Loan Horse Advice Needed – Ex-Racer Showing Issues

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Autumn30

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Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice and other people’s experiences with loan horses. Note I have owned ex race horse before.

I’ve had my loan mare for about a month now. She’s 5 years old and came out of racing around a year ago. Since she arrived, I’ve found a few issues that are making me reluctant to ride her because I honestly don’t want her to be uncomfortable.

The problems I’m seeing:

  • She is very unhappy going into the school – tense, reluctant and clearly not enjoying it. (When taking on I knew this as I want to just hack/fun ride but now wondering if an issue could be the result).
  • She has pulled a shoe twice already. She has pulled a shoe just before she came to me too!
  • She drags one of her hind hooves slightly when ridden (my saddle fitter pointed this out).
  • She holds her head up and tilts it a lot when ridden, which made me think it could be a teeth issue, although I was told her teeth were done in the spring.


She arrived with only two rugs and a headcollar, so I had to have my saddle fitted to her and buy a bridle and bit myself. I don’t mind doing this, but she was meant to come with a bridle and a few rugs.

At the moment, she’s lovely to handle and is a great companion for my other horse, but it’s sad because being able to ride her was the main reason for taking her on.

My plan going forward:

I’ve contacted the owner and explained everything. I’m arranging:

  • My farrier to check her feet properly
  • Vet check for her teeth and possibly the hind-leg dragging
  • If the vet thinks her conformation/movement is okay, I’ll then get a physio out


My worry is the owner eventually wants to sell her next year for quite a high price— and right now I’m not sure she’s going to be worth that, depending on what these issues turn out to be.

My question:

For those who have loaned horses before, what would you do in this situation?

Does this sound like something that should have been picked up at the retraining yard she was at before? It was a reputable yard.
I find it strange none of these things were flagged.


Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated.
 
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Autumn30 said:
Does this sound like something that should have been picked up at the retraining yard she was at before? It was a reputable yard.
I find it strange none of these things were flagged.
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Most people would put the issues down to her being a mare/stubborn/green or just wouldn't have been noticed in the first place, so the fact they weren't picked up isn't unusual.

You would be mad to take on what is essentially a rehab and retraining project when you know the owner is going to sell. I bet they were rubbing their hands when they saw you coming!

You'd be better off buying yourself your own ex racer if you're willing to do all the steps you've listed anyway.
 
IrishMilo said:
Most people would put the issues down to her being a mare/stubborn/green or just wouldn't have been noticed in the first place, so the fact they weren't picked up isn't unusual.

You would be mad to take on what is essentially a rehab and retraining project when you know the owner is going to sell. I bet they were rubbing their hands when they saw you coming!

You'd be better off buying yourself your own ex racer if you're willing to do all the steps you've listed anyway.
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She was in a retraining yard for 6 months. Which are very reputable-m.
It is a shame as I did want to take her on.
But over 3k for all of this just is too much!

She’s doing a fab job looking after my other mare- but I can’t have x2 non ridden.
 
IME many/most ex racers cost a huge amount of skill, time and money for a good couple of years after they come out of racing to be remoulded into a new career.

They pretty much always have a ceiling on their value, which in no way covers the cost of the rehabilitation if done meticulously.

There is no way in hell would I take on loan an ex racehorse to invest that much in if there was any way it could be taken from me. I would want to reap the rewards of the efforts put in.
 
I have a full loan mare which I have put some money into but I intend to buy her next year, at an agreed price prior to me bringing her on (she’s 4 and was newly backed).

In your situation I would be giving her back. Especially if they are expecting you to put work into her to then sell her.
 
If I was in this situation I would either offer the owner her current value ( if you wanted to buy her of course!) Which doesn't sound much at the moment or let the owner take her back. I wouldn't even entertain spending what could end up to be a significant amount of money on a horse I didn't own, unless it was agreed it was a loan for life. It may take longer than a year to see any major improvements. It's also putting added stress on you to get her ready for someone else to sell and reap the rewards. It's a very strange situation!!
 
MissTyc said:
Not affiliated with this or any other race yard, but many have sound horses for a song. I see this sort of advert multiple times a day all around the country.
If ex racers are your thing, then don't be a sucker for someone else's project!

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he will be a nice sort once you get his feet sorted. Hes nicely uphill which is a huge plus in ex racers!
 
