Just curious.... where do you buy an ex-racehorse?

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soloequestrian

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Browsing Preloved and there are quite a few ex-racehorses with a few months of re-schooling on them for sale. Where/how are they sold out of racing?
 
I contacted trainers directly. Then you get the “rehomers” such as Cheveral who are actually just dealers, the horses come in and leave very quickly- usually within days.
 
If you're looking for a horse for yourself it might be worth checking out the Godolphin rehoming programe.
They will keep in touch to see how you're getting on, but they spend a lot of time letting them settle and doing basics then you put your name on the list and they try and match horses to applicants based on suitability.
Cost last time I looked was a flat 500 more like an adoption fee regardless of horse.
 
The best way of getting one if you want to do it all yourelf is straight from the trainer. They will always try to ensure you and the horse are a good match for each other with the highest chance of success.

A lot of these so called retrainers have cropped up during lock down to make some cash on the side. They ship horses in and out like a factory without actually doing much with them. Most of these horses have been bought cheap off of the trainers and then sold asap for 4x as much.
 
Kim Bayly trainer os looking for good homes for ex racers. Don't think there is any money involved but you have to sign a loan agreement with strict stipulations with regard to use. Based in the Cotswolds and is done by his wife.
 
The biggest local trainer advertises them himself, usually via social media and their website. Prices seem to be in the region of a few thousand. They are all nice looking horses though, I don't know what they do with the loopy / wonky / otherwise difficult ones.
 
I bought my ex racer direct from his trainer, he cost me £600.

Solway Racehorses seems to be a nice place to buy an ex racer if you’re looking for a horse who’s had some retraining done.
 
P.forpony said:
If you're looking for a horse for yourself it might be worth checking out the Godolphin rehoming programe.
They will keep in touch to see how you're getting on, but they spend a lot of time letting them settle and doing basics then you put your name on the list and they try and match horses to applicants based on suitability.
Cost last time I looked was a flat 500 more like an adoption fee regardless of horse.
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I rehomed from godolphin a few years ago. The fer was £100 plus vat. Absolutely stunning horse but wasn't suited to the quiet life I wanted to give him. He had raced hard and been extremely successful. He had psd aged 7 and had to be pts. He was never 100% settled with me but when I returned him to see if they could get him sound he settled into a big yard straight away. Great people to deal with.
 
Thanks, that's all really interesting. I'm just thinking vaguely just now about what to get one I've sold the current project. Are people buying from local trainers who they already know or are there good places to look where they might advertise. I'm in Scotland and not involved in racing at all so I only know of one trainer who is relatively local.
 
soloequestrian said:
Thanks, that's all really interesting. I'm just thinking vaguely just now about what to get one I've sold the current project. Are people buying from local trainers who they already know or are there good places to look where they might advertise. I'm in Scotland and not involved in racing at all so I only know of one trainer who is relatively local.
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I think Elf is also in Scotland, so maybe contact her?
 
soloequestrian said:
Thanks, that's all really interesting. I'm just thinking vaguely just now about what to get one I've sold the current project. Are people buying from local trainers who they already know or are there good places to look where they might advertise. I'm in Scotland and not involved in racing at all so I only know of one trainer who is relatively local.
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I am also in Scotland, however rehomed from a Sedgefield trainer through recommendation of a mutual friend.
The best advice I can give is to talk to people you know ie, your vets, farrier, other horsey friends for local recommendations as a lot of ex racehorses are sold on/rehomed unadvertised and they can also vouch for you as a prospective rehomer...
 
WispyBec said:
I am also in Scotland, however rehomed from a Sedgefield trainer through recommendation of a mutual friend.
The best advice I can give is to talk to people you know ie, your vets, farrier, other horsey friends for local recommendations as a lot of these ex racehorses are sold on/rehomed unadvertised and they can also vouch for you as a prospective rehomer...
Click to expand...
 
Fern007 said:
I rehomed from godolphin a few years ago. The fer was £100 plus vat. Absolutely stunning horse but wasn't suited to the quiet life I wanted to give him. He had raced hard and been extremely successful. He had psd aged 7 and had to be pts. He was never 100% settled with me but when I returned him to see if they could get him sound he settled into a big yard straight away. Great people to deal with.
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I have a Godolphin horse got him as a 4 year old now 12. They were lovely to deal with and kept in touch for years.
 
Mine was a sort of private sale but really a bit of a dealer. Her hubby did some racehorse transport and would hear of horses coming out of training. They would have 2 or 3 at a time and would reach the point where you could get on walk trot and canter in the school reasonably. It was ideal for me but a more expensive way to do it.
 
soloequestrian said:
Thanks, that's all really interesting. I'm just thinking vaguely just now about what to get one I've sold the current project. Are people buying from local trainers who they already know or are there good places to look where they might advertise. I'm in Scotland and not involved in racing at all so I only know of one trainer who is relatively local.
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The trainer I work for up here in Scotland either sells them or permanent loans them. We have 1 for sale just now who, to be honest, is a bit pricey for what he is.

It entirely depends on what you want to do with the horse and what you are willing to pay.
 
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