Thoroughbreds who have never raced

[NikKnock]

Hi. Whenever I want to do a bit of fun, informative reading on owning and/or the characteristics of thoroughbreds, every article/answer out there on the web talks about ex-races without exception. Consequently people considering owning a thoroughbred could well be put off in a lot of cases. I personally own a tb who never raced and wasn't bred on a racing yard, and am having the most fun i could ever wish for. There must be others out there. I'd like to ask do people breed TBs just as pleasure riding horses at all? And most interestingly I'd love to hear anyone's experience of owning one of these UNRACED beautiful animals.

 

[HopOnTrot]

It would be interesting to see the prevalence of breakdowns in non-raced TB’s vs those that were broken Young and in training early, nature vs nurture.

I’ve ridden some great TB’s but I’d never own one again.

 

[First Frost]

Back in the 90's I had a beautiful TB mare. She was by a group one winner and out of a TB mare who had been successful in the show ring. She was born and bred at Broadstone Stud and bred to be shown as a riding horse.
With me she had a very successful career has an eventer, although we did sometimes get time faults for speeding - she was unbelievably fast! She was a fantastic hack, always sensible, and competed up to medium in dressage. Most importantly she was the nicest, sweetest horse to look after.
Regarding soundness she was sound her entire life and retired at the age of 24 when she started to show signs of arthritis in her hocks. She as actually quite a good doer but really always seemed to stay the same weight without any really effort.

 

[humblepie]

I think any research would need to be into three categories so bred with the intention of being a competition horse, bred with the intention of being a racehorse but either not sound enough or identified as too slow in training to progress with and those bred to race. There was a horse a few years back now that I don’t know whether he was bred to be an event horse or bred to be a racehorse. I think the former as he was on a different register initially. He evented and then as I think a seven-year-old ran one race pulled up in order to become an RoR horse then after a year or two RoR showing went back to being an event horse. I know a few people felt it wasn’t in the spirit of things.

 

[NikKnock]

Back in the 90's I had a beautiful TB mare. She was by a group one winner and out of a TB mare who had been successful in the show ring. She was born and bred at Broadstone Stud and bred to be shown as a riding horse.
With me she had a very successful career has an eventer, although we did sometimes get time faults for speeding - she was unbelievably fast! She was a fantastic hack, always sensible, and competed up to medium in dressage. Most importantly she was the nicest, sweetest horse to look after.
Regarding soundness she was sound her entire life and retired at the age of 24 when she started to show signs of arthritis in her hocks. She as actually quite a good doer but really always seemed to stay the same weight without any really effort.

She sounds not unlike my little guy. I don't know why there isn't more said and done towards TBs not destined for racing.

 

[F&B]

My old boy was a TB that had never raced. He was backed at 4 as a riding horse and I got him in the September of that year. He was an amazing horse. He had a lovely long stride, he was forwards going but so laid back most of the time. I could gallop him anywhere and ride with any combination of other horses and he always stayed in control. We did lots of miles together over the years both endurance and lots of long hacks and later trek comps. He gave me the opportunity to go at speeds I would never dare on any other horse. He felt so safe. Over the 21 years we had together there was never once an occasion that I couldn't stop him. He really was one in a million .

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I've had several ex racers but also had a tb mare that never raced. Went to view her 3 weeks after she was backed. Hacked her out in company on the trial and she was foot perfect. Got her home, hacked out solo, still perfect. Took her to a show 3 weeks after she arrived and she won her class. Jumped anything she asked to. She was so calm and laid back.

 

[Jenko109]

I used to ride a lovely French tb who had never been raced.

He was beautifully schooled with a huge extended trot, beautiful changes etc. I don't know what level because I don't know anything about dressage, but he was one of the most fabulous horses I have ever had the privilege to sit on.

Competed SJ over a metre regularly. I jumped him a bit but he wouldn't go on a miss and I can't see a stride so only really did bigger fences with him on a grid so I couldn't mess it up

He was in his late teens when I was riding him. Fit as a flea and sound as a pound.

If I could buy a TB and know it would be like him, I would be very, very happy....although would have to ride a bit (a lot ) better to do such a horse justice.

 

[YourValentine]

Some TBs are wasted on racing. I don't know if many are bred purely for sport, but more should be. They can be such amazing rolls royce rides.

The stallion Presenting should have been used as a sports horse sire.

^ Presenting

I've known and ridden several of his off spring and they have all been beautiful movers, amazing scope jumping and really nice people. They would have been top class horses in any career.

Two of them were pretty good racehorses in their day.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'm fairly sure ELS Eventing's (YouTube) Donut is a TB wasn't raced. She's produced him in eventing and there's a playlist of videos on her channel about their journey which you may find worth a watch

 

[KikiDee]

I guess when producing a sports horse or all-rounder you try to cherry pick the best attributes of different breeds which is why there are fewer ‘pure’ breeds in this sphere in general when you look at other breeds that often make up a sports horse too e.g. ID.

