rehoming an exracehorse

R

ramsaybailey

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 May 2017
Messages
175
Visit site
Hello everyone :)

Hope you can help, I've just started looking into re homing an ex racehorse on a permanent loan basis and wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this (good or bad) and if there are any charities/yards you could recommend or avoid! Any experience or stories would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
What's your horse keeping and riding experience and what do you want to do with it?. They aren't everyone's cup of tea. Even if they are, they do tend to be on the more expensive end of the spectrum to keep.

.
 
ycbm said:
What's your horse keeping and riding experience and what do you want to do with it?. They aren't everyone's cup of tea. Even if they are, they do tend to be on the more expensive end of the spectrum to keep.

.
Click to expand...
I've evented grass roots level albeit a few years ago, and the last couple of horses have been TBs, one went well one didn't, fairly typical soundness and feet issues, I was unlucky but have at least experienced the worst of it and have a fair idea of what I'm getting myself in to. My mums also just taken on an ex race horse and hes really lovely and she knows what shes doing. I'm happy that I can manage it, I'm more looking for ideas on where to start to look.
Dream would be grassroots eventing again eventually but general fun would be great.
 
ramsaybailey said:
I've evented grass roots level albeit a few years ago, and the last couple of horses have been TBs, one went well one didn't, fairly typical soundness and feet issues, I was unlucky but have at least experienced the worst of it and have a fair idea of what I'm getting myself in to. My mums also just taken on an ex race horse and hes really lovely and she knows what shes doing. I'm happy that I can manage it, I'm more looking for ideas on where to start to look.
Dream would be grassroots eventing again eventually but general fun would be great.
Click to expand...

Realised mentioning my mum makes me sound like a child lol I am a fully fledged adult 😂
 
ramsaybailey said:
I've evented grass roots level albeit a few years ago, and the last couple of horses have been TBs, one went well one didn't, fairly typical soundness and feet issues, I was unlucky but have at least experienced the worst of it and have a fair idea of what I'm getting myself in to. My mums also just taken on an ex race horse and hes really lovely and she knows what shes doing. I'm happy that I can manage it, I'm more looking for ideas on where to start to look.
Dream would be grassroots eventing again eventually but general fun would be great.
Click to expand...


I got mine from the ROR site direct from the trainer. I signed up with all the charities including Godolphin. They asked me for video of me riding. I didn't have a horse in proper work at the time so I sent them my eventing record and pictures instead. I wanted an all rounder, wasn't worried about injuries or any special level of ability. Nine months later, I haven't heard a dicky bird from one of them!

I'm not sure you've been unlucky, your experience sounds pretty normal for ex racer TB owners. Given that his feet were out off the front of his legs, I would have been surprised if mine had nerve blocked sound when I bought him.

.
 
ycbm said:
I got mine from the ROR site direct from the trainer. I signed up with all the charities including Godolphin. They asked me for video of me riding. I didn't have a horse in proper work at the time so I sent them my eventing record and pictures instead. I wanted an all rounder, wasn't worried about injuries or any special level of ability. Nine months later, I haven't heard a dicky bird from one of them!

I'm not sure you've been unlucky, your experience sounds pretty normal for ex racer TB owners. Given that his feet were out off the front of his legs, I would have been surprised if mine had nerve blocked sound when I bought him.

.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. I've tried to get in touch with a few too with very limited or no response, I would have thought they'd be more keen to find homes for their horses.

Have you not had a very good experience? A reason I'm keen for the permanent loan/charity route is because they give the impression they want to find a good match for the horse and rider and will be honest about their past - I could be being naive!
 
ramsaybailey said:
Hello everyone :)

Hope you can help, I've just started looking into re homing an ex racehorse on a permanent loan basis and wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this (good or bad) and if there are any charities/yards you could recommend or avoid! Any experience or stories would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I can thoroughly recommend
ramsaybailey said:
Hello everyone :)

Hope you can help, I've just started looking into re homing an ex racehorse on a permanent loan basis and wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this (good or bad) and if there are any charities/yards you could recommend or avoid! Any experience or stories would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi, I can thoroughly recommend the british thoroughbred retraining centre (BTRC). I have had a Tb from them and also know another person who has had a good number from them. They are very diligent making sure tb is both mentally and physically ready for rehoming and are easy to get hold of for advice at any point. They match the horse to your ability (ridden assessment) and requirements. They are near Lancaster and have their postponed open day later this month. I went last year and really enjoyed it. I can't make it this time unfortunately. I would not consider a tb from anywhere else. Their CEO is great, very straight talking, but approachable. Don't know of any negatives.
 
ramsaybailey said:
Thanks for this. I've tried to get in touch with a few too with very limited or no response, I would have thought they'd be more keen to find homes for their horses.

