OK, find me an ex racer

[Xmasha]

Have a look at this advert on horse quest Ref #: 305686
A bit out of budget , but I know the lady who is selling very well and she’s as straight as they come

 

[Trouper]

Well all right - a day out - but could be a fun trip!!

 

[Gloi]

"Quick" trip to Lancaster

It's a cracking place to visit though.

 

[ycbm]

It's a cracking place to visit though.

We were really surprised what a lovely little town it was when we stopped there on our way to Edinburgh a few years back.

 

[Gloi]

We were really surprised what a lovely little town it was when we stopped there on our way to Edinburgh a few years back.

I'll have to take another trip to the RHC next time they have an open day.

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Found one here, not sure if your interested. https://www.freeads.co.uk/uk/buy-se...17h-3-coming-4-year-old-unbroken-gelding/view

 

[TheMule]

Be really picky- there are tonnes of ex racers coming onto the market everyday.
Many of the suggestions above are going to struggle to make up into good, sound sports horses. You need uphill, neck set on really well and comfortable stance. My preference is to buy from small yards that treat them as normal horses- turn out, hacking on roads, don’t always work in astring etc as they transition really easily into 'normal' homes. My last one is now a super hack for my novice OH and he really didn’t need much producing to get to that point!

 

[teddy_]

More than 2hrs, but this one's a lovely, lovely boy. East Sussex.

ETA: if I wasn't 5ft nothing, I'd nab him myself.

 

[Carrottom]

I would look at the racehorse trainers directory and contact those in your area.
Smaller trainers may not advertise horses, or they might have something they own all or part of which they decide it is time to retire.

 

[Dexter]

Be really picky- there are tonnes of ex racers coming onto the market everyday.
Many of the suggestions above are going to struggle to make up into good, sound sports horses. You need uphill, neck set on really well and comfortable stance. My preference is to buy from small yards that treat them as normal horses- turn out, hacking on roads, don’t always work in astring etc as they transition really easily into 'normal' homes. My last one is now a super hack for my novice OH and he really didn’t need much producing to get to that point!

This, and if your trying to avoid soundness issues a yoing ex racer is a huge gamble. Can you not find one thats been out doing a job for a couple of years? Or has raced long term and retired sound. I love TBs but I'm always aware that the chances of them breaking is huge.

Mines never taken a lame step but he raced till he was 7, always sound just not very good, and then he did 2yrs being ridden by a teenager. If he survived that then I felt the balance was tipped in my favour.

 

[tda]

KHJ Eventing

Perfect U18 / Junior event horse 11 year old 16h bay gelding Super temperament and very straightforward horse, would be a suitable first horse for someone. Done advanced level Eventing but more...

www.facebook.com

Not an ex racer but this popped up this morning, a local eventing lady to me. No price tho, does that mean £££££££

 

[Clodagh]

I had a look. The first video isn't a great advert. The horse seems lame on the corner in the first few frames and pretty unhappy in its work.

Oops, sorry! That’s where Owners Group send their retirees/failures. I’d never actually looked. At least it wasn’t a 15hh coloured cob in Suffolk

 

[SEL]

Be really picky- there are tonnes of ex racers coming onto the market everyday.
Many of the suggestions above are going to struggle to make up into good, sound sports horses. You need uphill, neck set on really well and comfortable stance. My preference is to buy from small yards that treat them as normal horses- turn out, hacking on roads, don’t always work in astring etc as they transition really easily into 'normal' homes. My last one is now a super hack for my novice OH and he really didn’t need much producing to get to that point!

I was thinking the same about soundness issues. I used to livery with a guy who got about 10 per year in straight from racing yards but he was pretty brutal if they turned out to have issues. Couldn't afford to rehab and no intention of doing so anyway.

Given I feel like a one woman rehab yard anyway at the moment I'd definitely want something that was already doing a job.

 

[ycbm]

Be really picky- there are tonnes of ex racers coming onto the market everyday.
Many of the suggestions above are going to struggle to make up into good, sound sports horses. You need uphill, neck set on really well and comfortable stance. My preference is to buy from small yards that treat them as normal horses- turn out, hacking on roads, don’t always work in astring etc as they transition really easily into 'normal' homes. My last one is now a super hack for my novice OH and he really didn’t need much producing to get to that point!

I'm in no hurry. None of the ones pointed to so far do it for me. I'm happy just to be looking, it might be months before I'm mentally ready to buy.
.

 

[ycbm]

This, and if your trying to avoid soundness issues a yoing ex racer is a huge gamble. Can you not find one thats been out doing a job for a couple of years? Or has raced long term and retired sound. I love TBs but I'm always aware that the chances of them breaking is huge.

Mines never taken a lame step but he raced till he was 7, always sound just not very good, and then he did 2yrs being ridden by a teenager. If he survived that then I felt the balance was tipped in my favour.

I've got a lot of experience with young ex racers. They seem reasonable likely to be sound into their mid teens as long as they left racing at 3 or 4 because they were too slow.

I also get the argument that a chaser which retires sound at 10 is a proven tough horse.

The in betweeners are the biggest risk and I certainly wouldn't take on a teenager.

