Trying to re-home my Ex-racehorse due to circumstance...Free is necessary!

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EMC

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Hi all,

Sorry for the title typo!

Due to a change in financial circumstances, last year I rehomed my ex-racer with the help of my then YO. Unfortunately the rehome did not go well despite my advice. I have since taken him back and he is on full livery with a local competition yard (the only place I could get at short notice that can look after him around my shifts) and is now returning to his happy old self and putting weight back on.

I have worked with my farrier, saddler, equine therapist and chiro to sort him out but still cannot afford to keep him full time. I am trying desperately to rehome him, he is a lovely boy who will go on to greater things. Does anybody know of either a professional who would like a decent ex-racer for free or a good home that understands ex-racers? I have one more month before I have to consider euthanasia because I simply cannot afford any more and cannot put him at grass due to my shift work.

He is advertised everywhere I can think of but obviously the market is saturated with ex-racers and I do not want him to go to a novice home. He doesn't require any extra vetinary care other than the occasional chiro treatment and a good (correctly fitted) saddle to allow his back muscles to develop correctly.

If anyone can help please contact me,

Em
 
Could you offer him for loan? Does he have health issues that would prevent him from eventing/ general PC activities?

If not, then he's surely loanable? I mean, we loaned Reg having done nothing out of racing for Al, as a potential eventer just because he was sound and had no reason why he couldn't do the job...
 
Why can't he be on grass livery if you have shifts to work, I'd have thought grass livery would work perfectly for you. Against the grain but if other people are poping up I can't see any reason why you couldn't go just once a day and do a proper check of him - I'd have thought you must be able to fit once a day in around shifts?
 
Save yourself some money and do diy.
It is possible.
Maybe assisted diy would work with your shifts?
When I worked shifts I waa at the yard as 3.30am. 11pm, any time really to see to my horses.
Even now I am there at 5am every morning.

Gets sharer.
Keep advertising.
There is the right home out there.
 
I have an ex-racer who is on grass livery, partly because our other one can't be stabled anymore but partly for financial reasons. She's around ten times happier/calmer and although wintered poorly (half me and inexperience with TB's/half the bl**dy awful long winter) is now picking up a treat.

Try it, after the initial shock they relearn to be horses. Just make sure you go to a decent yard that will allow hay in the field, and has a decent shelter. I still have them rugged to the eyeballs as I don't want them cold but they really are much happier.

Everyones different - it works for me though. :o
 
Thank you all for your replies...

He has no major health issues that would prevent him doing a job, but he does require re-training which in itself is time consuming and expensive for a potential loaner. I really thought I had found the right home for him with the advice of his previous YO but although he was loved it wasn't suitable for him.

Grass livery would be fine in the short term depending on my job....except our local fields are still saturated/muddy and he can be prone to mud fever if his legs aren't looked after properly everyday....if his legs become sore I wouldn't have anywhere dry to put him. He would also require a companion and the yards local to us are not yet turning out 24/7.

My job is uncertain at best and I don't want the pressure of trying to keep him healthy and cared for as well as keeping my home should the worst happen.

He is advertised on NFED.co.uk in project horses and ponies (ad number 90470),

here:

http://www.adhorse.co.uk/horseforsale_54217.html

also on Friday Ads and my YO is also looking around for him.

I tried the charities last time but as he isn't a welfare case he would be on a long waiting list.

This must sound callous but I have to do what is best for him and me and the most responsible thing given my job/financial circumstances is to re-home him.
 
Where in the country are you? I know of someone looking to buy at some point but I'm not sure of her experience. Inbox me the details and I'll pass it on next time I bump into her.
 
The bad bits:
- Needs regular shoeing with a knowledgeable farrier to ensure his feet are trimmed to account for his conformation, we have tried barefoot but his feet just get too sore
- Does not hack alone, can be led out alone but will require a strong and firm rider to educate him in this area
- Is very strong when cantered in company in the open, he needs continued education in slower gaits to teach him he does not need to race anymore
- Has recently had some chiropractic work, nothing serious but the usual back issues resulting from racing and this should be continued as well as the advice of a saddler to ensure he is not sore
- Needs turnout either with other horses or in sight of horses
- Can be typically spooky if fed high sugar/starch feeds, would recommend no molassed sugarbeet!
- Has span in the past when confronted with scary objects, does not rear
- Due to a previous rider whipping him excessivley, he does not react well to a schooling whip being used (it can be carried quietly though) and although I have ridden him with a short stick I prefer to `wip-***` with reins and use my voice if necessary....he does not respond to heavy tactics!!
- Can be mounted from a block with the help of a handler but is better when legged up
- Has come back from loan underweight, although not chronic he is fed on a conditioning feed and ad-lib hay. This will need to be taken into account as he needs to build topline etc. before being worked in an outline.

This is all beyond unnecessary IMO.

