Would you call me Mad????

I prefer...

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At 14 my parents said i could have my first horse, i found so many that fitted what i wanted, but the one i came home with was not at all what i wanted! He wasn't schooled, and if he didn't have papers you would have thought he was 4/5....I also didn't having people telling me i was wrong/right doing this and had to make the decision almost on my own (help from mum, and another lady)....if this is what Kiri wants and has her heart set on then whats the problem? She is a lovely little rider, and as Ginn has said, will have all the support she needs!

good luck hun xxx
 
Phew! Glad you stepped in there Ginn. Poor Kiri getting jumped on like that! I was going to say her intentions were admirable, but maybe see out her junior years on ponies as you can be an adult for most of your life. And her dedication and competence to me were never in doubt. Actually, I was just going to put 'no contest, horse' for my vote
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Go Kiri - get the horse or pony you deserve and have lots of fun with it. Well done for keeping your cool with those of little faith/knowledge of you. It's easy to judge, but they could have been a tad more gentle on you.

Finally, being mad as a hatter isn't a domain restricted purely to ex-racers. We have had some equally deranged ponies to sort out. Guess what? You struggle with those, too.
 
I think it all depends really, I had a ex racer at 18 and he was an awful handful and never again but I had one a few years earlier and h e was a lovely horse. Just make sure you dont take on more than you can handle.
 
I don't see anyone who "jumped on" this girl. We are all just pointing out things which any average 14yo may not see! I agree with you, I think most of us just think a 14yo should be out having fun on ponies being a junior, she has the rest of her life ahead of her to buy ex-racers. Nobody's been nasty to her, we're just pointing out the obvious and exactly what everyone is thinking. Sorry, but IMO a 14yo shouldn't be buying an ex-racer...
 
I had an ex-racer at 14. He was a chaser though and owned by friends of mine. He was great - took a year of schooling but evented quite successfully for 6 years or so. I did still have my other ponies to compete though. By the time I was 15, I was the only one in my PC ride still riding a pony.

Kiri could be point to pointing at 16 afterall. None of us can tel from a few pics or her on a welshie if she is capable or not, but don't judge by age - lots of 14 year olds were riding out race horses in my day.
 
I had an ex-racer on loan for a few months when I was 15 - she had a recurring tendon injury so she couldn't race anymore. I loved her to bits and we had a great time together but she had an excellent temperament and her owner/trainer lived in the next village and gave us lessons every week.
If you do want an exracer I would recommend trying to an older gelding - I've seen a few rehomed round here and they seem to be more stable than the young ones
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Also at 14 you have to think that in a year you'll be working for your GCES and won't have as much time for exercising etc.
 
hey, i think some people have been a little harsh...just my own opinion but there is what i think not reading other users posts.

I have just bought a youngster, i am 18 and my last horse was 3/4tb who hadnt done much..but she was realtivly sane after a few months of getting to know her..i brought her on myself but it took an awfully long time and she wasnt as "raw" as an ex racer would be. And it was bloomin hard work despite a lot of lessons.

I am now in the same boat with my new youngster hes an ISH so not full tb and hes coming up 6 hes a good boy and i think he is very genuine and honest i have had a few blips in the past couple of weeks which have not been pleasant experiences. I know that its going to take a lot of work with him to turn him into the horse i want him to be ..i personally wouldnt have gone and bought an ex racehorse.

At 14, or the fact you are moving off a pony i honestly think it i a good idea-yes you may well be apable and end up wth a sane and sensible lovely horse but its more likely to go the other way.
If i was you i would find something more experienced or less racehorsey and enjoy riding and gain experience from bringing that on/riding that and then you can always buy and exracehorse in the future.
 
I think Kiri should keep putting the money away she gets for Bdays and Christmases. She has posted before about her little roan pony and I think she is a fabulous little rider, the kind we bite peoples hands off at riding schools to use as a schooling rider, or she could produce small ponies. Her sister often posts about her youngsters progress and I think she will have a good role model/mentor in her.
Perhaps the post was worded in such a way and also the new lounge is sometimes too full of opinions but IMO save and save, at the very least at least you will be able to afford lessons on other peoples ponies.
Its hard to sit back and wait for a horse, but Ive had the most fun and experience from other peoples, its amazing that once you start riding one more offers will flood in. Can you use some of the money to join the local PC as a non riding member? Get in there!
Im 22 and last year was given my horse out of the blue, I wish you all the luck and will power to prove to everyone that you deserve a horse.
 
You are not mad
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Save for a horse. With your sisters help I'm sure you will do great, regardless of what type of horse you get.I don't think age should be an issue, maturity and sensibility surely first?

I have had Phantom since he was a yearling, bought him for my daughter. She has done much work with him for 2 years (apart from breaking/backing him) and they are now an excellent team. She is 12.

Good luck with your savings!
 
I really wouldnt be put off by buying an ex racer, the gamble is no more than buying any other horse off the open market, and if you approach a reputable trainer and ask for a quiet but slow racer, i am sure they will endeavour to find you one, i had my first one at 15, and have had several after that too! i have also worked in the racing industry and some are just plain easy to ride, it is just a question of taking your time to find a nice one, if you find a nice one with a good jump then they can make excellent eventers, and what is more satisfying than producing it yourself? You sound like you have the right attitude and help, which is very important, you go for it, i went and picked peppers in a greenhouse to save up for my first pony at 13, and sacrificed various things, so know exactly where your coming from! good luck, if your confident you will succeed
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I really wouldnt be put off by buying an ex racer, the gamble is no more than buying any other horse off the open market, and if you approach a reputable trainer and ask for a quiet but slow racer, i am sure they will endeavour to find you one, i had my first one at 15, and have had several after that too! i have also worked in the racing industry and some are just plain easy to ride, it is just a question of taking your time to find a nice one, if you find a nice one with a good jump then they can make excellent eventers, and what is more satisfying than producing it yourself? You sound like you have the right attitude and help, which is very important, you go for it, i went and picked peppers in a greenhouse to save up for my first pony at 13, and sacrificed various things, so know exactly where your coming from! good luck, if your confident you will succeed
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Well said!!

I have an ex racer standing in my paddock now, and I would trust him to take even the most novice rider out, and bring them home safely.
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With the right owner, an ex-racehorse can be a great choice, and it seems to me that in this case, everything has been carefully thought through.

The best of luck to you Kiri.
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Having read the thread in its entirety, I would say you sound very sensible, and it seems that you have a lot of support. Just because a horse is an ex-racehorse, it doesn't mean it will auomatically be a head case - yes, some of them are very, very difficult characters and are difficult to get to grips with having been bred to race and spent their lives in a racing yard, but equally some are not suited mentally or physically to racing and make fab allround horses. I had my first ex racer on loan when I was 15, physically he was a wreck but I learnt so much from him, we hunter trialled for the first time together and had great fun. The second I bought straight off the track at 18 (me not him!), he was amazing, I had so much fun. He wasn't quirky, he was a straightforward sweet horse who really thrived on a one-to-one basis, he was a great hunter and introduced me to cross country and riding club. His trainer was very nice and recommended him having listened to what I wanted and watched me ride. I really regret selling him; we were buying our first house and I didnt think Id be able to afford him. He was followed by another easy(ish) going mare, who was a hurdler, then a nightmare 17.2 chaser. Even the chaser wasn't that bad but he was too much for me and ended up knocking my confidence a bit.

I hope you find a nice sensible ex-racer - just don't be seduced by the first one you see - there are thousands at the end of their careers and there is bound to be the perfect one for you out there somewhere.
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