New horse? Ex-racer? Thoughts on my ramblings please....

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Crazydancer

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I am looking for a new horse. My 18 yr old 14.2 ArabxWelsh has had to retire.

So I've been going through the process of deciding what I want. Horse will have to live out, as Khan has to because of his legs. I am a happy hacker. I may do the odd fun ride, or some low level dreassge 'for fun'. I do love flatwork, and would be MORE than happy to take on something that needs schooling, or a youngster as long as it's already backed and going on.

I am not however a hugely confident rider if there are problems. Khan has been know to buck, coped with that, but if a horse had issues like bolting, spooking, spinning, rearing etc, I know I would not cope. I'm not tall, so ideal height would be 15 - 15.2. I have money to spend, but would also like to upgrade my car to a 4x4 and get a trailer, so keeping to a low-ish budget is important.

I really wanted an Andalusian, but have decided that its daft spending a big chunk of my cash on one, just to be a happy hacker, and would also mean not getting the trailer for some time.

I had thought about getting a horse from a sale, to offer a home to something that really needs it - but don't want to make a mistake and end up with a nutter.

I have looked at the adds and there are so many horses - but I am also put off by the fact that although most people are genuine, there are a lot of horses that aren't as described - as read about on here on a daily basis it seems!

I have just been offered an ex-racer, direct from the trainer, who is a friend of my boss. I know I can trust him, they go back years and my boss would not go this route if that was in doubt. I have not considered a TB before, but it is 15.2, and seems to fit the bill.

So, anyone with an ex-racer who can offer me words of wisdom?? I am so confused and overwhelmed with choices I am worried I will still be here, horse-less, in 6 months!!!

Apologies for the ramblings, and coffee with Baileys to anyone who reached the end! :)
 
Ex racers are the best! I've had three now and love them to bits. Be careful though and make sure you really check this one out as some can be quite whizzy (like any horse really) My boy is a dream, so easy to ride, canters side by side with 3 other horses and I could hold the reins by the buckle if I wanted. He's so well mannered when riding and I trust him completely. Racers have usually been everywhere and seen everything so quite often they're bomb-proof. You just have to choose carefully.

Go and see the one you've been offered and tell us about it! Good luck :)
 
I will be honest.....I dont think its a good idea to buy a racehorse from the trainer and then expect to be able to retrain it and turn it into a happy hacker/allrounder unless you have experience of doing this before and are confident in your ability. Sorry.
 
Getting a horse through word of mouth is the best thing to do so if your boss thinks their friends racer may suit you then maybe it could?
Some TB's are sharper then others it really depends on the individual. There was a guy at my old livery yard who had an ex-racer, this guy was short, fat and a total and utter novice, his ex racer was a saint and babysitted this man like he was made of eggshells, he really was the most lovely horse, they would go off hacking for hours together and honestly this man could barely sit on a horse lol.
I have a 5 yr old ex racer and while a very straightforward and honest friend and competition horse he can be sharp. My mum has an ex racer and ditto, he's so safe most of the time but he can have the odd buck and sharp spook, both through word of mouth and both perfect for us.

If it was me I would ask about the horse and maybe go and see it? The fact the horse is through word of mouth from people you trust is massively in the horses favour, I'm assuming they would not have thought of the horse for you if it wasn't suitable?! Every horse I've had through word of mouth from friends has been a gem :)
 
If you buy directly from trainer do be aware that you may need to give horse some "let down" time. Ex racers often have a lot to offer. They are usually very good in traffic, usually quite bombproof and have been exposed to many things that regular horses havent been so you can get a grounded animal. You know that some racers can be hot while others are calm. Just like any other type of horse you cant judge them all by the way one behaves. View an ex racer as you would any other individual horse while remembering that it is thoroughbred.
 
Every horse is different, ex-racer or not. I would go see the horse and try it maybe. if you trust the people then that is a good start. Many TBs are soo laid back they're practically horizonatl, until you show them a race track. Many failed racehorse don't even have that spark and hence make very good 'happy hackers'.

I think the plusses are they generally seem to have excellent stable manners and most are very good in traffic and good to travel etc as they've been there, done that from the word go. We 'rescued' a 19yo TB several years ago as his owner could no longer keep him. He is actually one of the safest horses out hacking as he couldn't care less about anything, whether it be lorries, tractors of or bags in the hedge - he just wants to get from A to B. His downside is he jogs and pulls his head down so does not make for a nice relaxed hack BUT he would NEVER buck, spin, rear or anything like that.

