one problem I don't have to solve!

I know many people like to buy a horse that has had no medical problems, and yes I agree if it is to do with limbs, but with Ulcers or KS, this is treatable and has been treated.

If I was looking, I would consider (But would do research first).

A nice TB, working at Elementary with the scope to go higher plus working on showjumping, sounds like a nice little horse with a good competition career ahead.

As far as advertising echo everyone else, try the TARRA pages, ROR and Exracer pages on facebook. There is as others have said a dedicated site for ex racer for sale.

Good luck, I am sure the horse will have a lovely home for someone.
 
OP, it sounds as though you have done the best by this horse and continue to want to do the best.

My suggest would be to advertise honestly on BD / HQ - if she were mine she would be a LWVTB. That situation doen't come without risk, and does require you to go the extra mile, but it also gives you the chance to make sure she is placed in the right home, gives the new loaner/owner peace of mind that they can 'try before they buy'.

I did the same with a horse of mine that had suffered an injury and been operated on. The LWVTB went very smoothly and I found a lovely new home for a horse whose future I cared about but didn't wish to keep myself (for various reasons).
 
Thank you all for some genuinely kind and helpful repllies. :) I am going to re-register her BD and get some more points on her record as she feels much more through and has more expression in her paces now, so if she could score 69%+ before, I hope we can build on that and get her a great home that way.

I entirely understand people with a budget to only consider horses that are already made, without any veterinary history, without any quirks, etc etc saying they wouldn't touch a horse with KS, but I have achieved success in all three affiliated disciplines, gained my Pony Club A test, my BHSI and an MSc in Equine Science having learnt from all manner of horses along the way...not one of them cost much and I have never dismissed any before I felt informed enough to make a decision! So for someone educated, dedicated and with limited funds, this mare could be a great prospect.

The amount of competition horses that have varying degrees of KS and are sold without this being known until a disappointing moment in the future or perhaps never...at least with diagnosis, treatment and rehab all successfully complete with excellent prognosis, this is not a problem that will have to be faced again!
 
Do you have to sell her ? - could you loan her - you sound like you have a bit of a soft spot for this one.. and if you loan rather than sell you can make sure the home is a good one.

Anyway -i am no help - i always buy the exact opposite what a rational person would buy.... but then again I must have the luck of the devil as everything i have taken a punt on has repaid me a thousand fold.... but then mine are pals first and working animals second.

Good luck - and well done for taking the time with this one
 
Gingerwitch said:
Do you have to sell her ? - could you loan her - you sound like you have a bit of a soft spot for this one.. and if you loan rather than sell you can make sure the home is a good one.

Anyway -i am no help - i always buy the exact opposite what a rational person would buy.... but then again I must have the luck of the devil as everything i have taken a punt on has repaid me a thousand fold.... but then mine are pals first and working animals second.

Good luck - and well done for taking the time with this one
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Thanks Gingerwitch - you obviously deserve good fortune!! :)
 
I am sure you will find a good home, Try advertising on preloved and FB. I just saw a TB ex racehorse in FB last night was going to be shot in 2 weeks time, within a day he has found a lovely new home. Well done for sticking with her.:D:D:D
 
I personally think there is a market for that type of horse. She sounds more like a nice riding club horse, rather than a typical ex-racehorse. Due to the op she won't be worth millions but could be a really nice horse for someone.
 
The other thing is that while we all (me included) wail in horror when you see Kissing Spines mentioned, it is as broad a description as say colic. For a mare who has done as much as you have, you know I would PM FigJam in the first instance. She is going great guns with her exracehorse boy, and is a serious dressage person. Also done exceedingly well in the RoR dressage classes. I would ask her what she thought of a: where to advertise b: money wise if you are looking to sell c: personal recommendation. I would also stand back and not focus on the negative quite so much, i.e ex racer, KS. She has a good portfolio already behind her. Good luck I am sure you will find someone - its not as if you are asking someone to take on a massive chance as she has had the op, come good, your surgeon is pretty much THE person on KS and mare will be out and showing off again shortly..
 
Thank you all for some lovely replies and very good points. It is great to have some support as I know most people wouldn't have bothered to the extent I have with this particular horse, but she has such great natural energy and enthusiasm - it's like very morning she is just happy to be around! She is a real tough little mare as the surgery didn't knock her one bit, she bounced straight back, was pleased to come home and go out for her walkies, and healed quickly. Also, she was an ideal candidate for surgery and the actual procedure was relatively straightforward in the context of KS. I took a video of her to send to Svend today and she looks so happy and well just a couple of weeks into ridden work. I have come this far, I am sure she will win the right person for her over :) Thanks everyone, I do feel more positive and as long as I can manage financially, I'm not in a rush.
 
I think a certain strain of ex racer is just like you describe - my little lad is - he is just such a happy boy - he is like tigger on the end of the lead rope - he just springs with energy.

When he is poorly - he has usually got a wacking cut somewhere all he wants is a cuddle - and he just craves attention.

I would go through hell on earth to keep him happy - which is why we end up buying various field mates for him- if i did not have him i would just have one horse, and have him on a normal diy yard.... but nope we are on full livery, with my own field so i can pick and choose what and whom goes out with him.

Good luck - I really hope you find him somewhere to love her soon - have you looked on BD website in the wanted section? I think there are two adverts on their at the moment.
 
I use to have a tb who had kissing spine op and went ok for a couple of years before going back down hill so personally I wouldn't risk another but hey that's coming from me who brought a tb who I had known/work with for years and jumped at the chance of having him once he finished racing only to now find he's getting every problem under the sun since iv owned him.
I really hope u find a good home these ex racers are fab horses and deserve a chance.
 
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