horsesatemymoney
Well-Known Member
Ideally with pictures and before/afters 
Where did you get them from? Did you re-train like you would start a baby?
Where did you get them from? Did you re-train like you would start a baby?
Talk to me about your ex racers
- Thread starter horsesatemymoney
- Start date
Holly Hocks
Well-Known Member
This was my first one - couldn't have asked for better. Direct from trainer, but had a good ridden background and didn't require taking back to complete basics. I lost him at the age of 21. I think he is 20 in this photo.
This is my current one with the before and after photos - bought directly from racing. A nice sort, but not as easy to ride as the above one and had to start the schooling from scratch.
This is her when I had had her for six days
This was her last summer
This is one which I reschooled to sell on. Very nervous type but lovely temperament - taken from the trainer's field. This photo is after about 3 weeks from the trainer - I think he had been turned out for a few weeks in the field at the trainers yard first.
This is my current one with the before and after photos - bought directly from racing. A nice sort, but not as easy to ride as the above one and had to start the schooling from scratch.
This is her when I had had her for six days
This was her last summer
This is one which I reschooled to sell on. Very nervous type but lovely temperament - taken from the trainer's field. This photo is after about 3 weeks from the trainer - I think he had been turned out for a few weeks in the field at the trainers yard first.
horsesatemymoney
Well-Known Member
They're all lovely 
With the ones that needed more work, did you start as you would a baby? Or were they pretty much ok doing the basics, and it was schooling that was needed?
With the ones that needed more work, did you start as you would a baby? Or were they pretty much ok doing the basics, and it was schooling that was needed?
Holly Hocks
Well-Known Member
They're all lovely
The first one had been hacked and was really easy - just some schooling required, but he knew it really, it was me who needed to learn how to ride him!
The one I have now was brought to me from the trainer as she was dropped off as they took another horse to to the Scottish National. I took her in the indoor school the next day, lunged her to see how she was (bought directly from the field so I hadn't even seen her move) and then jumped on, did a couple of minutes in the school, then took her round the block - a bit jig joggy but ok - just needed schooling.
Third one, again would hack out, but needed schooling.
I would always always have ex National Hunt horses, as mine are/were as they seem to have a more rounded background, are generally started later too. I wouldn't have a flat raced horse - I get the impression they are far more difficult to reschool and I wouldn't feel confident or experienced enough for that.
Emilieu
Well-Known Member
My boy was retrained before I got him so the before and afters are not particularly dramatic...
Before:
Now:
I got him in a private sale and his former owner promised he was a saint - and he is such a very sweet, gentle, obliging horse. Vets, farriers etc always compliment him on his exemplary behaviour and I let novices and kids on him regularly. He's just had 15 weeks box rest and, apart from a few silly moments, has continued to be saintly. As I say he was retrained before he came to me so i ccan't help there but girl who had him is on here so maybe she'll be along to comment. She did an excellent job anyway! I know he had about nine months off to chill and recover from an injury.
Before:
Now:
I got him in a private sale and his former owner promised he was a saint - and he is
such a very sweet, gentle, obliging horse. Vets, farriers etc always compliment him on his exemplary behaviour and I let novices and kids on him regularly. He's just had 15 weeks box rest and, apart from a few silly moments, has continued to be saintly. As I say he was retrained before he came to me so i ccan't help there but girl who had him is on here so maybe she'll be along to comment. She did an excellent job anyway! I know he had about nine months off to chill and recover from an injury.
3Beasties
Well-Known Member
I got mine as an 8 year old. He had been turned out for 4 months prior to me taking him on. He was my first horse so it was a steep learning curve for me. Initially I just wanted to 'ride' so literally just hacked out with him going like a giraffe for a few years. He was a bit silly on his own to start with but soon got over it.
Once I actually started trying to work him properly I started as if he was a baby and he did eventually cotton on to what I wanted. I've never competed him and he will never be a world beater but we've had fun along the way. He's 18 now and is just used for hacking with a small amount of schooling. 95% of the time he's great but he does have the occasional meltdown where he loses his mind!
This was him during his first summer with me -
How we used to school -
And more recently -
And finally, giving 'pony' rides -
Once I actually started trying to work him properly I started as if he was a baby and he did eventually cotton on to what I wanted. I've never competed him and he will never be a world beater but we've had fun along the way. He's 18 now and is just used for hacking with a small amount of schooling. 95% of the time he's great but he does have the occasional meltdown where he loses his mind!
This was him during his first summer with me -
How we used to school -
And more recently -
And finally, giving 'pony' rides -
Last edited:
Lolo
Well-Known Member
Reggie
First ride, October 2009
He is literally an XC machine, but I can't find any decent photos. But he's competing at BE100, and made mincemeat of a 1.10m eventer trial recently so he may move up at some point (that's the ultimate goal this season, all being well!).
In case you're interested, this video charts the first 2 years of Al and Reg, and they're now embarking on their fourth year together. I think they've done ridiculously well together- she's reschooled him herself, and she was only 15 when she got him
[youtube]sQYBwOtj_LM[/youtube]
It's been a bumpy road, but he is her darling and you cannot beat him for being the nicest horse to know and care for. She's got another one now, Bee, who raced once (compared to Reg's 30 odd times!) and is now 6. And is a total monster, but rather smart!
First ride, October 2009
He is literally an XC machine, but I can't find any decent photos. But he's competing at BE100, and made mincemeat of a 1.10m eventer trial recently so he may move up at some point (that's the ultimate goal this season, all being well!).
In case you're interested, this video charts the first 2 years of Al and Reg, and they're now embarking on their fourth year together. I think they've done ridiculously well together- she's reschooled him herself, and she was only 15 when she got him
[youtube]sQYBwOtj_LM[/youtube]
It's been a bumpy road, but he is her darling and you cannot beat him for being the nicest horse to know and care for. She's got another one now, Bee, who raced once (compared to Reg's 30 odd times!) and is now 6. And is a total monster, but rather smart!
Oldenburg27
Well-Known Member
This is Robbie (Giant knobber lol) he is soo sweet..
I brought him form Beeston horse sale last April only walked and trotted him up the hill ( well my sister did) fell in love with him and just wanted him. So brought him home and rode him the day after and jumped him such a star he was... 2 months of hard work and he turned in to a beautiful swan He has his momemts but he is a doll. He was jumping a 1meter today with my sister who is not a jumper at all..
Day after we got him
and his first show after 2 months..
I brought him form Beeston horse sale last April only walked and trotted him up the hill ( well my sister did) fell in love with him and just wanted him. So brought him home and rode him the day after and jumped him such a star he was... 2 months of hard work and he turned in to a beautiful swan
He has his momemts but he is a doll. He was jumping a 1meter today with my sister who is not a jumper at all.. Day after we got him
and his first show after 2 months..