Show me your ex-racers?

[QueenDee_]

After getting bored I ended up window shopping ex-racers So would love to see yours and also hear any stories you have about them, what problems did you encounter with them? Are they worth it?

Feel free to overload on posters! (especially if you have any before and afters!)

 

[ImmyS]

Hey I just posted a thread showing before and afters on my ex racer!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=544203

Only had her a few months but she's been fab! Only viewed her once and had her delivered a few days later. When she arrived she just strolled out the trailer totally chilled despite a huge lorry and bus going pass. Got turned straight out with our other horse as no matter how much we tried, couldn't separate him off and she was good as gold, no scuffles just settled instantly!

She's been chilled out ever since.. Nothing phases her.. Brilliant to hack, schooling coming on well, she's only 5 and hasn't done much but is a keen learner. Despite being a flat racer she has a great pop in her and is very brave, high hopes for her jumping, she also has lovely paces, a dream like canter! She is such a character, she really is a horsey comedian. A little clumsy and accident prone but I love her to pieces, she's so easy to handle and is happy to do whatever asked of her with no tantrums or battles.. Sorry about the essay! I just love her!

Immy x

 

[redriverrock]

Your prob better off with a flat horse if you want to do abit of show jumping etc...NH horses only know how to jump fast and long! Mine is ex flat and he has been very easy in every way.

 

[QueenDee_]

Your prob better off with a flat horse if you want to do abit of show jumping etc...NH horses only know how to jump fast and long! Mine is ex flat and he has been very easy in every way.

hadn't thought of that to be honest, would have thought NH horses would be good bold horses jumping wise but true they're taught to jump differently so would have to be taught to be kept more up and together, where did you find your ex flat just out of interest?

 

[Victoria25]

Oh dont get me started on photo - I have looooads!!!

I bought mine back end of last year as a bit of a project/companion for my mare ... not rushed anything with him ... did lots of ground work last autumn, left him over winter, lots of lunging/ground work/few hacks this spring and he had his first 'proper' lesson last night in the menage!

I bought him extremely cheap as he'd been passed pillar to post all claiming he was dangerous/unrideable/needed putting down

Had good days and bad (to be expected) but think we're finally getting there

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223567_10150568793200464_3919838_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228082_10150572156450464_1816886_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/222394_10150581161080464_2466402_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249510_10150602065850464_750494_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/307354_10150762945485464_5378131_n.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...0566173745464.660248.763485463&type=3&theater

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/282927_10151810069735464_1016627235_n.jpg

Seems silly we were so excited to be just walking around a meanage doing circle after circle but when we look back he wouldnt even let you put a saddle on him without exploding madness!!

 

[ImmyS]

Your prob better off with a flat horse if you want to do abit of show jumping etc...NH horses only know how to jump fast and long! Mine is ex flat and he has been very easy in every way.

Agree with this totally, with an ex flat you don't have to change their technique and wat of thinking towards a jump!

 

[QueenDee_]

Seems silly we were so excited to be just walking around a meanage doing circle after circle but when we look back he wouldnt even let you put a saddle on him without exploding madness!!

Handsome boy! But that seems to be one of the main things people get from it, the sense of achievement

 

[Victoria25]

Yes deffo

Even when we'd 'conquered' the saddle ... the whole getting on process was pretty horrifying ... at 16.2 (and me 5ft 3 on a tall day) he thought as soon as you went to go on, off he went ... (usually at speed)

 

[redriverrock]

To be honest I read alot of these ex racer threads and always feel like im not really 'in the gang' as mine has from the start been so utterly and totally easy! Nothing has been a issue and we have had him 4 years now (god how time flies). As my farrier reminded me the first time he came to see him I had to wake up from a flat out snore session in the field and practically drag him to the yard yawning as he went! He can be lively and is a very willing forward going ride (most of the time!) but he is so chilled out its hard to imagine what would ever bother him and I know for 100% he would never do anything to harm me, in fact if the naughty ponies step out of line he will always put himself between them and me, I love TB's and will never get anything else if i ever buy again.
I bought him straight out of training from a yard that was relocating to Malton and his time had come to call it a day, he was 6 at the time.

 

[Victoria25]

I had an ex racer a good few years back that my friend now owns but he came straight out of racing to me and although a little forward going was a darling

Unfortunately this guy raced from 3-7 ... wasnt reschooled but was sold to a teenager (for her first horse) then sold him as he kept throwing her off ... he then went to a family that bought him as a 'project' but didnt actually dare get on him but was 'advised' to have him PTS due to his temper/bad manners.

He's now with us and wont be leaving. He's a slug in every aspect of his life and very loving but just needed completely rebacking - he's 9 now. Poor mite is finally getting his head around the fact that contact doesnt mean go!

 

[redriverrock]

I have shown this photo before but this is my horseys first 'jump' with my son who I chucked on board! Actually he rides him very nicely (I think) and am in grave danger of having him pinched off me! I dont really mind though as it is nice to see a bond developing with them and my son has way more time than I do!
If anyone wants to know about about the sire line of my horsey Red River Rock I have a pinterest board with piccies and paintings of alot of them http://pinterest.com/discountfabric/ Im sure we will find some relatives in common!

 

[VickyP]

Any excuse! Fridge, ex flatter. 10, been with me a year and juuuuust starting to calm down.

 

[becky_bongoose]

This is Keira 8 yr old - had her a month, took a while to settle as hates being alone and being in stable, much prefers to be out in the rain but is now nearly stress free she is genuine and completey bomb proof (even hacked her home when I bought her) and I think shes quite pretty...

before

3 weeks

 

[blueboy1]

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[nikkimariet]

This is all 15.1hh of Fig (by Galileo):

When he arrived home 23rd December 2011, he looked like this:

He's now 8 and originally from Oz. Has raced there, Japan and the UK and last raced October 2011.