MissTyc said:
Not affiliated with this or any other race yard, but many have sound horses for a song. I see this sort of advert multiple times a day all around the country.
If ex racers are your thing, then don't be a sucker for someone else's project!

View attachment 169264
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This is literally the type of post I was just about to make, albeit with a different ad from the dozens currently out there.

Do not put another penny into a horse that you don’t own. You might as well flush bank notes down the loo.
 
Loan horses are always tricky. Why did you choose this one? If he’s lame and only just arrived then send him back or if you think you can sort the problem offer to buy him now, not in six months.
Many people think that they’ll get a fantastic loan horse with no problems but unless you’re very lucky or know the owner that’s rare. Sometimes horses are available to loan as companions rather than ridden, that’s a little different than someone wanting one to ride especially if you can’t afford to buy. Remember it costs the same to feed one with good conformation as one with problems. I have only ever loaned one to a friend of a friend. It quickly was returned but not before there had been a string of requests for things the loaner felt it required despite the fact it had had a very successful ridden life and continued to do so once it had been returned to the old routine.
 
Autumn30 said:
She was in a retraining yard for 6 months. Which are very reputable-m.
It is a shame as I did want to take her on.
But over 3k for all of this just is too much!

She’s doing a fab job looking after my other mare- but I can’t have x2 non ridden.
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So she has spent 6 months with a retrainer, and now she has been put on loan to you - what has the owner actually done with her? Sounds like the owner wants you to fix her so she can then be sold

The hind toe drag and head tilt could be connected, or it could just a be a bit of weakness and teeth - you won't know till you spend £££s. Shoe pulling isn't uncommon with tbs, especially if they need work posturally, but that will only get worse as winter goes on if no changes are made
 
I'd like to agree with all the above, but add a really genuine 'well done' to you OP for recognising the mares problems, and realising she needs help, and not just forcing her to carry on. It may well be that she is weak and unbalanced ( but if so what the hell have the rehab yard done in the last 6 months?) or she could have underlying issues which need treatment - by her owner, not you!
 
I have a mare who did all of these things as a 4 yo, after a very stop- start decade of investigations, Bute trials, x rays and bone scans, we discovered she has ECVM. In your position, I'd absolutely be returning her. (The ECVM x rays were actually the cheapest thing we did, so you could ask your vet / the owner to do the May-Davis protocol ones if you wanted to know). I suspect the horse will be offered for loan/ sale down the line regardless of your experience...poor horse, but absolutely not your responsibility.
 
rextherobber said:
I have a mare who did all of these things as a 4 yo, after a very stop- start decade of investigations, Bute trials, x rays and bone scans, we discovered she has ECVM. In your position, I'd absolutely be returning her. (The ECVM x rays were actually the cheapest thing we did, so you could ask your vet / the owner to do the May-Davis protocol ones if you wanted to know). I suspect the horse will be offered for loan/ sale down the line regardless of your experience...poor horse, but absolutely not your responsibility.
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ECVM was my first thought tbh
 
Why is the owner holding on to her? Just so you can make her worth more next year?
If they do sell it sounds like she’d be out of budget if you decided you wanted her even though you’ve put the time and effort into her.

I do understand you wanting to find out what’s wrong with her but I’d be wary of being burnt with this arrangement. Better off buying a TB yourself. As you see they aren’t expensive.
 
I agree with the others, I wouldn't be spending all this on a temporary loan horse. It might be worth trying to persuade the owner to pay for it all, but if the answer is no I would be sending her back sadly.
 
Hi all,
Following this all up thank you for your responses.
I had been searching for a few months as I had lost my previous mare, just couldn’t find the right thing. So I looked at loaning with view to buy so I was making the right decision in terms of suitability and whether the next horse would get on with my companion mare who’s a TB also. I’m also only really interested in hacking so I don’t really want to be spending much over 3/4K and due to the horses paddock being 40 acres a TB is very suited.
This loan mare temperament is so gentle and kind and it does suit being here a lot but I am very torn with these issues.

I raised all of this to the owner and she said she was concerned due to the retraining yard not picking up on any of this.

For the time being she suits and we are discussing steps. I am happy to cover the initial physio and teeth but I won’t be investigating further if nothing noticed.
I also did think weakness could be playing a part but it’s quite frustrating when this may have been ignored previously.

I’m just worried if we can’t go ahead maybe I’m better finding my companion a place to go?? I just feel sad moving her as it’s a very peaceful and happy home here.
Thanks again for all responses x
 
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