TB..... buy or not????

italylyns

italylyns

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Hi all, i have been looking for a new horse for some time now but only have a small budget after losing my boy last year!!

I have looked at lots and lots and they are all not as described which drives me mad. If you put that your horse is a loving kind horse i dont expect it to lunge at me over the door when i arrive!!!!

Anyway, i have seen a stunning young TB that i love the sound of. I have seen video footage and lots of photos and i really like him so am going to view him wednesday!!

I had originally always ruled out TB's but only because of bad press and i have known a few mad mares lol. He raced a couple of times and that was it.

What are peoples views on ex-racers or just the TB breed in general??
I know there are some nice ones out there and so i am going against what i have always said 'no TB's' and i am going to meet him!!!!!
 
ignore what everyone says there are bad and good in every breed - if you have a good feeling about this horse, go and see it and see what happens - may be your dream horse! :)
 
Miss Bean said:
ignore what everyone says there are bad and good in every breed - if you have a good feeling about this horse, go and see it and see what happens - may be your dream horse! :)
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Exactly! Forget the breed and go and see it, you may just fall in love!

I recently got an ex racer, his manners on the ground are terrible but to ride he is (so far) proving much more sane than my cob!
 
I've had two ex racers, both went wrong and were pts. Saying that, I would buy another TB, just one that hadn't raced or been in training. This is what screws them up in my opinion.
 
Ignore his breed and look at him. My sister loans the sweetest and soppiest horse alive, who is 100% snaffle mouthed and you could put your granny on him out hacking. This far outweighs the fact he spent the first 7 years of his life as a racehorse. We also know of some nutters. But that applies for all breeds...
 
The prejudice against TBs is just ridiculous and drives me mad quite frankly.

They are no more difficult or nutty than any other breed - you need to look at the individual horse rather than stereotyping.

You will get a far better TB for a small budget than you would another type of horse, simply because there is so much prejudice against them.
 
Make sure time has been given off after racing, even if it's just a couple of races, they still have been through a fair bit of training.

I have an ex racer who is more level headed than my 2yo cob. She is green and I am brushing up on my techniques to reschool as she is very different to a youngster even though young herself, but it will all be worth it in a few years time. She also lives out 24/7 gets fed once a day and on poor grass yet is a good doer :)

Go with gut feeling and try the horse more than once on seperate days
 
Best horse I had was a heavily raced ex-chaser who I lost last year. If I could have cloned him I would have. The mare I have now is adorable, but has lameness problems and can be nappy, although she was only raced twice. The other one I attempted to reschool for the owners also had lameness problems, but again a wonderful temperament. I love TBs, but unless it was one I had known for a while, like I had done with Rebel, I wouldn't get another. But I think that's more because I can't bear the heartbreak again if it were to develop lameness problems.
 
I am in the same position as you, I hadn't really thought of a TB but I have seen a few at good prices, in particular a Chestnut mare that had been raced twice, also I originally thought I would like to have one that can cope with being out 24/7 365 days a year and I assumed TBs generally wouldn't, but it seems there are a few people who do it with TBs and I can't find anywhere with that much turnout anyway!? Not sure if it is just the ones with more substance (which is the ones I have been looking at) or depending how harsh the winter is.
 
I am a TB fan... I also hate the bad press.

If you like him then do some investigating - maybe ask for advice from one of the rehoming charities or do another post on here about good questions to ask.
 
Forgot to mention my Aunt had one of my fave horses who I grew up as a kid with until last year. He lived till in his 30's and was in work till late 20's, not a day lame. He was heavily raced... Superstar to say the least, at everything.

Yet many other ex racers, the retrainers write off for valid reasons straight after so there's good and bad but same with any breed. You get your top warmbloods who are screwed over by 8 due to having too much done too soon.
 
Yes go & have a look.. My mum has an ex racer, bundles of fun, safe hack, does have a nutty side but does have a few issues due to racing.. My tb wasn't raced & he has no issues at all.. Another fun tb, will do anything I ask of him even when petrified.. But again is a little highly strung..
 
I love my little TB. Yes he can be a handful, but he's also got a wonderful temperament and his ridden work is improving all the time (only a baby). He was bred for racing but never raced, he's now coming along reaaaally well on the flat and will pop over the odd fence now too :).