Have you not had a very good experience? A reason I'm keen for the permanent loan/charity route is because they give the impression they want to find a good match for the horse and rider and will be honest about their past - I could be being naive!
Click to expand...


I've had about a dozen ex racers, mostly bought from Doncaster auction. On the whole, they were fine, just more fragile than the average cob, but in my experience no worse than highly bred warmbloods. The feet are very often dreadful, though, and they generally find barefoot less easy than a mongrel.

I wanted to own, not loan, because I didn't want anyone else to try to tell me how to manage the horse. I love mine to bits, and I love just looking at him, he's such a beauty!

.
 
I brought my ex-racer from a lady who re-schools and then sells on. She had mine for around a year before putting her up for sale, so she knows the personality well and takes them out to clinics, gets them jumping, xc schooling etc. I don't know if that's the sort of thing you're after or if you're set on the charity rehoming route :)
 
ycbm said:
I've had about a dozen ex racers, mostly bought from Doncaster auction. On the whole, they were fine, just more fragile than the average cob, but in my experience no worse than highly bred warmbloods. The feet are very often dreadful, though, and they generally find barefoot less easy than a mongrel.

I wanted to own, not loan, because I didn't want anyone else to try to tell me how to manage the horse. I love mine to bits, and I love just looking at him, he's such a beauty!

.
Click to expand...

Ah lovely, they are incredibly beautiful, I just love them. And the idea of giving something a new lease of life after racing is lovely.
Yep fragile side is frustrating, my mums seems to come in with a new mark on him everyday 🙈 no idea how his paddock is beautiful. Luckily nothing serious, but they do seem to swell up over nothing.
 
magicmoments said:
I can thoroughly recommend

Hi, I can thoroughly recommend the british thoroughbred retraining centre (BTRC). I have had a Tb from them and also know another person who has had a good number from them. They are very diligent making sure tb is both mentally and physically ready for rehoming and are easy to get hold of for advice at any point. They match the horse to your ability (ridden assessment) and requirements. They are near Lancaster and have their postponed open day later this month. I went last year and really enjoyed it. I can't make it this time unfortunately. I would not consider a tb from anywhere else. Their CEO is great, very straight talking, but approachable. Don't know of any negatives.
Click to expand...
Thank you! This is really useful I'll definitely look into them 😊
 
HobleytheTB said:
I brought my ex-racer from a lady who re-schools and then sells on. She had mine for around a year before putting her up for sale, so she knows the personality well and takes them out to clinics, gets them jumping, xc schooling etc. I don't know if that's the sort of thing you're after or if you're set on the charity rehoming route :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've come across a few people like this and it could be the way to go. I'm not totally set on the charity rehoming, but I think that what I'd like to do, we'll see 😊
 
I got mine directly from the trainer. May be worth approaching some if you have any local? I explained what I wanted and they paired me up with a horse from the ones they had that were ready for rehoming, with a trial period. I'm only 11 weeks in but so far I would say they knew exactly what they were doing, he's perfect for me. The agreement I have is that he is 100% mine, but I have to get back in touch if I wanted to sell or move him on.
 
Kate Turner, Cheveral House Racehorse Rehoming, highly recommend her, we have 2 from Kate, she won’t rehome to just anyone either as she’s particular where her her horses go, and she likes to stay in touch.😁
 
HEROS
ROR source a horse - ours was on there when he was younger I believe.
North farm stud
Godolphin and other big names run official rehoming programs
BTRC as has already been mentioned. Also register with trainers directly can get you a nice animal quite cheaply.
 
Not sure where you are, but a friend of mine got her ex racer from Fred and Rowena Cook and she really rates them.

The horse is a total poppet
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top