What to do with ex-racehorse over winter?

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Tabitha148

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Hi, i need some advice please... I hope this is the right place to post this. Sorry, this will probably be a long post, i'll condense as much as possible. I have a 4 year old ex-racehorse, imported from Ireland in march of this year. She had some downtime in Ireland before coming over, she had plenty of downtime here with me as well, then started groundwork, in hand walking, ponying of off my other horse. Slowly building up to riding her, we did some light hacking over the summer and she was mostly pretty good... Occasionally she would nap a little leaving home, but would soon move on. I would occasionaly ride her in the field where she would feel pretty hot, but never did anything worrying. However she can be quite 'unpredictable' and she has had some very 'explosive' moments under saddle, one of which ending in quite a nasty fall and a hospital visit at the start of august. It has knocked my confidence with her quite a bit. I keep my horses at home and having recently moved we don't have an arena, and i am hesitant to hack her again in case she does something similar and i fall onto tarmac this time. And being in a fairly rural part of wales, i am struggling find any riders/instructors that cover where we are. And our nearest arena hire is 1 hour away. I do think if i had an arena i could 'sort her out', i have experience with exracers, young warmblood and iberian horses, 'problem' horses, worked rehabilitating wild horses in Alberta, have spent the last 3 years riding grand prix horses on different classical dressage based yards. Having said all that i'm not a professional and to be honest i am scared i am going to get hurt. I have big goals in the sport and i don't know if she is worth the risk of getting hurt. So do i sell her? Keep her and try and hack? Keep her and turn her away? Send her to a professional and bring her back when we have an arena? Put her on loan to a very good rider? Broodmare to an extremely calm stallion? She was good to handle in the summer time, but she is not coping well now she has to be in the stable overnight. I would much prefer to keep her out 24/7 but it's just not possible as it is so wet. . I really don't want to sell her as i love her very much and she really is a very sweet horse, and i've already put a lot of time and effort into her. I think she could be a nice horse with time but i don't know if it's worth it and i want to do the right thing for both of us.
Any advice at all would be so, so appreciated. Thankyou anyone who has taken the time to read this, sorry if it doesn't make much sense.
 
She hasn't seen the vet for this but i don't think this is a pain thing, i think it's a case of way too much energy. She see's the vet physio regularly and doesn't have any particular issues. She also has seen the dentist in probably June time. I am open to vet investigations if it's necessary. Saddle has also been professionally fitted. She was vetted in summer 2024, and i was sent the certificate by the racing yard and there wasn't anything 'exciting' on there
 
My horse with pyloric ulcers passed a 5 stage vetting. Another horse who I bought as a 2yo went berserk 6 months after being backed and is now diagnosed as a wobbler. He looks fine when not ridden. I wouldn't be too quick to rule out some veterinary issue even if it isn't obvious. Ulcers, kissing spines or neck issues are not normally spotted at ppe.
 
TheMule said:
‘Unpredictable’ and ‘explosive’ are not normal behaviours. You will need to investigate why that has started happening before you do anything else IMO
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100% this! Explosive behaviour is often pain. I’d have a full work up with the vets, the examination is actually not that expensive, if you go on to have X-rays scans etc then it does get more expensive.

Unless you know there absolutely is no physical issue you can’t really move forward in a positive way
 
Does she have company at yours? I would get a vet check - teeth, back and ulcers.
Then stalk facebook and find your nearest riding club ask about lessons and arenas. Can you get to local events and make some friends to ride with? Look for livery yards and ask if they would hire there arenas. Ask about local instructors are there any that have there own arena. Ask your vet, farrier, hay supplier, feed shop about arenas.

If she isnt the right horse for you, there is no shame in selling on but maybe a bit of support could help.
 
A very experienced ex jockey has become a friend and she has an off the track thoroughbred. Her gelding has explosive moments and he was found to have ulcers…and of course kissing spines are a possibility. My friend adds valerian to his feed before we ride out if she feels he is a bit opinionated. I do think you need to rule out pain then add magnesium to any feed. Being ridden on grass will always be a bit exciting but lots of folk have taken on ex racers and successfully made nice riding horses. Is there a riding club nearby you could join for moral support and companionship?
 
First of all, I'm sorry to hear you're having to go through this. My plan of attack would be:

1. As she was fine to start with after having time off, it could be a pain issue. I rode a gelding who I strongly suspect had kissing spine before - he had had quite a few people off by bucking explosively out of nowhere. I restarted him and got him hacking out alone, doing basic schooling and we had even just started popping over some small jumps. He was very behind the leg and felt 'lazy'. Then one day, ut of the blue I was riding him in the little cross country paddock at the yard he was at and we had only walked around... I put my leg on to ask for trot and he went mad and bucked explosively until I came off. I can sympathise with how frightening this is. It was a painful fall and it was as if he had been stung by a bee or had an electric shock. I never rode him again after that. The lady who owned him (typical hard riding school type dealer) didn't do the right thing and either sold him on or sent him back to Ireland as far as I am aware, poor boy. Bit off topic so purely from this experience I would get a lameness work up and x-rays for kissing spine as a precaution and if all clear potentially treat for ulcers. You can scope but the treatment plan won't necessarily change and it is quite invasive so I'd be inclined to ask Vet for a course or something anyway if x-rays etc are clear.

