Tbs yay or nay?

[Cosmogirl]

Hi all newbie here.
In short, I'm returning to riding after a long break and looking to buy a horse. I have ridden at a local riding school several times in the past year and riding wise it's all still in my head, I know the theory behind it all and I'm capable of w/t/c I'm just not as fit and don't have the muscle, especially in my core that I used to have. I'm sure with regular riding this would improve as would my overall riding. So here's my dilemma, I would love a tb and have seen some sweet looking ones for sale that would tick all my boxes but everyone I know says don't buy a tb. So are they walking vet bills? Am I setting myself up for heartbreak and potential financial ruin? If I were to buy one and for whatever reasons it became unridable I know I wouldn't be le to part with them so would be a very expensive field ornament, but is it worth taking the risk, I think so.
Should I be looking for horses that have only done a couple of races, ones that were started later? Is there any fool proof way of giving myself a better chance of finding a tb that will not break within a few years. I don't want a world beater just something sane and sensible, capable of hacking, schooling, low level jumping and to have fun with. Green is fine as I am in no rush or have any expectations. Any advice welcome, and any success stories would be lovely to see. Sorry for such a long post

 

[shortstuff99]

I wouldn't buy an ex racer. I would buy an established horse already doing what you want.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agree you don't sound like you have enough experience for a TB especially one that has raced, for your first horse you want a been there and done it type horse.

 

[sassandbells]

If you want a horse to actually ride then get something that is already doing the job you want it to do. TBs can be wonderful but can also be absolutely heartbreaking, and are known as walking vet bills for a reason… (I know some aren’t, but in my experience the ones that aren’t are in the minority)

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I love tb' s. I have had several, I also have one now. No more of a vets bill than any other horse IMO. But, you do need to handle with care unless you find a completely horizontal one, which I have also had in the past. If you can find one doing the job you want if for now then great, otherwise, as above, just find a nice horse that is currently doing what you want. Good luck in your search.

 

[millitiger]

You can get a tb without it being an ex-racer.

 

[Prancerpoos]

Perhaps you should up your riding at the stables, maybe to a couple of times a week to improve your strength, before buying anything? Going from riding a few times over the last year to having a horse, whatever the breed, that will need riding 5 or 6 times every week may prove difficult physically. Trying to ride a strong, new horse when you are exhausted is not likely to help settle you or the horse into a new relationship. That aside, I love TBs, but the ones I rode that had raced were rather challenging behaviour wise. I bought an unraced, indeed pretty much unhandled, 3yo and she turned into my horse of a lifetime. Not sure that TBs actually have any more health issues than other horses. Good luck!

 

[Peglo]

I got my TB when she was 12 and she’d been well reschooled but she was never an happy hacker although she was bombproof. She just didn’t like it much.
Mine had typically TB feet, constantly pulled shoes, came in lame after tearing about in the field on occasions but I loved her. I would have another but not without getting help from knowledgeable folk in choosing one.

If you could find an older one doing the job you want then there’s no reason it couldn’t work. I wouldn’t go for a young one off the track though.

 

[Zoeypxo]

An older tb been there done it type would possibly be ok.
Could you ask at the riding school if they have any schoolmasters for sale ? I think that would be a more sensible way to go

 

[Trouper]

I was exactly in your position. If you love TBs you love them and not much else compares and I would do it again but I would "acquire" differently. I thought, with help, I could assess a purchase myself but I didn't get it right so I did end up having to pts on health grounds. If I were young enough (sighs heavily) to do it again I would go to the racehorse re-homing charities and be guided by them on both my suitability and the horse's.

Good luck in your searches!! And, by the way, it is obligatory on this Forum to post pictures of any new purchase!!!

 

[Cortez]

Sane, sensible, sound. That’s what you want in a first horse (most would like that in every horse they own). These are not the first words that jump to mind when considering the Thoroughbred horse…….

 

[splashgirl45]

Rather than buy now why not find a share so you can get into horse management and ride a few times a week without the buffer of being on a riding school horse. Having your own is not as easy as it seems on paper, so it would be better to ease yourself in gradually. I’ve only ridden half TBs so can’t comment on them but going from some of the sad stories on here with ex racers I would be very cautious ..