I’d imagine specifically with TB’s as well the market is flooded with so many already being churned out by the racing industry either retired from racing or who didn’t make the cut in training, there’s significantly less of a market for dedicated breeding.

 

[NikKnock]

My old boy was a TB that had never raced. He was backed at 4 as a riding horse and I got him in the September of that year. He was an amazing horse. He had a lovely long stride, he was forwards going but so laid back most of the time. I could gallop him anywhere and ride with any combination of other horses and he always stayed in control. We did lots of miles together over the years both endurance and lots of long hacks and later trek comps. He gave me the opportunity to go at speeds I would never dare on any other horse. He felt so safe. Over the 21 years we had together there was never once an occasion that I couldn't stop him. He really was one in a

 

[honetpot]

A part from not being raced you also have to factor in is has it ever been in training. They are born as early in the year as possible with an eye to racing on the flat as a two year old, and their official birth date is the January 1st, so if they have been preped to race the chances are what ever you buy in months is a lot younger than it has sold as. and may be used to being kept in a group. Horses bred NH can not go in a jump race until three and tend but not always are a different type.
If you really want a TB I would take a trip to the sales in Newmarket, just to get your eye in, because there are hundreds. Its easy to find and if nothing else it's a day out.

February Sale - Tattersalls

www.tattersalls.com

I have bought a PB by a well known ID stallion direct from the stud and they have no real interest apart from racing.

 

[NikKnock]

My old boy was a TB that had never raced. He was backed at 4 as a riding horse and I got him in the September of that year. He was an amazing horse. He had a lovely long stride, he was forwards going but so laid back most of the time. I could gallop him anywhere and ride with any combination of other horses and he always stayed in control. We did lots of miles together over the years both endurance and lots of long hacks and later trek comps. He gave me the opportunity to go at speeds I would never dare on any other horse. He felt so safe. Over the 21 years we had together there was never once an occasion that I couldn't stop him. He really was one in a million .

Exactly! It seems like a missed opportunity. But as someone else has said, the market is so flooded with ex racehorses that to breed them for general use might be a risk.

 

[NikKnock]

Some TBs are wasted on racing. I don't know if many are bred purely for sport, but more should be. They can be such amazing rolls royce rides.

The stallion Presenting should have been used as a sports horse sire.
View attachment 171704
^ Presenting

I've known and ridden several of his off spring and they have all been beautiful movers, amazing scope jumping and really nice people. They would have been top class horses in any career.

Two of them were pretty good racehorses in their day.

I'm glad between us we're promoting the love for the tb. And maybe a look in for the unraced tb too.

 

[NikKnock]

I'm fairly sure ELS Eventing's (YouTube) Donut is a TB wasn't raced. She's produced him in eventing and there's a playlist of videos on her channel about their journey which you may find worth a watch

Thank you, I'll have a look.

 

[NikKnock]

Yes, that makes sense.

I guess when producing a sports horse or all-rounder you try to cherry pick the best attributes of different breeds which is why there are fewer ‘pure’ breeds in this sphere in general when you look at other breeds that often make up a sports horse too e.g. ID.

I’d imagine specifically with TB’s as well the market is flooded with so many already being churned out by the racing industry either retired from racing or who didn’t make the cut in training, there’s significantly less of a market for dedicated breeding.

 

[NikKnock]

A part from not being raced you also have to factor in is has it ever been in training. They are born as early in the year as possible with an eye to racing on the flat as a two year old, and their official birth date is the January 1st, so if they have been preped to race the chances are what ever you buy in months is a lot younger than it has sold as. and may be used to being kept in a group. Horses bred NH can not go in a jump race until three and tend but not always are a different type.
If you really want a TB I would take a trip to the sales in Newmarket, just to get your eye in, because there are hundreds. Its easy to find and if nothing else it's a day out.

February Sale - Tattersalls

www.tattersalls.com

I have bought a PB by a well known ID stallion direct from the stud and they have no real interest apart from racing.

Interesting thank you.

 

[LEC]

Exactly! It seems like a missed opportunity. But as someone else has said, the market is so flooded with ex racehorses that to breed them for general use might be a risk.

There are Sporthorse TBs about you just have to look for them and they are a bit of a different type to racing bred ones as often a little more chunky or uphill.

There is also a number of specialist stallions who are 100% TB for sporthorses.

Presenting goes back to Busted which is why they make great sport horses. He also has Bold Ruler and Riverman on damline. Again names you see time and time again in the best eventers.

 

[Squeak]

Personally I love the thoroughbreds as a breed, so many of the racers have the temperaments you're mentioning but yes, they do need reschooling and you don't know what wear and tear they have had. Anything that promotes them as a breed has to be a good thing.