2. Following this, if all fine/she needs time off to recover following treatment I think I'd turn her away until the end of the winter if you say she was fine living out and much happier. If you can't do it at home, look for someone that has youngsters or retired horses out or potentially polo ponies where there is minimal coming in and going out so it's as stress-free as possible for her.

3. Reassess in spring again, depending on the outcome of the vet visit will depend on whether any rehab is needed/whether you might best getting her restarted at a yard somewhere, or whether you feel confident to restart yourself. If she is just sharp IME they tend to be much better on their feet on the grass/in an arena to pull any stunts than they are on the road. We used to purposefully leave the youngsters barefoot until they were riding away confidently to keep them thinking of other things i.e their feet! The track to the arena was a stony one through some woods so I used to get on on concrete, ambler down the track and 9 times out of 10 they would then settle in the arena better than me mounting in there. If it's a question of pain though, don't risk riding on hard standing until you know - but when she is restarted hacking out first will be great for her. It takes ex racehorses a long time to settle and picking up the contact on grass will mean 'go!' to her so you will need to ride in a very light contact to start with which I appreciate is difficult if she feels sharp. Some lungeing in loose side reins will help her to search for the contact and plenty of steady hacking ideally in company to start with would be great for her. Long reining would also be very beneficial to help her whilst she is developing new muscles and topline and also help with the confidence of hacking out alone.

Good luck!
 
I'm Dun said:
The horse has physical issues. Whether you can find and fix them is another thing. I'd do the basic checks with a vet now, inc scoping, and then find somewhere to turn her away for the winter. Id then start from scratch in spring, expecting to find an underlying physical issue along the way.
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Yep this is what I'd do too.
 
Omg I thought this was a thread I’d started a couple years ago. I was in exactly your position, rural wales, no arena and a fresh ex racer.
Get a super thorough vet check first and foremost. There might be underlying pain somewhere. No fault of your own!

Then give her a holiday over winter. Being turned away was the best thing for my girl. Defizzed her!

When spring comes, it’s probably worth having her checked over again before bringing into work. I sent my girl away for schooling by professionals when I brought her back to work. No harm in you doing that too!

I have excellent recommendations on schooling livery if you’re in mid wales. Good luck!
 
I have had horses, in the past, who are hot in winter but had no real physical issue other than lack of turnout, lack of exercise, cold, and the wind under their tails. When I was younger, it was fun.

When mum was ill, I had a competition type horse that was suddenly not fun. I sold up and bought a cob! I now have an additional ID X who is really a glorified cob, but more woosey. I love both of them, as they can be ridden or not ridden and it makes no difference. They are predictable. They are less reactive.

Your horse may be the perfect match but in pain, but I would like to volunteer the possibility that a hot ex TB is simply not what you now want?
 
Regarding the stable, are you able to make a pen outside the stable, to give her more room/views whilst she's in? If outside is all concrete, sink some electric posts into plant pots/concrete in tubs. You may find she's much less stressed and better to handle, then.
 
PeterNatt said:
You have been totally honest, and there is absolutely no point in you getting injured. I would sell her on to someone who has the confidence and ability to sort her out.
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Yes this! I had an ex racer for a while and he did get fresh over winter, he didn’t suit me at all for a number of reasons…but we did get him checked out as he was quite explosive at times. He had ulcers and an SI issue which was then medicated. Rehabbed him and sold on with full disclosure to a more suitable home, he’s living a very happy life with someone else now 💕 there is no shame in selling on with full disclosure
 
cobbycobgirl said:
Omg I thought this was a thread I’d started a couple years ago. I was in exactly your position, rural wales, no arena and a fresh ex racer.
Get a super thorough vet check first and foremost. There might be underlying pain somewhere. No fault of your own!

Then give her a holiday over winter. Being turned away was the best thing for my girl. Defizzed her!

When spring comes, it’s probably worth having her checked over again before bringing into work. I sent my girl away for schooling by professionals when I brought her back to work. No harm in you doing that too!

I have excellent recommendations on schooling livery if you’re in mid wales. Good luck!
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We are on the llyn Peninsula, but schooling livery recommendations would be great, thankyou!
 
Fransurrey said:
Regarding the stable, are you able to make a pen outside the stable, to give her more room/views whilst she's in? If outside is all concrete, sink some electric posts into plant pots/concrete in tubs. You may find she's much less stressed and better to handle, then.
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this is a great idea, thanyou
 
Tabitha148 said:
We are on the llyn Peninsula, but schooling livery recommendations would be great, thankyou!
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Ah you’re a bit far from where I’d recommend. They like for the owner to come once or twice a week to see progress. Ask on Facebook for recommendations in your area people are usually very honest.
I really was in the exact same boat as you so I hold out hope for you! Good luck lovely
 
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