Newbie....with q's about ex racers

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Scaty_Bird

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Hi all,

just wanted to say hi! as new to this forum.

Also was wondering if anyone had any experience with rehoming/owning ex race horses. Would love to hear about all experiences good and bad!

Look forward to chatting to you all.

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Hello and welcome. You will get plenty of advice and support from folks on here. I don't own an ex racer myself but used to work in racing many many moons ago. I have seen some make fabulous all rounders and some don't make the change so well. Its all about time, patience, understanding and a good trainer to help and advise you. It can be very rewarding and worthwhile but you do have to be patient with them. Hope this helps.
 
Hello and welcome. Have a seat and a hot choccy
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Ex-racers are brill, so long as they are handled right. Slow and sensible (as Cougar says).

I've ridden a few and on the whole they are brilliant
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Hey! Yeh quite a few of us with ex racers on here who are more than happy to offer support. I've had loadsa questions since getting mine and always found everybody on here really helpful and got some fantastic advice.

In my experience, ex racers are usually calm and level headed (with the occasional tb moment) and as above, as handled calmly and consistently make fantastic all rounders.
 
Heya,

I'm on the list for rehoming an ex-racer from Darley Rehoming Centre. Totally buzzed about it!! I too have a million questions, mostly about feeding and rugging, but those will sort themselves out once i get hold of the horse!!
 
Ive a 10 year old ex racer had her since she was 4 i wouldnt part with her for the world. We do x country show jumping and dressage she takes every thing in her stride. We have even been to the beach she is so willing
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I have owned a number of ex racers over many years. I used them for show jumping and found them all to be very careful horses. There temperaments varied though all lovely natured and easy to handle in the stable etc. They ranged from very laid back to very excitable - I still have my 22 year old boy and he is as daft as he ever was. I find they don't really change with age. The thing I found strangest when I first got them is how they are not used to going in a contact. To them picking up the reins meant gallop fast now!
 
Hello and welcome!

I've got an ex-racer and had another previously.

Ask as many questions as you like cos if one things for sure . . . any one who has an ex-racer loves talking about them!

x
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello and welcome!

I've got an ex-racer and had another previously.

Ask as many questions as you like cos if one things for sure . . . any one who has an ex-racer loves talking about them!

x

[/ QUOTE ]

Snap

and yes totally agree!!
 
Hi,
I've had my ex-racer for 4 months now, we are progressing well, albeit slowly. I have lots of help from my trainer, his re-schooling will take time but he is such a willing horse I know we'll get there. It's worth having his teeth checked, alot of racing yards dont pay much attention to their teeth. A visit from a good Mc Timmoney chiropracter will help too. Some ex racers have probelms with flexability on one side- due to racing predominantly on L or R handed tracks.
Get a worm count done - worming whilst he was in training might have been a bit sporadic.
It takes time for them to adjust to behaving like a normal horse again, it depends on how long they were in training for. Some old lags can be quite institutionalised.
Give him lots of love and attention, he'll thrive on it.
Lots of luck.
 
What a fab reply, thanks all!

I have completed the application for the Darley rehoming scheme - heard positive feedback about them. Not heard anything as yet but was only recently that I did the application.

I'm in that horrible stage where I have just had to give back my loan horse so now saving to buy my own. Luckily have horses to ride to keep me ticking over but miss having my own so much, had a great bond with my last horse and miss him terribly.

I have lots of experience with horses just not sure if this will be the right path for me. Have had dealings with two ex racers - one of which I loooooved and the other didn't take to the change of life too well and was very spirited!

Thanks again everyone.

Look forward to chatting to you all.

: o )
 
I’ve got one!
This is Henry:
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He’s a five year old ex-racehorse, has been out of racing about a year, he was very skinny and stressy when we got and him and well, look at him now! I love him, he’s the most wonderful little horse in the world, he’s really working his little socks off at his dressage, we’ve gone from scoring 44% to 60% last weekend. He’s put on lots of weight and is a far more relaxed horse now, I was worried he was going to change when he put on weight but he hasn’t at all.

I am not the bravest or the best rider but he’s a damn honest horse, I love hacking on him, he’s now happy to go in front and we’ve even managed a highly uneventful solo hack.

The past three months have been amazing with him, it’s a wonderful feeling when people comment on how well your horse has come along and how good they’re looking, plan is to really nail dressage over winter and maybe start proper work on his jumping (ground depending).
 
He is lovely HensPens!

You must be so pleased with him, he looks like such a a chilled out chap. I am the same as you - not the bravest of riders but I am a quiet rider and very patient. Just not sure what to do!!! lol

Thanks for posting you pics - makes me want one even more!

What do you plan on doing with him?
 
I've had mine 15 months now, she's 9 and I love her to bits! She has her 'moments' but is generally very good and chilled out, hacks, jumps, xc, beach, bit of hunting. I find her very trainable and eager to learn and please.
 
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He is lovely HensPens!

You must be so pleased with him, he looks like such a a chilled out chap. I am the same as you - not the bravest of riders but I am a quiet rider and very patient. Just not sure what to do!!! lol

Thanks for posting you pics - makes me want one even more!

What do you plan on doing with him?

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Thank you, I’m very proud of him, the difference in him is amazing he’s gone from a scruffy skinny giraffe to this sleek shiny dressage horse! At the moment we’re just doing a bit of RC dressage, working on our jumping over the winter and going to try and take him to a fun ride too. Hoping that I can get him jumping nicely over show jumps this winter as I want to start attempting XC next summer.

I do have a lot of lessons on him and have an experienced YO on hand, the biggest problem that we have is that we’re both a bit lazy!

They can be quite sensitive but as long as you explain to them exactly what your doing they’ll do it, bless Hens he really tries his heart out.

(Plus he is the most handsome horse I have ever met!)
 
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