What next for ex racer?

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Vito

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I bought a horse that was advertised as a project, she did 11 races over hurdles and did quite well, before being sold at Ascot, ended up with a private buyer who then decided she was beyond what they could do. I went to look at her and she went well, as I’d expected from an ex racer, she didn’t really understand the bridle or leg aids, she has a problem having her ears touched, it’s quite deep rooted and she’s got very strong opinions about it, she’s obviously had this problem for a long time, to get the bridle on it needs to be dismantled and put on around her head. After many months she'll let me touch her ears, but still has a fit about the bridle.

As she went well on the road both in hand and ridden in company I decided to try her in the arena, just to get her used to the aids, I had thought that although she’d been sold as a project she wasn’t all that bad, just needed a bit of training as a riding horse, turns out I was wrong, optimism has always been my biggest weakness. She galloped the length of the arena (90m) leapt and bucked, I’m told I lasted the full 8 seconds so could consider a career as a rodeo rider. I don’t think it would do my back much good, I felt it twist as I hit the sand, just before my head landed.

So I turned her away for a few months to relax, as she was very tense and exercising herself in the field, then went back to basics with tack, standing still, being led nicely, I thought we were making really good progress as she was reliably standing still and being calm, so I quietly got on, she galloped, bucked, I came off and broke both legs.

What next? I don't feel I can sell her with the problems she's had, I've done myself a lot of damage and I don't want to ride her myself, she's a companion horse at the moment. I guess some of them just don't make the transition to riding horse. I feel like my only realistic option is to have her PTS but that's damn hard. I'm appealing for opinions and options from people more experienced than me please, thanks for reading.
 
I guess you need to be honest with yourself. How experienced are you? Did you take on too much, by taking a horse out of racing and planning to reschool it? Have you had experience with either breaking and schooling or riding racehorses previously?

If you feel that it may be a case of your lack of experience/skill then I would try and advertise her as a project again - being very honest with potential takers and only passing her on to someone very experienced. Put her on ProjectHorse, the Exracers Forum and some of the sites linked with ROR.

If on the other hand, you are an experienced rider who knows TBs, has broken and ridden away blood horses in the past etc. Then I'd PTS.
 
I agree it wouldn't be in her best interests to pass her on, I think you have a few options, open to you:-

1) Have a full health check to make sure there is no physical cause for her behaviour (if you intend reshchooling then this would be a sensible thing to start with anyway, things like ulcers or kissing spines etc. can cause this sort of behaviour as I'm sure you know.) I'd also check teeth and tack while I'm on, I'm sorry if this is teaching granny to suck eggs, but it can sometimes a simple solution that gets overlooked.

2) Get some professional help in reschooling her and see what their opinion is.

3) Keep as a companion.

4) Pts.

The first two options will be expensive and not necessarily fix the horse, at the end of the day you've got to do what you feel comfortable with, unfortunately we can't always save them all, but sometimes you need to know that you've done all you can to help them before making 'that' decision for your own peace of mind.

Whatever you decide I wish you well.
 
Wow, both legs, thats awful. I broke 1 of mine in 9 places and felt thoroughly hard done to, never considered both! :(
Well i dont blame you not wanting to get back on, I never did on the one responsible for mine.

What checks did you have done with the first episode? I hate saying teeth, back and saddle because it sounds so patronising to someone experienced and you sound like you are so I'm presuming these were done and all was well. She sounds explosive, which is just bloody dangerous. The question is why?
I agree you couldn't sell on or shouldn't and therefore if she can't be a companion for whatever reason then I don't see PTS as an issue.

Maybe someone can offer a solution but I suspect only someone suicidal would want such a mare.

Kissing spine did enter my head, purely because there isn't much that would cause a horse to explode like that :(
 
I would get her checked out to make sure it isn't pain related. Hacking in straight lines wouldn't bring up any problems, but schooling in an enclosed space and asking for bend can highlight pain in the back.

Re-schooling ex. racers isn't easy, but taking them right back and treating as though starting from skratch is usually the best way, so it does sound as though there is something going on i.e. pain.

Good luck, keep us posted!
 
It really sounds as though she is screaming out to you that she is in pain. I have never known an exracer behave like that without a pain based reason. This is more than her just not adapting to a non racing life. Is she insured? If not, get her insured. Turn her away for a few weeks and start her on the lunge. Don't even think of getting on her until she is working reliably on the lunge or long reins. Then get an instructor who is willing to get on her. Warn them first about what she has done. There ARE people out there who are prepared to get on these types of horses, but you will have to pay upwards of £40. Then, if she does it again have her fully investigated by the vets.
 
Thank you guys, I did have her checked over, lungeing was slightly wall of death and we weren't getting very far but I've schooled her quietly with lots and lots of circles in walk and trot, I let my guard down and she tanked.

She had at least 4 homes in the year after coming off the track, I think I know what I have to do, it's just effing hard.
 
OP - have you tried contacting the trainer that had her when she was racing? It might be worth speaking to them to find out if she showed any similar traits whilst racing. Tell them you don't care how bad it is what they tell you, you just need to know. If she was an angel when she was racing, then either someone else has ****** it up since they took her out of racing, or she is in pain...KS was the first thing that crossed my mind when I read your post, but I think it's worth looking into her deep past as much as you can - I know I would, if i were in your shoes. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. You're in a difficult position.
 
I think all the suggestions so far are bang on and if it's not pain related then someone has not treated her right. I really think that putting to sleep should not be an option, other than her issue with her ears is she good to handle, you say she has been kept as a companion? Could you not sell her as one, I know many people who need companions to obviously accompany another horse or to just pamper as a pet.

If shes healthy and happy other than being ridden then she still has quality of life in a home where she can just graze or alternatively could you not sell her as a brood mare? I sincerely hope everything resolves and you don't have to go down the pts route. Sorry about your injuries and I hope everything works out!

Immy x
 
I contacted the trainer when I first got her, no response.

She has a lot of problems that we've worked through, the bridle thing, pulling back when tied up, not standing still, not going near the mounting block, the way she reacted sometimes suggested someone has taken her to task over these things but I really thought we were making progress.
 
All screams pain to me. Sympathy and good luck. Nothing new to add. I do feel for those horses that just don't adapt. My ex racer came straight off track and has always been well rounded responsive and honest. The few give the many such a bad name.
 
What's her name? Have you looked her up on racing post? You can gain quite a lot of info, it'll usually say if they have unseated jockey before start, pulled hard etc. Did she have any falls racing? I would try to contact the trainer again.
 
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