tell me about your ex racers pls

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beaconhorse

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Thinking of getting one and it needs to be the right decisioin so please could you tell me about WHEN you got him/her

When did you buy?
How old?
How long out of racing and what retraining had it had?
Was it successful in racing?

Did it have any previous injuries/and have them limited the work or caused a problem?

What is the best thing about him/her?
whats the worst thing?
What sort of problems have you had, or worst schooling trait etc and how long did it take to overcome or are you still working on it?

What do you do with them?

Would you buy another the same or?

Anything else significant

Many thanks
 
To answer your questions:
Mine is 10, I got him 5 years ago.
He was basically straight out of racing - came from a dealer who got him from Ascot sales.
He had moderate success in racing - raced 12 times on the flat and quite a few placings.
Tough wood (essential!) no injuries, but was 'tubed' in racing so has this scar on his neck. I contacted the racing yard & his breathing was not bad they just did it for ultimate performance as he is well bred.
The best thing is the success we are now enjoying after the 5 years of hard work - people are very shocked that he is an ex-racer!!
The worst thing is he is 'scared' of vets, I believe as a result of being tubed.
Has taken a long time to 'change' his way of going, but has been very rewarding along the way!
Do not even contemplate unless you are very patient!!
He is now a complete all rounder: hunting, unaffiliated eventing, sponsored rides (impeccably behaved!), XC, SJ, 1st dressage test tomorrow! Very scopey jumper, so hopefully will do BE.
Would definately have another - but it is a long process to get a nice horse.
 
I had an ex called Jouvert, we got him about 4 years ago at christmas from a trainer that we knew, and he was lovely albeit a stallion. His behaviour then went downhill rapidly, he became dangerous and we realised he had a brain tumour causing this, and had to be PTS. They are very susceptible to things like that, and it was a lot of heartache tbh. But he would've been lovely.
 
Mine had only trained but never raced I was told this was because she was not fast enough, in hindsight she actually stopped training due to a very serious pelvic injury.
She was fab in that I could take her to any show and hack her anywhere you liked. But she did have major quirks was prone to bolting, bronko-ing etc she was not always very safe.
She had the most perfect personality to look after and was the softest thing going - she only had eyes for me which was so lovely. I was truly heartbroken when I lost her two years ago even though I had my other horse.
I think if you have time and patient (and a decent seat!) then they are fanastic horses but depending on how they were treated before you do have to be very careful. They are not to be taken lightly as they always manage to pull something a bit different out the bag.
 
Thinking of getting one and it needs to be the right decisioin so please could you tell me about WHEN you got him/her: he was wary but wanted to trust you

When did you buy? 28th october 2006
How old? 8

How long out of racing and what retraining had it had? a year out of racing but had no re training apart from hacking

Was it successful in racing? finished but always finished last

Did it have any previous injuries/and have them limited the work or caused a problem? muscle problems in his back

What is the best thing about him/her? very affectionate and always wants to try and please and learns quickly

whats the worst thing? can be spooky

What sort of problems have you had, or worst schooling trait etc and how long did it take to overcome or are you still working on it? he can be spooky and lacks confidence and as a result can nap but we are working through this now and is 100% better

What do you do with them? hacking, SJ, DR and soon ODE hopefully

Would you buy another the same or depending on the horse but if he was like than Mattie (my horse) then yes

Anything else significant: escape artist and can be territorial and dominant if out with a mixed herd..although this could be just my horse hehe hehe
 
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Thinking of getting one and it needs to be the right decisioin so please could you tell me about WHEN you got him/her w
when did you buy? nov 2005
How old?7 now was 4 1/2
How long out of racing and what retraining had it had?raced at 3
Was it successful in racing?no doesnt like to be in front although he will hack on his own

Did it have any previous injuries/and have them limited the work or caused a problem? not previous but ligament tendon deep bone bruising bad feet and hock spavins all of which apart from the most recent (in rehab after surgery from spavins)he has recovered fully

What is the best thing about him/her?nature
whats the worst thing?lack of confidence and rearing
What sort of problems have you had, or worst schooling trait etc and how long did it take to overcome or are you still working on it?broncing and rearing improved but will restart when I can reschool again

What do you do with them?loves jumping when fit and hope to do xc when we get all clear from vet.Hacking and schooling

Would you buy another the same or?no would go for something more sensible but Ill never sell him unless I absolutely have to

Anything else significant you need lots of patience and a very good seat fantastic tempraments but can be spooky.Make sure you have a good vet out for vetting .My big mistake although no regrets.