As long as you're calm, patient and willing to give even a fizzy TB time, chances are you'll be fine!
 
I said I didn't want an ex racer amd what did I buy?! I think the bad press is unfair. Yes there are nutty tbs, but there re nutty horses of every type. My boy is very good to handle, has seen it all, has a lovely snaffle mouth and works in a beautiful natural outline. Yes, he is thin skinned and sensitive, but he is an absolute star.

Strangely I feel very secure on him, he feels like an overgrown pony to ride as I can really get my legs roumd him which is great :D

I had an argument with another livery the other day who refused to believe he is a tb because 'tbs can't be well schooled'. Nonsense! When her horse was was rearing and faffimg about in the school at the weekend my boy was ignoring her completely and doing some lovely work!
 
mandwhy said:
also I originally thought I would like to have one that can cope with being out 24/7 365 days a year and I assumed TBs generally wouldn't, but it seems there are a few people who do it with TBs and I can't find anywhere with that much turnout anyway!? Not sure if it is just the ones with more substance (which is the ones I have been looking at) or depending how harsh the winter is.
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Nope mine is as fine as they come as as long as he is adequately rugged he copes fine being out with the chunks =)

Mine is so soft and gentle and not a stereotypical TB at all. I happily let my sisters bf who has never ridden before ride him out on a hack with just me walking along side.

As others have said you have good and bad in all breeds. If he looks like what you want, dont let he/she being a TB put you off!
 
ghostie said:
I had an argument with another livery the other day who refused to believe he is a tb because 'tbs can't be well schooled'. Nonsense! When her horse was was rearing and faffimg about in the school at the weekend my boy was ignoring her completely and doing some lovely work!
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How frustrating....don't you just love those 'knowledgeable' people in every yard!

We have 4 ex racers in our yard, all lovely, 2 are hunting fit and sound and are well past 15.
 
I love TB's, I haven't yet met another breed that puts as much heart into everything as they do (not saying this to start a breed war, just my own opinion).

There are 2 that I have come across that were nutters. Neither had ever stepped hoof near a race track or trainer. Both were home bred and simply given a raw deal in the training department.

I would have no hesitation to buy an OTT, I have found that a lot of them are so much more exposed to the world and have far less issues (spooking, taking to different places, etc).

You are always going to have the ones that have been ruined, that happens to any horse of any breed, probably more often with TB's as there are simply so many of them and they are more newsworthy than most.

Go. Try. Have fun :D
 
I love tbs! My boy has a heart of gold and will try his hardest to please:) he has his moments, don't get me wrong, quite fizzy, doesn't cope with change very well and can be strong to handle at times but the good far outweigh the bad! He raced for quite a few years and is pretty unflappable with most things! I can walk him out and he'll happily walk past bird scarers, flapping bags, dogs barking etc whereas my id literally would freak!! However, it's things like horses being worked, or loaded as he walks past, or coming to a nice hilly grass track that put him on his toes!! However, they're all things we're working on and tbs are so intelligent and trying they can generally turn their hooves to most things!! :)
 
We have had several tbs my dad point to points them but never sells them, he had an ex flat racer who was pin fired hunted until he was 27, we presently have just lost a lovely boy last week.

We have one who is currently 25 still doing a bit of hunting all the common ridings this year and pleasure rides he is a bit scrawny in winter but pretty good is an avid weaver but like a big dog, we have younger ones and another one in his twenties still in work. Ours mix well with the natives and while some are not for everyone they are lovely horses.

You do have to consider they may not be novice rides and take more feeding and some do not have the best feet, I also think you are best working around their quirks rather than against and this has always worked for my dad.

So do not write them off by any means we have had some lovely ones,in fact I have a cob at the moment who is more highly stung and truly hystrical than any tb we have owned.
 
italylyns said:
What are peoples views on ex-racers or just the TB breed in general??
I know there are some nice ones out there and so i am going against what i have always said 'no TB's' and i am going to meet him!!!!!
Click to expand...

Ignore the bad press and view him as an individual and enjoy the viewing... I'd always said "no way ever in hell" would I have a TB... Until I went to see a "a gentle hack" and discovered a very young, four yr old TB in a pretty bad state... A ginger at that... :eek: :D

He'd been broken at three, went to race training and spent a winter dumped in a field when I saw him... Hardly a great start for the boy... Gelding and novice son have had lessons together, my 'never ridden before husband' has pootled around in the school with him and my competent friends who've hacked him out have described him as 'boring'... :D As he's so young and green I have had a lovely student ride and school him a bit then gave him the winter off to grow up a bit...

