Where did you come across your ex racers?

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QueenDee_

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Toying with the idea of getting an ex racer as a bit of a project with the eventual aim of eventing, but was wondering where people found their ex racers? I'm aware there are various charities/rehoming schemes but as i'm based in the West Mids many of them are too far to visit :o
 
I asked everyone I knew if they knew anyone with an ex-racer going begging. I ended up with two to look at and went with the second one I saw. He was a freebie and I've had him eight years :D
 
I work in racing so took mine home with me. Try your local trainers. There is also the Doncaster May Sales coming up in a few weeks. Minimum bid is 800gns I think but many get sold privately out of the ring for less as people would rather not take them home again.

Failing that we have got a lovely one uo for rehoming that has previously evented, raced the other day and is sound and fit for duty if you fancy visiting Scotland :D
 
Local trainers, and if you know anyone in racing ask if they know anything. I was quite lucky with mine, wasn't looking but mentioned to a friend that I would be and she knew the ideal horse for pocket money :)
 
Both mine were freebies from an owner/breeder that I worked for :D Ascot sales have a lot of cheap horses, many that go on to be retrained for eventing etc or as has been said try local trainers. http://www.sourceanexracehorse.co.uk/ is a good website to try, although you can get some going cheaper... depends if you want the horse straight out of training or for it to have had a bit of experience. :)
 
I was given one - and he was a star (won 5 points for us) and is still a star for pleasure rides / hunting.
Bought my son the worst horse at Ascot 3 years ago (min bid £400) covered in cuts and bruises, skin and bone - but 4 months later was placed in his first Hunter Trial, and is a lovely horse (when we can keep him sound - dreadful feet.....) Bought a stunning looking horse for £2.5K also at Ascot - terrible racehorse - but sold him on to a lovely hunting home. Ditto another I bought for £1.7K raced for a season and got £2K for. Then there was the one I bought for £1.2K, gave it a wind operation £850 - and broke it down in its second race (is now a very expensive companion for my mother's elderly TB)
Now I just want a happy hacker - harder to track down - the racehorse re-homing charities want too much money (though of course I realise why) though we are possibly experienced enough to take one straight out of racing without ned for rehabilitation - but not keen to take on 'nut cases' either. Am serioulsy looking for a nice ex-racer with bone 16.3HH, up to about 8 years, for hacking / possibly hunting with a steady pack - so if anyone knows of anything, then do PM me!
 
In a field, having been chilling out for 18 months post-injury :D He's owned by the lady who bought him over from Ireland still, so he has had the same 'mummy' for 11 odd years now. It's nice, what she doesn't know about him isn't worth knowing! He's only on loan/ owned- buying horses isn't something we can do :D

Best horse we have ever owned, utter utter star. Talented and soppy and generally charming to be about.
 
Mariposa said:
Ascot sales. Didn't make reserve so got her for £200 outside the ring. Next sales are in June....
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Good for you Mariposa - but that is quite shocking when you think that the entry fee for Ascot is £140, and unless they hacked her there - there was diesel on top......tell us what have you been doing with her since purchase? How old was she? Was she £200 well spent.......?
I am hoping to go in June too....Not sure I will be lucky enough to get such a bargain!
 
£1 from the owner, straight out of racing. Def worth talking to trainers that are local to you, or further afield if you don't mind travelling.
 
Hang about at the end of the sales and see which ones are not going home then make your offer, otherwise well i wont say anymore
 
Add final furlong on facebook, they rehome all kinds of thoroughbreds and some of them are just advertised for owners for publicity I think, so all over the country.
 
dressedkez said:
Good for you Mariposa - but that is quite shocking when you think that the entry fee for Ascot is £140, and unless they hacked her there - there was diesel on top......tell us what have you been doing with her since purchase? How old was she? Was she £200 well spent.......?
I am hoping to go in June too....Not sure I will be lucky enough to get such a bargain!
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I agree - it is shocking that well bred TBs sell for such a pitiful amount. She sold for £12k as a yearling. We didn't offer £200 either, we went to see the filly afterwards as we'd liked the look of her and they offered her at that price in cash, and told us they didn't even have a lorry booked to take her home so she had to go. Their choice, not ours.

She was a very well bred 3 yr old, and has gone on to be a polo pony and hack.

And I'm sure you would be lucky enough to get a TB at a similar price ( although maybe not in June, more likely September or October when prices seem to plummet), and it would be a lucky horse to find a home, I dread to think what happens to those who don't sell.
 
The scary thing is is that 12k is nothing in racing. I work rode a horse that cost 4.4million as a foal and did it win a race? Did it heck! He was supposed to be a Guinnes and Derby super horse on paper but on the track? Couldn't even win a Scottis Point To Point! He is now thoroughly enjoying life as a riding club happy hack!
 
I know - it's crazy isn't it? One of my polo ponies is by Mark of Esteem, he won the Guineas! I mean...its just bonkers.
 
Mine belonged to a local horsey friend who got him straight from the trainer ( he napped) I had always admired him and bought him when I got a chance I love him .
 
Mine is straight from the trainer via a friend who knows both of us well. Rubbish racehorse and not the greatest ptp horse! But owned by a vet so that had putter my mind to rest as i was worried about injuries/ailments etc
 
Got mine from an animal welfare charity - he was imported from Ireland along with a bunch of false passported horses, so they were seized. Bought him last November after a year and a half in a field waiting on the court date. Only ran 8 pt2pts, but he has a shiver so is tricky to shoe - reckon that's why he was sold! Turning out to be a fab eventing prospect with a decent farrier though..
 
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