 

[Gamebird]

There will be TBs that fit the bill - I have had a couple who would have been ideal and you could plod about on and ride every day or once a fortnight and they would be safe and sane every time - but equally there will be many more TBs who will be unsuitable. If you do end up with a TB I think it would be one who had been doing the sort of things you want to do for a decent period of time (so if an ex-racer then one who is several years down the line, if not an ex-racer then one who has a proven record of doing whatever you want to do for the last couple of years). The right one will be perfect, the wrong one will be a disaster. But that pretty much applies to any horse!

 

[starbucker]

Ive known SEVERAL novices who have bought ex racer tbs and it has ended in tears every time, all lame beyond repair following investigations for behavioural issues usually, issues appearing 3-4 months after buying. thousands lost some of which were even vetted. And some were only young too. 'Retired too slow to race' can often mean too lame. Please don't get me wrong there are absolutely lovely tbs out there (including 1 on our yard out sucessfully competing - but this one actually never raced and has still has a season off after a field incident), but it takes a good eye and knowledge and requires extra tlc. I second finding a share first, riding a tb in a riding school is much different to owning one. They have thinner hooves than other horses according to my farrier which does dispose them to more issues apparently

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I’ve had 3 pure tb. First was not raced , walking vet bill, second had raced, walking vet bill and third raced once and was hard as nails. Lived out 24/7 barefoot. She did endurance and lived to a ripe old age. Good luck.

 

[Squeak]

The amount of times people mention on here and in person of non TB's going lame and having issues, I really don't think it's correct anymore to say that ex racehorses have more issues than others.

Whether you get a TB or not, I think the most important thing would be to get something that is already doing the job you need. I've known some TB's that would do the job and suit you as well as some that wouldn't, just like any other breed.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Hi all newbie here.
In short, I'm returning to riding after a long break and looking to buy a horse. I have ridden at a local riding school several times in the past year and riding wise it's all still in my head, I know the theory behind it all and I'm capable of w/t/c I'm just not as fit and don't have the muscle, especially in my core that I used to have. I'm sure with regular riding this would improve as would my overall riding. So here's my dilemma, I would love a tb and have seen some sweet looking ones for sale that would tick all my boxes but everyone I know says don't buy a tb. So are they walking vet bills? Am I setting myself up for heartbreak and potential financial ruin? If I were to buy one and for whatever reasons it became unridable I know I wouldn't be le to part with them so would be a very expensive field ornament, but is it worth taking the risk, I think so.
Should I be looking for horses that have only done a couple of races, ones that were started later? Is there any fool proof way of giving myself a better chance of finding a tb that will not break within a few years. I don't want a world beater just something sane and sensible, capable of hacking, schooling, low level jumping and to have fun with. Green is fine as I am in no rush or have any expectations. Any advice welcome, and any success stories would be lovely to see. Sorry for such a long post

Hi Cosmogirl, welcome to the forum.
It's not so much the 'TB breed' aspect that would worry me, more the 'recently raced and green' thing. Riding school to first owned horse is a huge step up. I think you will be happier with your purchase if you err on the side of under-estimating your fitness and ability. Also definitely take some much more regular lessons first, then get the instructor to help you choose a horse that suits you. Look at what it's doing, not what breed it is.

 

[ihatework]

The only tb I advise you buy, is one that has been out of racing a long while, has shown it has integrated into hobby life well, is proven rideable by a less established amateur and a vet confirms is sound for purpose.

 

[SpeedyPony]

I'd agree to go for something currently doing what you need rather than fresh out of racing or even recently retrained.
I'd also make sure you have an idea of what you will be doing at first, not what you hope to be doing a couple of years down the line- if you buy a horse (tb or otherwise) that is out hunting/eventing or even just regularly competing at RC level, that horse may turn out to be a very different proposition when only worked 2-3 times a week, or when doing less intense work. Some will step down absolutely fine, but a lot will become sharp and fresh in that situation, particularly if they are fairly fit to begin with.

 

[ycbm]

The amount of times people mention on here and in person of non TB's going lame and having issues, I really don't think it's correct anymore to say that ex racehorses have more issues than others.

You need to take them as a percentage of the total number of horses owned. Far more people on the forum don't have TBs than those who do, so of all the horses reported as lame on the forum there will be more non TBs. I think most people who have owned/known a lot of both share the opinion that, as a breed, they are likely to be high maintenance medically especially if they have raced.
.

 

[catembi]

I have had 3 x full TBs, two of which were ex racers.