It can be summed up with "Would prefer home to be knowledgeable about reschooling horses and the correct management of TBs, as although he is generally very well behaved and kind, he is not suitable for a novice".

Then, when they phone, you can tell them more. But frankly, I wouldn't phone if we were looking because of the tone of the writing, more than the actual writing. Weed out the novices and unsuitables when they phone you!
 
I'm not able to hep re:home but just a thought on your ad. You're obviously trying to be really honest and responsible but you're also potentially being a little too negative? A lot of your 'bad bits' aren't really anything unusual (e.g. pretty much EVERYTHING needs turnout with/near company) and even your positives aren't all phrased to show him at his best.

It is an advert (i.e. you're trying to 'sell' the advantages that Fred has) and you can always tell people the more balanced view when they call/visit?

You've obviously invested a lot of time, money and energy in this horse. You should feel able to praise the results.

Good luck.
 
Are you advertising on specialist sites like Source an Ex Racehorse or forums like Ex Racers Club. Also one on fb called final furlong.

Agree that you could change the advert to something along the likes of needs someone experienced with tbs/ex racers rather than listing every little thing
 
I've tried to be as honest as possible so as to weed out those who won't be suitable before they phone. Best to know the ins and outs before they ring rather than waste my time....his last loan home knew all of this and still stuffed him full of high sugar feed and tried to hack him alone after a week or so in the field then wondered why he was fizzy. He also fell on concrete infront of his stable and didn't have any treatment for his back afterwards so I had one unhappy and sore horse as a result.

If anyone rings after reading that lot then I know they are serious! I've already had a message from someone who wrote 'Wud U sell him unseen?' is apparently experienced with TB's but is avoiding telling me in what context, thinks providing current ex-racers passport is a reference and won't tell me how old they are or where they would keep him....

Sorry....bit emotional with it all and don't mean to sound so abrupt.
 
Ok...advert changed a little (thankyou Lolo, lovely wording and a good idea) so I no longer sound like such a grouch. Hopefully that will help :confused:
 
How's this:

"8 YO TB Gelding. Ex Racer /P2P.

Selling my beautiful boy due to change in financial circumstances, I can no longer afford to keep him at livery and continue his training.

Fred (racing name?) is a ‘x’hh gelding. He is easy to handle on the ground, and is well behaved with the farrier/ vet. He is a good hack, behaving both alone and in company: you can canter him in open fields without a problem and he is fine in traffic.

Fred works very well in the school, and until his recent break due to my lack of time was working in the school sweetly in all three paces and schooling over coloured poles/ fences and is ready to start attending competitions.

I would prefer for Fred to go to an experienced home with previous experience of managing TBs, as I feel he is wasted with me now and could be very nice for someone else. He is a charming, loving horse who I wish I could keep."
 
Thanks Lolo...really appreciate your time taken to re-word the advert (you should be a professional) but whilst it is lovely it doesn't strictly reflect him. He is not yet working in a consistent outline and wouldn't be ready to go to shows etc. I wouldn't want to sell him under false pretenses.
 
Sorry i don't mean to be negative on your thread. But how can this thread still be here, in effect this is an advert for a horse. But if someone mentions a stallion name, the thread is removed and op is given a warning.
Good luck with selling your horse.
 
Pop him on the "source an ex racehorse" site - its a small fee but you will definitely find a very suitable home there, adverts also don't usually need to stay up for long as they are really hitting your target market - people who are specifically looking for an ex racer and therefore aware of all their niggles and issues they entail!!
 
Have you tried advertising in the ex.racehorse sites? Sourceanexracehorse is for selling/lending or even free horses. The exracers club website also advertises exracehorses. Try looking at The Retraining of Racehorses website, there might be some help on there.
 
Sorry Nostromo...it didn't start strictly as an advert. Thankyou all for your advice...admin please delete if necessary.
 
EMC said:
Thanks Lolo...really appreciate your time taken to re-word the advert (you should be a professional) but whilst it is lovely it doesn't strictly reflect him. He is not yet working in a consistent outline and wouldn't be ready to go to shows etc. I wouldn't want to sell him under false pretenses.
Click to expand...

But here's the thing- by advertising him like that you get people who will work him up to that point properly IME. I've not said he's working consistently anywhere, but to be taken out and about he doesn't need to be. He needs to be able to walk/ trot/ canter approximately when asked. Al was at an RC area competition this weekend- half the horses there weren't in consistent outlines!

I think you need to advertise him to a slightly higher market than you are, to get the best for him. Otherwise you will just get numpties phoning.
 
Not working in a consistant outline is not a problem to anyone who knows what they are doing, it's not a vice and is to be expected of ex racehorses who, generally speaking, are not classically schooled. Give his good points and an experienced buyer will know what questions to ask about what matters to them.

Take Lola's advice, she knows what she is talking about!
 
I'm in Yeovil and he is at livery nearby, thankyou for sharing the advert around.

I'm writing an ad on source an exracehorse now...
 
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