I don't think they're all as irritating as him though! lol.He is 26 now and we don't ride him as we don't have time with the others but he did get out a few weeks ago (long story) and, unlike other horses who would want to just stay with their mates, off he went up the track and proceeded to take himself off for a walk up the road!!!! they are definitely characters! ha ha

In my opnion there is no 'sensible' breed to choose from - any horse can have its quirks. Just go with your instincts. if you get on and don't feel safe then I would say just get off. i do think it can be that simple. It either feels 'right' or it doesn't
 
PonyFeet10 said:
Strange question but I don't suppose Khan is chestnut with a blaze down his face, two back White socks and 'wonky' knees does he?!
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Bless, sounds cute, but no! Piccies in my album on my profile... Liver chestnut, blaze, but socks/stocking on his fronts, weirdly higher at the front than the back so looks like he's wearing cricket pads.... hence Khan... Imran Khan... thought he was quite a dish back 18 yrs ago :D
 
spaniel said:
I will be honest.....I dont think its a good idea to buy a racehorse from the trainer and then expect to be able to retrain it and turn it into a happy hacker/allrounder unless you have experience of doing this before and are confident in your ability. Sorry.
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Thanks for the feedback Spaniel, that is a concern of mine. What sort of experience would you expect someone to have, in order to cope? I am confident in my ability to work with, and bring on, a youngster. Did it with my own, and currently working with a friends 5 yr old who is pretty green. But most of my experience has been with natives, I have no experience with TB's. So it is a concern.
 
Ex-racers are just normal horses...the only thing to take in to account with them is that they have be trained to do another job, one that sometimes can be very different to what we want in a pleasure horse. However, like any horse each and every one is different, some are sharp, some are gentlemanly some dont stop and some wont go!!! I always think that word of mouth is the best way to reduce the risk of getting a horse that isnt what it seems however with horses there is always that risk (I sometimes think that there must be better hobbies!!hahaha).

I love Av dearly and although she is sharp and sometimes things dont quite go to plan, she has been handled from an early age and also has always been chilled about things like travelling, traffic, hacking and having other horses around her. If you worry about your confidence just make sure that you have instructors that you trust that you can ask for advice if you need it and I'm sure that u'll have a fab time :-). I have defo been very grateful for my instructors over last few years!!

....i have just re-read my post and it come across quite patronising- sorry I dont mean it like that! :-)
 
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I have an ex-racer and he is the best, and I would absolutely get another. He can live out (suitably rugged and with access to ad lib good quality forage) quite happily, I can leave him for a couple of weeks if the weather is bad and then hop on and go for a ride and he is fine, and he learns very quickly. He's an incredibly versatile little horse and a real character. He gets treated just the same as the others (oh ok, I do rug him when I don't really the other two!), and he is a happy little soul with his little routine.

Crazy Dancer & Prancer said:
I am not however a hugely confident rider if there are problems. Khan has been know to buck, coped with that, but if a horse had issues like bolting, spooking, spinning, rearing etc, I know I would not cope.
Honestly though, if you feel you would not cope though with any antics, I would think again. Mine is such a good boy, he is fantastic in traffic, hacking alone or in company and I really don't want to fault him, but he can be sharp - he can spin, and he can nap (I'm talking proper napping here that put my old ponies to shame :rolleyes:) on occaison - I'm talking once or twice in the 18 months I've had him but he has done it. I grew up on ponies that were difficult (I probably learnt more stickabilty as a child than I probably did walking!), and then had a couple of sharp little horses, so taking him on I didn't think twice and have had no issues with his sharpness. But you need the confidence to sit quietly on them and not get ruffled, and to just ride quietly through whatever it is they are up to, know when to push them and know when not to. If you think you can't do that then I would reconsider an ex-racer as you wouldn't want to lose your confidence.

Of course there may be some out there that are absolute saints! I'm not trying to paint a bad picture of them at all as I adore them, and adore mine.
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JDChaser said:
The key to an ex-racer is routine. After that, it all depends on the indiviudal horse.. just like every other breed. They can definitely live out, too.
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Hello again, and thanks, and it would solve my fat-pony-on-too-much-haylage problem, we could put the TB with the old lady, I'm pretty sure any TB will need a bit of feeding up with something that isn't racehorse-rocket-fuel!! :D
 
don't see what the problem is with them becoming happy hackers. My ex racer is the best hack on the yard. She doesn't spook at helicopters coming over as she saw them at the track. Nothing, even big artics can pass her and she doesn't flinch. Dogs can run barking and she isn't phased as she saw them hunting.
They jsut need a bit of sensitive handling when re training and a bit of common sense. good luck i am sure you will end up with a great horse. Mine is chestnut too btw, can't beat them :D
 
Get a cob x ... My Archie is an ID x Cob. Lives out 24/7/365, fits around me and my erratic routine, never sick or sorry, not a bad bone in his body, not fizzy, the opposite in fact - a real confidence giver.

I love TB's, even looked at one for myself but my instinct told me it wasn't the right breed for me. I see them as fairly high maintenance and as I get older am getting more and more nervous. Most, but not all, TB's have a lot of energy that needs to be channelled - they seem to like lots of whatever they do, whether that be hacking, XC and so on and many are sharp, whereas my boy doesn't mind as little or as much as I want to do with him.

