Is £7k too much for an Ex Racehorse

[Sassenach_1234]

I’ve found a lovey 16’2 TB 7yo who is an ex racehorse. He’s been on an evening yard for the past 4 months and has great paces and a nice jump. He’s been on xc training too and totally sain and sensible. Soft in your hand and a really sweet nature. Not spooky, great to handle.

He stopped racing as there weren’t enough races during Covid and I contracted his trainer who described him as a total gem!

However, he’s £7k (non negotiable) which seems high even with these crazy Covid prices. I’d appreciate other opinions on this…

Thanks

 

[AmyMay]

Good horses going for good money, so £7k might be cheap. If he dos what it says on the tin, then he’s probably worth every penny. What was he doing before going to the eventer, are they the people who’ve retrained him?

 

[melbournesunrise]

More sensible than the £4K that is being asked for the unbacked 10 y.o. mare who is a nightmare to handle being sold at my yard!! Maybe a little high considering he hasn’t done much though.

 

[ester]

So he's a nice character, sound and likely to be able to go out and start a BE career (have they taken him out?) tomorrow? In which case no, not too much.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

Thanks Amymay, he’s not done any competing yet but a fair amount of re-training.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

Good horses going for good money, so £7k might be cheap. If he dos what it says on the tin, then he’s probably worth every penny. What was he doing before going to the eventer, are they the people who’ve retrained him?

Yes they were the ones who retrained him so he’s had good people working on him.

 

[TheMule]

No, not too much. 4 months of good re-training is easily worth 1k per month and you'd struggle to pick up a quality horse out of training for less then 3k currently

 

[criso]

If he didn't happen to be an ex racehorse but was a nice horse from an eventing yard, ready to go on and start competing, would you be asking this?

There are a wide range of ex racehorses and some people are lucky to get a bargain from sales or a trainer, but part of what you are paying for here is for a professional to filter through all the unsuitable ones and find the one that's got a good temperament, attitude and some potential. Then put some work into him to establish the basics.

It is quite high but no more than people are getting for green ISH's of unexceptional breeding.

 

[Goldenstar]

Sounds fine to me if he’s a nice type and nice person.
Tb‘s are suited to eventing .

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Maybe a little high considering he hasn’t done much though.

But he has done stuff. He has been hacked out, travelled alot, ridden every day, been clipped, been for days away from home racing so has competed, He has then been reschooled and done flat work and xc schooling so again will have been away from home to do this I expect.

I don't know why people don't think ex-racers have done nothing. Apart from last year they see crowds at the races and have a lot to deal with on a race day so they aren't complete numpties about the ways and whys of the world.

 

[Vodkagirly]

Depends on how he is too ride and jump. If he is ready to go and event he is worth it, if not maybe a bit optimistic

 

[The Irish Draft 2022]

Nope he a good price compared to a unbroken unhandled gelding that is going 10 thousand in my yard.

 

[Equi]

If he is as said on the tin then its not an unreasonable amount. Being a thoroughbred should not immediately decrease a horses price any more than being a cob should. Its the horse in front of you that makes the price.

 

[Goldenstar]

But he has done stuff. He has been hacked out, travelled alot, ridden every day, been clipped, been for days away from home racing so has competed, He has then been reschooled and done flat work and xc schooling so again will have been away from home to do this I expect.

I don't know why people don't think ex-racers have done nothing. Apart from last year they see crowds at the races and have a lot to deal with on a race day so they aren't complete numpties about the ways and whys of the world.

Exactly all the TB’s I have arrived have been super easy because they see world young .
7k is nothing to pay for a good young TB .

 

[coblets]

From the sound of it, he’s a good price. But do make sure to find out his medical history and how long his break between racing and retraining was.

 

[Ceriann]

I’ve seen a few who’ve done a bit by way of re-training around that price. They look useful and as an owner of a heavily TB influenced sports horse, I would be looking at capability etc not breed.

 

[Trouper]

I am a huge TB fan and had an ex-racer. Because of that, now I would be inquiring about how old he was when he started racing and about his racing career in general. For all the reasons @Elf On A Shelf outlines I love the exposure that comes with racing that give so many of them such sensible heads, but sometimes it comes with a toll on their young bodies. I would particularly want x-rays for potential KS and a good vet who can spot a leg issue from a mile off - but perhaps that is my unfortunate experience talking.
If he is totally sound with a good medical record, then I would be happy to pay slightly over the odds for him.