Trev, ex flat racer, raced 18 times, owned since 6, had ulcers & KS, barefoot, in light work at 20.
Thor, ex chaser, raced twice, owned 2 1/2 years, 12 years old, barefoot, has arthritis in his neck & is too wobbly to ride.
Leroy, unbacked 4 yo, unraced, I backed him, had PSSM, sold as a companion, subsequent owners put him back into work.

None had lameness issues. Thor is probably the safest thing I've ever sat on, and the most athletic. Trev top for intellect and second for athleticism. Trev is also a serial self harmer. I'm not going to say that he's been okay lately as we know what will happen

The biggest vet bills I've had were for Catembi, ISH. He got mixed up in a wire fence, nearly severing his foot (£4.5k), got protein losing enteropathy (£6k) and then died. Trev ran up a bill of £4,800 for aspirational choke.

I don't know if I'd have another one. I might. I am somewhere on the ISH/TB spectrum for my next one. I am not sure whether they are necessarily the right choice for a first horse.

 

[lynz88]

every horse, IMO, is a walking (not quite talking) vet bill regardless of breed. OP, there is a huge difference between riding school horses and privately owned horses. I echo everyone else who has said to focus efforts on a horse that has been doing a different job for quite some time. If you're really focused on a TB, then I'd definitely be looking for something that's a little older and ideally unraced altogether. They do exist but they are a little bit harder to find. I got mine as a 2-coming-3 year old who was sssssooooooo awful at the whole 'racing' thing that he was barely broke and not even tattooed when I first got on him. He will happily do zero work for the rest of his life and never be an issue to handle or randomly hop on and ride. That said, he does have his issues which can sometimes make him a handful but that would be no different to any other horse.

Sane, sensible, sound. That’s what you want in a first horse (most would like that in every horse they own). These are not the first words that jump to mind when considering the Thoroughbred horse…….

I actually disagree with this - I've come across far more TBs that are far more mature, sane, and sensible than other breeds, in particular, WBs (though that's probably not a fair comparison lol). I think soundness really depends on what they've done or not done, genetics, etc.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m a big TB fan. I’ve worked along side them now for 15+ years I’m on my seventh owned TB but, honestly I won’t have another (she says!)
Yes I’ve had problems with other (non tb) horses but they are cheap for a reason, a higher percentage of mine than not have peen stereotypical in more days than one.
Most have been nice characters but all have had big physical challenges. All have been pretty soul destroying.

 

[TheMule]

My TB has raced 35 times…. He hacks regularly with a grandma on board, has amazing strong feet that don’t need shoes and is as tough as nails. But the instinct to run is very strong and I am very careful about what we do because TBs are rather prone to moments of total and utter brain loss.
Not for a novice owner, sorry.

 

[Jenko109]

It's not clear from your post what your past riding history is. Have you only ever ridden at a riding school?

 

[Vodkagirly]

I believe there are good tb and bad tb, same as any breed. The main problem with the breed is that they are cheap enough to attract owners who don't have the finance/support to get them trained properly so issues escalate, quickly and dramatically.
If your thinking of buying a horse, especially a tb, please make sure that you have budgeted for lessons, lots of them!

 

[KatieDM]

I’m in a similar position/circumstance to you (not looking to buy, but more a part-loan to start with) and I just… would not. I think you’re best focusing on a horse that’s experienced, sound and doing what you need it to do, rather than on a specific breed. Especially a somewhat ‘tricky’ breed like a TB. And yes, perhaps a share to start with?
That’s my thoughts, anyway! Also re: fitness, maybe start looking at ways to improve that out of the saddle, it will no doubt benefit your riding! I’ve been upping my yoga at home and general walking. Thinking about adding in some targeted equestrian-specified exercises now.

 

[P.forpony]

Not going to get into the tb or not tb debate, because I'm biased!

But I'd definitely second the idea of trying a share.

Ownership of any type of horse is a big old leap from occasional riding, a share would let you test the idea out before committing.

 

[leflynn]

Not going to get into the tb or not tb debate, because I'm biased!

But I'd definitely second the idea of trying a share.

Ownership of any type of horse is a big old leap from occasional riding, a share would let you test the idea out before committing.

This 100% I went from going back to being a riding school rider in my 30's (15yr plus break) to a part share to a full share then to my own (ironically a TB), experience is key rather than the breed