MummyEms
Well-Known Member
I'might be able to help. WhatsApp me on 07741 270437
Retraining ex-racers thread
- Thread starter TheMule
- Start date
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Thanks I'll PM you x
Squeak
Well-Known Member
You could maybe try a really honest ad on HorseQuest and be really careful who he goes to.
Alternatively giving Ror a ring could be useful. They should hopefully know the retrainers in the area or possibly have some contacts to be able to help.
Well done RF, what a great season you’re having.
Alternatively giving Ror a ring could be useful. They should hopefully know the retrainers in the area or possibly have some contacts to be able to help.
Well done RF, what a great season you’re having.
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
RoR are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard on finding retrainers...
TheMule
Well-Known Member
Our weekly update- I went ahead and gave him a little jump under saddle and he really impressed me with his attitude. We then went on our first outing in the trailer. He settled in the indoor well on his own and then 3 other horses came in which made things a little more lively. He coped really well until they started cantering which did cause a bit of confusion! He came down from the adrenaline high pretty quickly though and he just needs lots of repetition of this so he learns this is just how things are now.
Sorry, only a couple of rubbish pictures
Sorry, only a couple of rubbish pictures
Elf On A Shelf
...
Chocolate fireguards still have a use - you can eat them.
humblepie
Well-Known Member
Off piste, but RoR did help someone I put in touch with them who was really struggling. Bit sad really as horse had been owned by a seriously wealthy family but then passed around.
BACR
Well-Known Member
Hello everyone, I'm a long time lurker here but I have an exracer and would love to join in with this thread and rest of you that have taken on these beautiful animals. Mine is an ex national hunt horse that has raced 40 times in his previous career, he's a real gut feels, heart strings horse for me. I've bought him with the aim to event but he needed downtime when I got him and had 4 months just enjoying being a horse in the field with new horsey friends. After that he's done lots of ground work, walking in hand, long reining and lunging and it's apparent that he's very trainable and cooperative. Now he's hacking like a pro alone and in company and learning to turn his egg shapes into circles in the school. 
I hope you're all having as much of a lovely time with yours as I am with mine. Here's some pictures of him over the 7 months since I got him.
I hope you're all having as much of a lovely time with yours as I am with mine. Here's some pictures of him over the 7 months since I got him.
TheMule
Well-Known Member
What a nice horse- good luck with him, I look forward to seeing your journey
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Hes beautiful! And hes growing up just lovely 
BACR
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much. I'm taking things very slowly with him. He was initially quite shut down and lacking in confidence but he's coming out of his shell and becoming very bold and brave. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's journey too, what a privilege it is to be able to give a new life to these lovely horses.
Elf On A Shelf
...
I sincerely hope you and your new beasty have great fun no matter what the future holds!
BACR
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much. He's got the most beautiful temperament, the people from his racing days have most definitely instilled fabulous manners into him.
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
Worth anyone with a H&C subscription and an interest in retraining ex racehorses to take a look at the XC footage from the RoR class at Gatcombe this weekend. 12 lovely horses went forwards and made much lighter work of the XC than the Corinthian cup and Open Novice horses did the day after.
TheMule
Well-Known Member
I'm going to sit down and enjoy it this evening. Well done again, your boy is definitely up there doing a great publicity job for the ex-racers!
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
If people met him in person, he'd do an even better job. He's a giant labrador of a horse - incredibly friendly, nosey, entertaining - just wants to spend time with people. Just makes me LOL every time I see a 'no TBs' requirement on the event horse wanted ads - lots of people with no idea of what they might be missing out on!
BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
This is truly not too reliable as I forget names, but when I did the Tb retraining competition here in 2015 and won the field hunter division, the RoR contingent that came to watch all agreed that of all the horses competing that year, my guy was the one they all wanted in their barns. He was a truly lovely horse.
But fwiw, I thought based on this that the ROR were very smart people. LOL
This is one of my favorite pics of him.
But fwiw, I thought based on this that the ROR were very smart people. LOL
This is one of my favorite pics of him.
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
I can now join this thread. This is Aldrich Bay. I went to see @TheMule chestnut gelding with her and as you do started looking on the trainers website and spotted 5yo Aldrich and just loved him. Then went along with TM and in the field was this bay and I said who is that? Oh that’s Aldrich. So we looked at Eagle and then I couldn’t help myself but to look at Aldrich. Messaged the trainer and said let me know if he wants another life fully expecting him to go back into training for hurdles and maybe to fail a bit more around November/December time which would be perfect with me having crappy health
Especially as they bought him at the sales for £20k. Trainer contacts me and says we would sell for £8k, I was like nah happy for him to fail a bit more. Comes back and we haggle and get to a price I am happy with ?. Go back today to check I still love him and I do, so pick him up tomorrow. I have been looking at sporthorses up to £15k but don’t like anything as much as I like him. He is so uphill you can see his withers from behind. Just needs the slow work now to get the topline done.
I love his breeding as loads of Sir Gaylord, Bold Bidder, Princequillo and Prince Chevalier. Perfect sporthorse TB breeding.
Especially as they bought him at the sales for £20k. Trainer contacts me and says we would sell for £8k, I was like nah happy for him to fail a bit more. Comes back and we haggle and get to a price I am happy with ?. Go back today to check I still love him and I do, so pick him up tomorrow. I have been looking at sporthorses up to £15k but don’t like anything as much as I like him. He is so uphill you can see his withers from behind. Just needs the slow work now to get the topline done.
I love his breeding as loads of Sir Gaylord, Bold Bidder, Princequillo and Prince Chevalier. Perfect sporthorse TB breeding.
Attachments
TheMule
Well-Known Member
I suspect we may well have another TB or 2 from the same source along the way
It's so nice to see a race yard where they're treated as individuals and live a normal life- they go out in the field, go hacking and get ridden properly.
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
They're both beautiful horses - the trainer clearly has an eye for a TB sports horse...!! Best of luck with him LEC.
Elf On A Shelf
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Your lucky! Most trainers wouldn't have given up on him so soon. Did he have an injury? He has been off the track for a year which would suggest soft tissue.
TheMule
Well-Known Member
The trainer didn’t want him sold, the owner's circumstances meant it was just lucky timing
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
He has grown quite a lot - I know the work rider for him, had full medical passed on to me and the trainer is straight as no reason not to be. She wanted to keep him for jumping. He wasn’t that cheap…. But all the ones I like never are. I have basically paid for a 5yo blank canvas who is ready to crack on which is a lot cheaper than the sport horses I was looking at.
humblepie
Well-Known Member
He looks lovely. Good luck and look forward to updates.
Bunnydog - that is a lovely photo and gorgeous looking horse.
Bunnydog - that is a lovely photo and gorgeous looking horse.
MummyEms
Well-Known Member
This has made me want to get a subscription just to see it ???
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
Lovely looking. Although I am scarred for life by a Sir Gaylord ?
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
My mare has a tonne of him and she is great. Funny isn’t it as always certain lines we get scarred by.
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
To be fair, I think the mare I had serious issues entirely unconnected to her breeding. Even though the sire (Moonax) was a nut nut.
Now if I could find any more Champs Elysees (Simon's sire) I'd struggle not to take them home. I rode quite a few in training and loved them all. Big thickset wooden-headed lumps.... but nice ones!
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
I think you will struggle as see he died in 2018. Probably a good thing they are not that common for your bank account!