 

[McGrools]

I love tb’s and would actively chose one that hadn’t been damaged by being the racing industry over anything else.
I currently have a 5 year old mare that never trained or raced. She makes a noise in her wind which happily for her meant she got her pass out of the racing life. She is the sweetest quietest person and is so willing and comfortable to ride. Beautiful long paces. she feels super safe aswell. A child could happily ride her. No world beater but the most pleasant person. Love them x

 

[sunnyone]

We bought a non-raced TB mare who had been bred and part owned by Desert Orchid's trainer, David Elsworth. She was sold because one of the other owners died. Until then she had been redirected to be a broodmare.
.
Her minus points: as a filly she couldn't even enter certain of Dessie's races. She hated jumping, other horses in close proximity, loading and travelling alone, and the wide open spaces of say a golf course.

Her plus points: she was bombproof on the roads and didn't blink an eyelid at buses, heavy lorries, trains, road tunnels under the railway, nor did she mind fireworks or low flying helicopters .She frequently met them all. She was very sweet tempered and tolerant of horses she knew, particularly young stock.
She was PTS at 22. 20 years on and I still miss her.

 

[NikKnock]

We bought a non-raced TB mare who had been bred and part owned by Desert Orchid's trainer, David Elsworth. She was sold because one of the other owners died. Until then she had been redirected to be a broodmare.
.
Her minus points: as a filly she couldn't even enter certain of Dessie's races. She hated jumping, other horses in close proximity, loading and travelling alone, and the wide open spaces of say a golf course.

Her plus points: she was bombproof on the roads and didn't blink an eyelid at buses, heavy lorries, trains, road tunnels under the railway, nor did she mind fireworks or low flying helicopters .She frequently met them all. She was very sweet tempered and tolerant of horses she knew, particularly young stock.
She was PTS at 22. 20 years on and I still miss her.

They might have their quirks, but they're worth it.

 

[FabioandFreddy]

I had a lovely TB gelding who went through the young horse classes as an eventer - not with me though! Never raced or in training. He went through the ranks up to the old 2* and was with a well known Aussie eventer at the end of his eventing career. He had a few quirks, but all in all was very un-stereotypically TB! His flat work was brilliant and made me look far better a rider than i am. On the ground he was super easy to do anything with. He also liked a packet of cheese and onion crisps if we hacked to the pub! Had to sadly retire him at 16 due to chronic suspensory breakdown but he had a happy retirement for another 6 years until we lost him last year.

 

[NikKnock]

There are Sporthorse TBs about you just have to look for them and they are a bit of a different type to racing bred ones as often a little more chunky or uphill.

There is also a number of specialist stallions who are 100% TB for sporthorses.

Presenting goes back to Busted which is why they make great sport horses. He also has Bold Ruler and Riverman on damline. Again names you see time and time again in the best eventers.

I'll look up those bloodlines. Certainly my tb is chunky and compact, not sure if he was bred for anything in particular...his markings probably; he is a frame overo, I guess he looks quite a lot like a QH, and when I first got him he was fairly downhill but I would now describe him as uphill and although only at low level, can turn his hand to anything. He's absolutely bomb proof with traffic etc, but because he was an orphan hes a bit cheeky on the ground and gets very attached to a field companion. He's sensitive and energetic, but such fun. Not great feet. Rest of him sound as never raced. A good doer and someone like him I would have thought would be a boon to a riding club competitor.

 

[NikKnock]

I'll look up those bloodlines. Certainly my tb is chunky and compact, not sure if he was bred for anything in particular...his markings probably; he is a frame overo, I guess he looks quite a lot like a QH, and when I first got him he was fairly downhill but I would now describe him as uphill and although only at low level, can turn his hand to anything. He's absolutely bomb proof with traffic etc, but because he was an orphan hes a bit cheeky on the ground and gets very attached to a field companion. He's sensitive and energetic, but such fun. Not great feet. Rest of him sound as never raced. A good doer and someone like him I would have thought would be a boon to a riding club competitor.

I'll look up those bloodlines. Certainly my tb is chunky and compact, not sure if he was bred for anything in particular...his markings probably; he is a frame overo, I guess he looks quite a lot like a QH, and when I first got him he was fairly downhill but I would now describe him as uphill and although only at low level, can turn his hand to anything. He's absolutely bomb proof with traffic etc, but because he was an orphan hes a bit cheeky on the ground and gets very attached to a field companion. He's sensitive and energetic, but such fun. Not great feet. Rest of him sound as never raced. A good doer and someone like him I would have thought would be a boon to a riding club competitor.

 

[LJF0664]

I’m so happy to read the stories on this thread. I’ve just got a 20 month old TB filly that was home bred by a friend. She was bred with racing in mind but never left home until coming to me a month ago! She has such a lovely temperament and I’m super excited for her future.

 

[NikKnock]

I’m so happy to read the stories on this thread. I’ve just got a 20 month old TB filly that was home bred by a friend. She was bred with racing in mind but never left home until coming to me a month ago! She has such a lovely temperament and I’m super excited for her future.

Lucky you! Have fun. They're also very intelligent in my limited experience. Very trainable.