His 'vices' are occasionally being a bit moody where he's not above using his inside rear leg to step on someone - and still not being balanced enough to get the correct leg on counter clockwise canter in the school... Other than that, for a 'baby' he's as honest as the day is long, is almost bombproof in traffic and will try his hardest for his rider... He does need *very* gentle aides and quiet confidence... I'm glad I ignored the warnings and terrible reputations that TBs (trained or raced) seem to have... :)
 
I def agree with it not being the breed as much as the training which tends to be when you get problems - usually with ones who have been broken at 2, raced a couple of years then they start to break down.

Look very carefully at the reason they are giving you for it to have stopped racing - remember that if possible they'd be kept racing to earn money.

I am not a fan of ex racers myself, broke my back coming off one that was supposedly retrained, one hoof on grass and it just went like a bat out of hell. Iv had 2 living with my horse this last year, living out so yes they can, but both tended to like galloping around the field for pretty much unexplained reasons, they are very reactive etc and recently had a headlong collision in 5 acres which resulted in one breaking its shoulder and being pts.

Ive watched my steady dope on a rope be heavily influenced by them till she is very jumpy and thinks cantering and rearing about it normal behaviour and am very unhappy with it. So herd dynamics and living arrangements need careful consideration.
 
When looking for a new horse for my OH last year he'd specifically said no TB's. I happened to see one that was just down the road from us that sounded like he'd fit the bill. I persuaded him to go view as i said would only be an hour wasted if he wasn't suitable. Great decision. He's not a typical TB at all. Very laid back! He'd raced once as a 5 year old, we bought him as a 10 year old. We'd had so many awful viewings and turns out the ideal horse was only 10 minutes away!

If he sounds like a good match for you then go and view, like all breeds some aren't true to type. You might be passing up a really good horse! :)
 
I owned one many years ago, she was the sweetest horse I've ever owner very full of it to ride but safe. Sadly she was a bit of a handful on the roads so I sold her. I've had 2 cobs since who have sadly been PTS. She has had a foal in her other home and is not ridden anymore, but is in her 20's now and never been lame.
 
I like TBs, but much prefer ex chasers to ex flat racers, they have had time to mature and generally have much better manners in my opinion.

Most TBs come out of racing simply because they are not fast enough, we have one for sale one the yard at the moment, beautifully put together and completely sound but she is still young and still growing so isn't being asked to do too much. She is a bit of a handful on the ground (to be expected) but improving and is very easy to ride.
 
My TB had an injury from racing, and I do worry about it causing him problems in the future, but the way I look at it is, you could buy a horse with completely clean legs, 5* vetted etc and it could slip in the field the day after you get it and never come sound.

All horses are risks, you just have to decide which risks you want to take!
 
so refreshing to hear lots of positive comments and has made my decision to go and meet him more exciting!!!

Might take your advice and put on another post regarding good questions to ask too :-)

Hope he doesnt go before i get to see him now!!
 
Go with an open mind. Judge him for him, not for his breed or the fact he has raced.

When I went to look at an Ex NH racer last year everyone gasped and thought I was mad. They're mad, they're hard work, they're high strung, they're too fast. Grass means go, you can't ride them with long stirrups.....blah blah blah blah blah

Abu is my dream horse. Got him at 6yrs old, 2 weeks after his last race. Took him to a funride within the first month, impeccable manners. Jumps everything XC, travels like a saint, canters with others in open spaces, with brakes. Gent to handle and lead (most of the time!) ;) Schools nicely, coming on really well. It's so rewarding to bring an ex racer on. We are now out and about at RC clinics and events. He's taken me to my first drag hunt. He loves funrides, hacks on his own and with others. Does not bat an eyelid at traffic. SJ at first was interesting, he would shake at poles. But now jumping 2ft 9 and fillers with confidence. Very nice horse. Haven't looked back. All the people who told me I was mad, are now jealous of just how much we are doing, and how much fun we have. And in my opinion, Thoroughbreds are the best looking horses you will ever ride. :D
 
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