Many thanks

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1* FOLLYFOOT FRED
----------------------------
Bought in 2002 for £25. He was 8 yo. 100% sound. Won 1st time out then changed trainer who entered him in the wrong races.
He dont like hacking out on his own but is wonderful in company. Does shy a bit, in fact Looks for thinks to shy at. Bold Jumper and, WH.

2* PELLSMINT HUMBUG
-------------------------------
Bought in 1994 for £1500. She was 9 Yo. Had a Funny Walking pace, But found out thats normal for her Breeding(Martinmas).
Raced 3 times under rules as a 2 yo. Raced P-2-P with form of PUP!! Excellent jumper (told by a Hunter judge that she was one of the best WH Jumpers he'd ever seen. Was inclined to "het" up whilst galloping in company.

3*RIVER TERN
**************
Given away in 2004 as owned by a Novice Rider who couldnt cope with him. He was 10. Won over £57,000 Racing and is mentioned in Stud books. Has to be ridden like his still in training . WILL NOT Jump for love nor Money!!!

4*TAMASHA
**************
Bought in 1993 for £1000. Aged 5. She raced a few times but was U/P. Un beaten in Moonlight Steeplechases and a Excellent + Jumper. Had Tendon Trouble and you had to be careful on wet Ground. Lost her Left Eye in 2001 and had Grass Sickness in 2002. Loved bouncing on her hind legs with her tongue hanging out.
 
Mainpower. 2000 bay gelding
On permanent loan, had him only a few months!

Raced at 2 and 3 y.o, last in his first race, midfield in his 2nd.
He has been brought on enough by his owner to compete in dressage, last year. And just ticked over since.
I was restarting him when I fell off 3 weeks back (he bucked me off!), but he will be restarted again, to hack, school, do dressage, sponsored rides, and perhaps a bit of jumping/xc if he likes it!

VERY well natured, friendly and kind. A bit spooky at times to ride. Gets full of beans on occasion. Doesn't pull or take off. Great in traffic. Excellent to handle and be around - great with kids and other horses, but chases dogs
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Doesn't stand still to mount
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Windsucks
I wouldn't call him a novice ride just yet

Would definately have another. But I work with TB's all day, all the broodmares are ex racers, We have them holiday/box rest here from the trainers as well. So I am familiar with the breed, which I think really helps. TB's are different to other horses in so many ways (In my opinion of course!)
 
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Thinking of getting one and it needs to be the right decisioin so please could you tell me about WHEN you got him/her

When did you buy? September 9th 2007
How old? 9
How long out of racing and what retraining had it had? 2 years out, no retraining just in a "field."
Was it successful in racing? Not exactly, never won anyway!

Did it have any previous injuries/and have them limited the work or caused a problem? Not for racing no.

What is the best thing about him/her? His temperament, attitude, charater
whats the worst thing? Erm...doesn't like to stand still very long when ridden, bit if a fidget! (Working on this). Only fault though.
What sort of problems have you had, or worst schooling trait etc and how long did it take to overcome or are you still working on it? Not stansing still! Not a HUGE problem, but can be annoying and obviously not ideal, especially if I want to progress with Dresage/Eventing, still working on problem....

What do you do with them? Bit of everything, see what sphere he'll be good at (looking like Dressage at the mo, and SJ, possible eventing)

Would you buy another the same or? Yes, I had another ex racer a few years previous who used to nap out hacking, worked through that though. Love TB's.

Anything else significant TB's are the only breed for me, well, sort of, I wouldn't discount another but they have the character and look I like, and I seem to suit them! Love him to bits!

Many thanks

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Thinking of getting one and it needs to be the right decisioin so please could you tell me about WHEN you got him/her

When did you buy? <font color="blue"> Were given to me I have 2! </font>
How old? <font color="blue"> Sov was 6 and Emmy was 5 </font>
How long out of racing and what retraining had it had? <font color="blue"> No retraining Sov was out in the field for 3 months and Emmy was straight out of racing </font>
Was it successful in racing? <font color="blue"> SOv got 3rd in a Nov Hurdle??
blush.gif
, Emmy was/is a non-trier </font>

Did it have any previous injuries/and have them limited the work or caused a problem? <font color="blue"> Couple of leg scars</font>

What is the best thing about him/her? <font color="blue"> Sov is affectionate handsome and elegant to ride, Emmy can be fantastic, he just hasn't wanted to yet</font>
whats the worst thing? <font color="blue"> Not really anything racing related but Emmy is a bit riggy, Sov is a typical exracer loon, but getting better </font>
What sort of problems have you had, or worst schooling trait etc and how long did it take to overcome or are you still working on it? <font color="blue"> Nothing major with Emmy, Sov has a very insecure streak which can make him nap left quite fast </font>