I was scammed with my last one, I'm pretty sure they lied about why he never went into training and that the explanation they gave for his scars was a lie. He'd had a bad fall at some point and crunched the bottom half of his neck, going by the x rays.
.

 

[Melody Grey]

I like your style @ybcm- ex racers are go! Have you looked at Derek Shaw? Probably about 2hrs away and have some nice ones coming up fairly frequently on Facebook. Second other people’s Solway recommendations- I know of a few that friends have.

will keep my eyes open for you!

 

[criso]

I'm in no hurry. None of the ones pointed to so far do it for me. I'm happy just to be looking, it might be months before I'm mentally ready to buy.
.

If you contact TBAITA, they may be able to let you know if something is coming up in your area. They have videos of the horses so you could assess how they move and work with about 700 trainers. A friend contacted them and they suggested a horse who is exactly what they claimed.

Is Kelsall reachable for you (stupid Londoner who gets lost past Herts), there's a grey Rome on their page located there https://britishthoroughbredagency.co.uk/ottbs-for-rehoming

 

[millitiger]

I wouldn't recommend Solway from personal experience.

I'd be more keen on an older horse that has proven they can stand up to racing, rather than a 3 or 4yro where its impossible to tell if they're retiring as genuinely too slow OR if they just couldn't stand up to the work.

 

[musk]

I wouldn't recommend Solway from personal experience.

I'd be more keen on an older horse that has proven they can stand up to racing, rather than a 3 or 4yro where its impossible to tell if they're retiring as genuinely too slow OR if they just couldn't stand up to the work.

Interested to know why you wouldn't recommend Solway? looking at one rhey have put up a video of, feel free to PM me if you don't want to say on here

 

[millitiger]

Interested to know why you wouldn't recommend Solway? looking at one rhey have put up a video of, feel free to PM me if you don't want to say on here

Pm me if you want more detail.

 

[TheMule]

If you contact TBAITA, they may be able to let you know if something is coming up in your area. They have videos of the horses so you could assess how they move and work with about 700 trainers. A friend contacted them and they suggested a horse who is exactly what they claimed.

Is Kelsall reachable for you (stupid Londoner who gets lost past Herts), there's a grey Rome on their page located there https://britishthoroughbredagency.co.uk/ottbs-for-rehoming

BB is the only horse I'd consider on that page, based on conformation. He's a stunner!

 

[BBP]

You and I think alike, I had been eying up an ex racer for my next reason to get up in the morning (although I wanted a little dinky one). How I ended up with a chunky fluffy baby yeti of a Connemara I’m not quite sure…not that I regret it so far.

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't recommend Solway from personal experience.

I'd be more keen on an older horse that has proven they can stand up to racing, rather than a 3 or 4yro where its impossible to tell if they're retiring as genuinely too slow OR if they just couldn't stand up to the work.

I don't have a huge problem with a weak 3 or 4 year old who wouldn't stand up to racing, because they're never going to experience that kind of stress with me at all, and I can wait for them to strengthen for the low level stuff in into these days.

 

[ycbm]

You and I think alike, I had been eying up an ex racer for my next reason to get up in the morning (although I wanted a little dinky one). How I ended up with a chunky fluffy baby yeti of a Connemara I’m not quite sure…not that I regret it so far.

I have to admit that I've been researching over height Dales because of your little black chap.
.

 

[Zoeypxo]

If your budget was right I have been known to buy unseen ......

unfortunately he is a bit over budget and dark bay!

 

[humblepie]

Gosh there are some badly taken photos on some of the adverts.

 

[BBP]

I have to admit that I've been researching over height Dales because of your little black chap.
.

Honestly, I know mine is only rising three, he’s way chunkier than my usual types, but he puts the biggest smile on my face every time I see him. He just gives me this overwhelming feeling that we are going to have the best time together. He is sensitive like BBP in that he responds beautifully to energy, is light and responsive on the ground, but he is so much more chilled out and easy going. He has a great energy about him.
I didn’t even look for him (as I was looking at Arabs and TBs) but someone sent me a link to his ad on facebook and by the end of the week he was mine, bought unseen. I just felt something looking at his photo. I really hope you have a similar experience, whatever the breed.

Can’t resist the cute little mop top!

 

[minesadouble]

Another vote for a Philip Kirby horse. Pippa deals with the rehoming and is lovely and very honest. Most of them are on a permanent loan basis now from what I gather.

 

[millitiger]

I don't have a huge problem with a weak 3 or 4 year old who wouldn't stand up to racing, because they're never going to experience that kind of stress with me at all, and I can wait for them to strengthen for the low level stuff in into these days.

I think the problem is, at that stage you don't know the full extent of any issues which are impacting performance- they could be minor and not show up in lighter work OR they could be chronic and mean the horse can't even be a happy hacker.
Without extensive vetting and xrays, you won't know which one it is.

I consider myself pretty experienced and was absolutely stung on my xracer purchase, from an apparently very trusted and well known seller (amongst other issues).

 

[ycbm]

Can we get one thing clear please.

I've had a lot of these horses.

I know it's a risk.

Life for me is not about not taking risks.