I think the saying 'horses for courses' is quite a good one to guide you.

Good luck whatever you decide.

xxx
 
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Archiesmummy said:
I love TB's, even looked at one for myself but my instinct told me it wasn't the right breed for me. I see them as fairly high maintenance
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Agree with most of your post but I am constanty surprised with how hardcore Av is and easy to keep. She literally would live out all year round hairy and naked if I let her (and didnt mind mud!) She lives on fresh air but get your point that they are not all like her :-D
 
my guy is an ex-racer and he is an absolute pleasure to work with. it is harder work that bringing on a youngster as you have to get them out of the habits that are ingrained in them. if anyone was nervous getting one, I would advise that they have a good instructor, or trainer to work with during the process. I got lessons on my guy every week and it was invaluable for th support and the insight.

I had always had huntery types before, and the change to a thoroughbred personality was a massive shock to me. My hunters were always canny, looked after themselves and were very straightforward. In fact I laugh now when i think of my old connemara, as i never realised until recently that i had always assumed he was more intelligent than me. If we ever got into hassle out hunting or hacking, he generally would just sort himself out and get us out of whatever trouble we were in!

My exracer has a personality like a child really - he is really trusting, hasn't a nasty bone in his body, but needs me to be very confident and calm all the time or he gets unsettled. He checks my reaction before he does anything! When i got him he napped and reared, but he has stopped that now, but it took a massive amount of work. I end up having to act like a strict but firm parent all the time, and be more aware of how he's thinking about stuff. my other horses didn't seem to need the same awareness around them. Saying that tho, he has made me come on leaps and bounds, improved my confidence, and i think i'l always stick to TB's now.

I am in Ireland, and since there are so many exracers I know a good few people who have rehomed them. The one thing I'd say, is that the people who have gotten on best with them have all had similar personalities- you seem to have to be endlessly patient, forgiving, optimistic, gentle and very relaxed in your training. I know friends who are great riders but would be more n0-nonsense, harder, more competitive riders, who push hard and punish easier - and they don't seem to gel as well with the exracer personality. I knows theres exceptions of course. Best of luck with whatever you decide!
 
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I've had a nightmare trying to find my first horse & would never have considered even looking at a thoroughbred but after one too many napping spinning bolting cobs - i am smitten with mine :p
 
we have quite a few racers and therefore quite a few ex-racers too!! We try to re-home anu retired (or just useless) racers that we have but our always have the basic grounding of flatwork, hunting, hacking etc. Some TB's can never really be happy hackers, just their nature as some individuals of others breeds couldnt cope either. However, LOADS of them love it! How much re-training you would need to do all depends on how he was broken and by who and the type of training received by the current yard - some trainers just do cantering and galloping and other trainers put a lot of emphasis on flatwork (obviously aswell as the galloping bit!!). You wont know till youve sat on him though! Go see him, ride him, go home and go with your gut instinct! As JDChaser said earlier, any questions, just ask!
 
also, dont be surprised how different a tb will feel compared to what you are used to. The fluidity, suppleness and ease of movement is almost second to none. Every gait is that notch quicker than other breeds so dont 'hang on' constantly trying to slow him up, you'll only wind him up! (I think this is the problem most people have with ex-racers) Embrace the stride length/speed rather than trying to change it!
 
I had a mid life crises and bought an ex racer when I was 58. He is absolutely perfect for me. I am a happy hacker. We go for hours. Hes fine in traffic, lives out.He is so laid back. I also got fed up with cobs tanking odd with me.We can poodle along or can have a good gallop. He never tries to race other horses and always stops when I want him to. Just to say I was in a previos private home though so came to me well schooled
 
I would recommend an ex-racer. Charlie is an ex-racer who failed miserably at racing. I have had him for 7 years now and re-trained him myself. His plus points are that he is so laid back and chilled that he is horizontal, has very good manners both in the stable and out riding(have had to work on these.), willing to work and wants to work, happily winters out, anyone can ride him, will hack out on his own or in company, has a fab jump on him(again needed work and re-training to stop him from hurdling). The downside to him is, poor hoof conformation, is walking accident, more vets bills than I can count or remember, will lose weight quickly, nightmare to saddle fit, and can throw a major strop when he wants to.(Usually includes backwards and in a major strop will rear-very rare now)
I wouldnt swap him for the world. They are hard work but worth all of the effort that goes with it. With time and patience you can re-train them.
 
Thanks for all of the info guys, will take all on board, and go and see for myself with an open mind. I've also now got a short-list (well a rather long list!!!) of other horses from the various sites to call up, and try and sort some wheat from the chaff, from 14.2 ponies up to 15.2's.... feel like I'm waiting for the horse to find me... if you know what I mean. I want to see one and just know he's the one....
Hope to find something and post photos within a month or so. :D
 
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