What do you do with them? <font color="blue">Sov does a bit of everything we did a p2p, he is a dream to hunt, RC sj, BE (not very successfully!) and we are going to do the workers and a RoR class at Cheshire county. Emmy has done a bit of everything at RC level </font>

Would you buy another the same or? <font color="blue"> Prefer them to be given, but wouldn't say I would let a cheapy go</font>

Anything else significant <font color="blue"> The good bits are worth a hundred times the hard bits, there is no quick fix, but they are worth the patience ten fold. ENJOY </font>

Many thanks

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Can't remember all the questions but a summary:

Got mine 2003 aged 10. Out of racing for 6 years, had a nasty scar on hind leg, granulated but not affecting tendons so no problems working. Had been rescued and rehabed, pretty successfully though initially nappy and some issues being super sharp! But came through with lots of patience; long reining, walking out in hand and so on before progressing to hacking out. Never competed or anything, I have an old leg injury myself (cop out eh!). She had apparently raced but I never managed to find any evidence of it, and had also bred a foal.

She was a beautiful horse, of course tb's are special but SO many people commented, even non-horsey people would stare and complement her. Fantastic nature and very genuine, once she trusted me I would have asked anything of her. Once we'd got over the napping, I could ride her anywhere and she'd walk on by while supposedly calmer types did their nut. I was gutted last year when she developed arthritis in the knees and then narcolepsy. I really miss her and although I'm not in a position to replace her atm, I would definitely get another ex-racer. They are truly horses "of a lifetime" in my experience and every day you have them feels like a priveledge.

Btw that's her in my siggy, doesn't really do her justice tho.
 
Bought a mare from a sale about 10 years ago. Well travelled and well raced. Bought her as a 4 year old.
Saw her in the stalls at the auction, very agressive and walked out on 2 back legs so nobody really wanted her and we paid peanuts for her..
Bought her racing fit, last race before she was at the auction had only been a couple of weeks earlier...She was at the auction minus any paperwork so we didn't know her breeding. so we took a chance and bought blind.loved the look of her anyway.
What a star! What a good girl she turned out to be. but...first 2 years had nothing but injuries.liked to walk through barbed wire fencing and when she cut herself she just carried on going.was totally thick about lots of things.and if there was a nail in a fifty acre field, she found it.
Bought her as a brood mare, after we got her home the paperwork was forwarded so we could get some info on her background.really was a superstar and only ended up at the sale cos her syndicate had got behind with livery money for her. she had been successful racing with quite a few wins under her belt.
First foal she had she couldn't quite get the hang of things and we would find her in one part of the field and him wherever she had dumped him...but she turned out to be a good mum next time round.
Got her home, never ever shown any aggression towards anybody but does turn into the alien at feed times...not towards people, just anything going near her bucket.......even the cat or a chicken.but we can cope with that.
Have ridden her out but now she is a mummy.and so happy to do this aswell. Best 200guineas I ever spent.
 
When did you buy?
I bought my TB last year in August

How old?
He is 7 this year

How long out of racing and what retraining had it had?
He only trained as a two and three year old then was gelded. I bought him from a racing stud who also re-home ex-racers although he was actually bred by them. He was retrained and did a couple of dressage test and a couple of showing classes.

Was it successful in racing?
He trained mainly then did a race but he hated ever minute and then they gave up and gelded him.

Did it have any previous injuries/and have them limited the work or caused a problem?
He had a few splints but nothing that effected him.

What is the best thing about him/her?
He is a genuine horse that hasnt got a nastie bone in his body. Oh and he is very Pretty and most people think he is a mare!

whats the worst thing?
He is a typical qirky TB who is quick and sharp but as I said he hasnt got a nastie bone in his body so I can cope with his cheekiness

What sort of problems have you had, or worst schooling trait etc and how long did it take to overcome or are you still working on it?
Running through the bridle and spooking at everything....6 month down the line and alot of hard work he is now becoming a great dressage and show prospect!

What do you do with them? Hope to do our first Novice test in a month and then some ROR classes if I get time.

Would you buy another the same or?
Ex-racers all the way for me, im hooked!

P.S he is the Chestnut in my siggy below

xx
 
When did you buy? - 2008
How old? - 16
How long out of racing and what retraining had it had? retires at 4 years old, brood mare, no retraining
Was it successful in racing? failed

Did it have any previous injuries/and have them limited the work or caused a problem? swollen ligament but it doesn't bother her

What is the best thing about him/her? full of life, affectionate
whats the worst thing? rushes in the school, fizzy unless she has the right diet
What sort of problems have you had, or worst schooling trait etc and how long did it take to overcome or are you still working on it? lots of join up did the trick and being the boss and very firm.

What do you do with them? light work, hacking jumping

Would you buy another the same or? YES!
 
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