should i buy a ex-race horse?

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blossom01

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I went to try a horse today. 7yr ex racer.

I swore i would never buy a TB after a bad fall and broken wrist needing 2 operations 4 years ago. but after looking at lots of rubbish horses and being "dunn over" once. this one is for sale via a friend and is really laid back and his canter...WOW. and he is over my budget by £1000, then will need to buy tack and rugs.

but if he is going to be the one for me...... what should i do?

I'v arranged to go back tomorrow to hack out. I'm still smiling thinking about that canter!
 
Buying any horse is a risk and if your friend knows about your bad fall surely she wouldn't sell this ex race horse to you if she thought you'd have a problem? If you gut instinct says 'he's for me' I'd go for it but try and negotiate the price.
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I bought an ex racer a couple of years ago. He was very very strong out hacking in a group, I think he thought he was back on the race track. He ended up bolting with me and I fell and fractured my knee, and was on crutches for weeks. Just because you have looked at lots of rubbish, please don't rush into anything. I don't want to put you off if he is the 'one' but if I were you I would hack him in company tomorrow if possible, mine was very laid back hacking alone. Also if he is already over your budget by £1000 and he doesn't even come with a wardrobe, you will be paying alot more than that. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
The only thing I can suggest is to push the ex-racer factor to the back of your mind, and judge this horse on it's own merits.

You're absolutely doing the right thing testing it at speed though with other horses, as quite often, that is when a ex-racer might be prone to 'switch off' and revert to type.
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I'm a huge fan of them, so I really hope everything goes well tomorrow.
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Agree with Dubble here!

Give the horse a chance!

I love exracers! Mine is full of life and still thinks he's in racing depsite being in veteran classes!

If you are confident then go for it!

Good luck!
 
Also agree with Dubble I've just bought one straight from trainers yard and he has been a poppet. He is better behaved in company than my Welsh x and is excellent in traffic too.
I wouldnt let the fact that he is a TB ex racer put you off. If you feel safe on him and he does the job you want, forget his breed and past.
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Absolutely yes!!! I was a bit wary of mine at first but I also got hooked on the canter and then I got hooked on everything about him and he is an absolute star. Buy the thoroughbred, who cares that he's £1000 over budget and that it doesn't include tack
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Mine was £2000 over budget and my boyfriend hates me, hopefully yours will be more understanding hahahaha
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Thanks guys

I'm trying to push the race horse bit to back of my mind and focus on his nice kind temperament and that lovely canter.
hopefully tomorrows hack out will be ok.

it's only money, can't take it with you......although my BF thinks i should buy him a motorbike! i don't think so. I'd rather be poor and have a horse.
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I've had two ex-racers and they were both great in their different ways.

Horse no. 1 - ex flat/hurdler. Delicate lightweight type. Fantastic to do, great in traffic, hacked alone & in company but sharper alone. Better being ridden at the front if in a group cantering/galloping - sensitive and fizzy occasionally (would buck). Intro evented, did lots of unaffiliated dressage, generally a great allrounder but a sensitive type.

Horse no. 2 - ex national hunt horse, chunky didn't look like a TB. A bit grumpy to do, but fantastic to ride. Really quiet, never naughty, easy to hack alone or in company. never competitive in a group, pre-novice evented, got 85% at prelim dressage, super hunter. A real confidence giver.

Both were great in their own ways - but they were totally different - exracers come in so many shapes and forms, there's no point having any pre-conceptions.
 
Ex racers have a bad reputation - all of the ones i have encountered have been fantastic, incredibly well mannered and no more frisky in company than my irish sport horse! Give it a chance - it has clearly been retrained so the fact it is an ex racer shouldn't come into question. If you have a good feeling about him and think hes what u want then go for it!
 
I love mine to bits but have a good vetting done mines cost me a fortune.Im not sure if it was due to his past or if he is just accident prone.I have had him 2 years and he has done ligament tendon bruised his cannon bone and has just had surgery for hock fusion .I am sure the hock fusion/arthritis is due to the fact that they are worked too young not sure about the other injuries.They have fantastic natures and are not boring rides.Like you said canters to die for.
Make a offer they dont normally command a high price there are some in this area for £1000.Look on ad trader normally there are a few for sale .
 
Whatever you do, DON'T buy without getting a 5-stage vetting, friend or not. Could be hidden problems.

I think the advice to try this horse hacking out in company makes a lot of sense. Plenty of horses are fine on their own, but a nightmare in company! Ask your friend to hack out with you tomorrow.

Not sure how much they are asking, but ex-racers don't normally fetch very much, unless they have gone on to compete successfully in other disciplines after re-training. Has this horse done anything to make it worth more than other ex-racers?

Sorry - not wanting to put a damper on things - just a few sensible precautions...
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TB's are like any kind of bred if you know how to feed/deal with and handle them they are poppets....
So yes push the ex-racer as far back as you can and let it stay there tomorrow
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I would not buy an ex working horse( ie racer,team chaser) without xrays on the legs,
 
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Ex racers have a bad reputation - all of the ones i have encountered have been fantastic, incredibly well mannered and no more frisky in company than my irish sport horse! Give it a chance - it has clearly been retrained so the fact it is an ex racer shouldn't come into question. If you have a good feeling about him and think hes what u want then go for it!

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Snap! Ex-racers have got so much going for them; they load well, are good in traffic, are used to being clipped and handled, are used to crowds, etc etc. And of all my ex racers, PF is the only one who tries to get in front of other horses on a hack
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my new mare, my first ex-racer, is the most charming, easy horse. tbh she's a lot lot easier than my very feisty homebred! don't be put off because he's raced, if you get on well with him that's the most important thing. just make sure he's not overpriced, because they are usually very reasonable as there's a lot of them about who just weren't fast enough...
 
Yes totally agree, don't worry about the ex-racer thing. They have a lot going for them, only thing is I would also agree about a 5 stage vetting being imperative; mine was retired at 13 with health issues and I was gutted. Good luck!
 
getting an ex racer is one of the best things I have ever done granted I am broke because he is eating me out of house and home but I have had to improve my riding sooo much because my previous horse was a chunky powerhouse go everywhere at warp speed kind and my new boy is very chilled,sensitive and responsive. They are fab animlas and like other people have said generally well mannered - mine practiclly loads himself and I literally have to point at his feet and he lifts them up for me. The only thing I would say is out of the few I have ridden they all seem to have one very strange thing that they spook at - mine at the moment doesn't like black and white cows (other colours are fine!!??) and another one had some issues with road markings never could quite work that one out either!!!!
 
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