I bought him mainly for stressage. He has now done a whole 5 shows in total! 2 weekends ago, we qualified for the BD Summer Regionals at Prelim. This weekend he debuted at Novice, coming 2nd out of 16 with 70.65%.

I'm quietly working on his hacking in the background, and we can walk/trot a round trip of about 3 miles without so much as a prance or jog. I've taken him barefoot, and not had so much as a stumble or a trip If he's in a sensible mood, we're going to have our first jump (I haven't left the floor on purpose in a number of years) this weekend!

He's the loveliest little chap I've met, without a doubt the most genuine horse I've ever had the pleasure of riding. Love him to bits

 

[becky_bongoose]

This is all 15.1hh of Fig (by Galileo):

When he arrived home 23rd December 2011, he looked like this:

He's now 8 and originally from Oz. Has raced there, Japan and the UK and last raced October 2011.

I bought him mainly for stressage. He has now done a whole 5 shows in total! 2 weekends ago, we qualified for the BD Summer Regionals at Prelim. This weekend he debuted at Novice, coming 2nd out of 16 with 70.65%.

I'm quietly working on his hacking in the background, and we can walk/trot a round trip of about 3 miles without so much as a prance or jog. I've taken him barefoot, and not had so much as a stumble or a trip If he's in a sensible mood, we're going to have our first jump (I haven't left the floor on purpose in a number of years) this weekend!

He's the loveliest little chap I've met, without a doubt the most genuine horse I've ever had the pleasure of riding. Love him to bits

Fig is gorgeous!!!!!!

 

[nikkimariet]

Fig is gorgeous!!!!!!

I think so too, but I'm incredibly biased

 

[Girlracer]

Don't need to ask me twice.

I bought Major a year and 10 months ago as a 5yo ex racer, having done nothing other than stand in a field since he stopped racing as a 3yo.

i re backed him etc and for the first 8 months he was angelic, then suddenly turned into a very quirky, sharp little toad after that! It gradually got worse and worse until i had exhausted every option exccept the vets. He's just been diagnosed with kissing spines

The prognosis is good, and i hope that when i get back on board my lovely, enjoyable little horse is back!

The day he arrived -

First time ridden

Last summer

This winter (in between crazy 'this hurts' moments tha i put down to behavouir )

This photo is pretty much the reason i took him to the vets, looks so un comfortable.

And now, chilling in the field recooperating!

Oops sorry for the over load!

Forgot to say he flat raced as a 2-3yo.

 

[Erzie]

In France, most ex-racers are "trotteurs"

They have the reputation to be nicer, quieter than thoroughbreds. It's not that true anymore, because of breeding policy that introduced american blood in the old fashion "trotteur français" breed. (as always, if my english is not very clear, please correct me, I'm here to learn, thanks).
But there are plenty of theme in France and they are cheep, so lots of people buy them, mostly when they can't pass the selection test to begin racing à two years old.

But because galoping is forbidden for them in racing, and because of the harness that often keep them with the head very high, they are not that easy to re-school, and they are a lot more damaged than thoroughbreds because their training is a lot harder...

 

[charlimouse]

Millie who competed to CCI* level eventing, before becoming a broodmare. Her first foal gained a first premium at the futurity, and a few weeks ago went Reserve Champion when shown in hand. Her second foal will be 3 weeks old tomorrow.

Foal 1 (as a 2yo)

Foal 2 (at 5 days old)

I also have Jem who is eventing at BE100 level, has 72 BE foundation points, and went to Badminton last year to do the Grassroots Championships.

And finally I have harry. He is still very much a work in progress, but hopefully he will event in time.

 

[Erzie]

With my introduction, I forgot to show you Viza and Doudou, the two "trotteurs" that lives with Sherpa and the others (they are not mine).

They are 21 and 24 years old and have been retired for... a while!

Doudou didn't pass the racing test and was bought for leasure at 20 month (too young... ), and Viza raced a bit, but had propably an accident (he has a nasty scar on one leg) and was bought to a horse saler at 8 years old.
They have been hacking out for a few years, but only when the weather was nice. Then Doudou fell and broke a vertebra. He does'nt suffer, but he limps a bit and was not ridden anymore. I think he was 7 years old, and none of them did much since that day.

Two very lucky horses in the end!

 

[Mince Pie]

Mine has done both and has a super jump!

 

[Angelbones]

Ah, well, seeing as you asked I have 3: William who is now 27 but was a successful NH horse,
have had him since 6 months old. He then went on to become my mum's hunt horse when
she was MFH and last hunted at 23, he is now retired with bad arthritis
and spends his days bossing around his beloved 36" shetland best mate

William racing in his heyday:

His last hunt at 23:

In is retirement this year:

Then I have Alfie who is nearly 17h3, aged 9, who is home bred but was
racing until 2010 then came home and is now eventing at BE100 and Novice.
He is on full loan to the girl who competes him:

He does a bit of everything: hunt relays, riding club, drag hunting:

and mucking around in the school with my daughter (then 12):

And we have Misfit who is Alfie's full brother, aged 7, neary 18hh.
Long story but we didn't know he existed until about 18 months ago so we
brought him home and due to stupid injuries he's been in retraining for about 6 months.
He is now starting to do small showjumping courses, dressage and hopefully hunting this year.
He's a real baby poppet, and is a very late developer
When he came home to us:

He does 'being handsome' best of all:

Showjumping:

Well, that'll teach you to start a thread like this one

 

[marley and danni]

angelbones, your grey is stunning has he evented at kelsall this year i saw a grey Tb just like yous just as big and just as gorg!