 

[Velcrobum]

In this week's H&H there are various un-broken horses for over £7000. A 6 yr old that has gone clear XC at 3 UA 100's being sold as a grassroots/u18 horse for £15,000. A 14 yr old that has done fun rides etc £9000. His racing history will be available on-line so you can have a look. My ex racer was sold as he would not really try to race was pulled up 4 out of 7 races he ran.
If the trainer described him as a gem and he is sane and sensible, good paces with 4 months of schooling that is not a bad price

 

[splashgirl45]

i saw a horse advertised for £5000 recently, he was 14 and had been known to rear!! so your nice ex racer sounds pretty reasonable compared to that.

 

[melbournesunrise]

But he has done stuff. He has been hacked out, travelled alot, ridden every day, been clipped, been for days away from home racing so has competed, He has then been reschooled and done flat work and xc schooling so again will have been away from home to do this I expect.

I don't know why people don't think ex-racers have done nothing. Apart from last year they see crowds at the races and have a lot to deal with on a race day so they aren't complete numpties about the ways and whys of the world.

Fair point - I wasn’t under the impression that he had done nothing at all, but I hadn’t thought particularly carefully about the specifics of what racehorses will have done before retraining.

However, apart from a bit of XC schooling, the post mentions little else in the way of competing in any of the eventing disciplines. Whilst he may have had training or schooling for these, I did assume (maybe incorrectly) that he has done very little actual eventing.

 

[criso]

With today's prices, if he'd done any actual eventing and not fallen over his own feet, he'd be 5 figures. Saw one for 15k the other day, not an ex racer but a coloured ish, who had done a couple of baby ua events and some local showjumping.

 

[humblepie]

As above four months of schooling livery for a horse would mount up if you were buying a horse free out of racing and he will know a lot about the world having raced. Think it would be nice if he had been out perhaps to some local dressage or clear round but he sounds ready to go

 

[Goldenstar]

For me no competitions is an advantage you are in charge of how it’s done .
Theres’s lots of buyers who value all the slog done but a blank competition canvas .

 

[Sassenach_1234]

From the sound of it, he’s a good price. But do make sure to find out his medical history and how long his break between racing and retraining was.

Thanks. Yes he raced last September and has been on an eventing yard retraining since then. No injuries from racing as I spoke to his old trainer. I’ll also get him 5* vetted to be sure.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

Fair point - I wasn’t under the impression that he had done nothing at all, but I hadn’t thought particularly carefully about the specifics of what racehorses will have done before retraining.

However, apart from a bit of XC schooling, the post mentions little else in the way of competing in any of the eventing disciplines. Whilst he may have had training or schooling for these, I did assume (maybe incorrectly) that he has done very little actual eventing.

Yes you’re right he has done done xc training but not competed at all. Jumping a nice course of SJ at home.

 

[SO1]

7 is a desirable age and as a race horse he will be used to busy competitions, travelling etc.

If sound and sane and jumping well easily worth that in the current climate. In comparison a 13h new forest backed 8 weeks ago is being marketed for 6k so a sports horse that could be a potential event horse is bound to be at least 7k.

The only disadvantage of ex racers is the wear and tear from being raced at a young age but I expect a lot of other sports horses may be worked quite intensively at a young age to get them ready for young horse classes and the circles and jumping are just as hard on the young bodies as racing which is at least normally in fairly straight line most of the time.

Yes you’re right he has done done xc training but not competed at all. Jumping a nice course of SJ at home.

 

[TPO]

Thanks. Yes he raced last September and has been on an eventing yard retraining since then. No injuries from racing as I spoke to his old trainer. I’ll also get him 5* vetted to be sure.

Maybe consider xrays too.

I've had a few ex racers and while I love them racing does take its toll. I wouldn't buy another without at least xrays on top of a 5 stage vetting

 

[SibeliusMB]

If he came off the track at 7 years old and had a consistent race career, I suspect he won't have a problem staying sound for a low level eventing career. Those older racehorses are usually made of iron. Check his race records though, and ask about any long gaps between races or recorded works. And given the 7K price I agree it's worth it to get xrays, but don't expect them to be perfectly squeaky clean. Too many great horses are passed on because their rads aren't pristine.

I took my last ex racehorse off the track at 7 years old and he became a horse of a lifetime. Super professional, seen it all, great work ethic, and took to his new career like he had done it all his life. If this one is a good person and checks all your boxes, he might be a steal at 7K (especially in this market!). Wishing you all the best!

 

[Goldenstar]

The question what would you X-ray , to cover every base you could but 1.5k on his purchase price

 

[DabDab]

The question what would you X-ray , to cover every base you could but 1.5k on his purchase price

Neck, back and feet.

There are quite a few low grade wobblers who come out of racing and the athleticism and work ethic of thoroughbreds can largely disguise it.