Would you loan an ex racehorse?

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Walker2796

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Hello, I have the chance of an ex racehorse to ride with no costs to me etc, but I am weary of ex racehorses as when I was 18 I had one on loan, I had him for 2 years and he was brill but one day he decided to take off with me straight towards a barb wire fence and a ditch luckily I managed to turn him but I lost my confidence, i've ridden since then and gained my confidence but don't know weather to ride this horse or not, are all ex racehorses the same as they are trained to race etc?
 
Yes, we have one and he is a star, after having three months off he just plodded round the feild next to me and the appy who was acting like an coiled spring ready to bounce!!!!
 
Yes! Many ex-racers are absolute bombproof. I've got a 5yo ex racer and I'm struggling to imagine a single situation that would actually scare him!
 
Thank you everyone, that's put my mind at rest a little, think i'll go and see it and see what it's like etc. He is 15.1hh tb I am 5ft 5in and 11.5 stone would you say I was too big for him or not?
 
If you're unsure you can always try riding him with someone leading you first.

I had an ex-racer on loan for 4 years and yes, sometimes he was silly but what horse isn't. He taught me so much and you will soon learn how to deal with any quirks.

Every horse is different; some ex-racers are plods and are more like cobs than an elite athletes, whereas some are always ready to go. The only way you'll know about this one is to ride it yourself.

Good luck and have fun.
 
Sometimes you have to ride them a little bit differently, so with some horses you might get away with pulling on the reins and tensing up resulting in crouching forwards like a jockey (with obvious results), although that would not be ideal anyway... With an ex racer you need to be able to keep your cool and control of your body so you can sit up, relaxed legs, half halts, etc. They just might be more sensitive to you inadvertently leaning forward and clinging on.

Remember though that they're all ex for a reason! Some of them are lovely lazy things who like a sedate lifestyle and they are often bombproof which is a plus!
 
Can't hurt to go and have a look, how long has he been ex? If he's been ridden as a riding club horse for years he'll probably have forgotten some of the racing buttons, if he's fresh out as someone above said you'll just need to remember shortening reins and tipping forward means GO FASTER to him!

Be honest with the owner and if when she rides him you think he looks too much for you, no harm in walking away at that stage.
 
Rocky the donkey in the pic is part beach donkey. He's the only horse I've ever needed to wear spurs with. Apart from cows nothing bothers him, breaks are great, he listens and willing. Never yet come across a bad ex racer.
 
Yes! My sister has 2 on loan and although they are chalk and cheese she enjoys them ridiculous amounts.
 
You won't know till yoiu try! Any horse can take off, it's a fact of horsey life.

My only concern would be that you may be a bit heavy for him. At 4 y.o. his bones will still be maturing and if he is a flat racer he won't necessarily be a strong build.
 
Thank you for all of your replies, he is 17 years old so he has not raced for a few years and all of his muscles will be fully grown now.
 
I have one on loan. He is fantastic, lovely personality and lovely to ride also. His owner has been incredibly supportive, I rode him for about a month before taking him home so got to know him pretty well. As someone who lacks confidence at the best of times, i really didn't go looking for an ex racer, but he has been fantastic with me & my nerves, and has the patience of a saint!
 
If you are 11.5 stone, your riding weight would be at least 12.5 stone. That would be too heavy for most TBs - unless they had an unusual amount of bone.
 
I'd love to! I love re schooling as I love to see the improvement. I look after racehorses and the majority of them have better manners than my 5 year old loan horse. It does purely depend on the individual horse and with any horse ex racehorse or not they can always bolt even if its a happy hacker. No harm in going to try the horse :)
 
oldjumper said:
If you are 11.5 stone, your riding weight would be at least 12.5 stone. That would be too heavy for most TBs - unless they had an unusual amount of bone.
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I agree, for a 15.1 tb which at that height was most likely to be a flat racer and more fine I would say that at your weight plus tack it would be too heavy. I have a fine 16.3 ex racer, I'm about 5ft 8, 9 and a half stone and tbh I wouldn't want any more than a stone more on her.

Answering your initial question, I would never disregard and ex racer, my ex racer is the best horse I've ever had the pleasure of riding. Pretty much unflappable, extremely intelligent with tonnes of personality.
 
If he's 17, unless he had an unusually long career as a racehorse then the fact he raced isn't very relevant. He is a tb though and an older one and I too would be careful that you're not too heavy for him, although it does matter more if you're intending to do lots of competing etc or just go for quiet hacks ?
 
Yes! I had mine on loan for 9 months before buying her and here's no way I would go back now. She's only just turned 7 and is absolutely bombproof and has bags of potential :)
 
oldjumper said:
If you are 11.5 stone, your riding weight would be at least 12.5 stone. That would be too heavy for most TBs - unless they had an unusual amount of bone.
Click to expand...

I would say it is very dependent on the horse.From the above quote and the recent stats I am too heavy for mine!!1

I have a 16.1 ex racer fine boned and a 15.2 connx tb. I am 11st 2 and 5ft5. Neither of my horses has ever had an issue with my weight plus tack and neither have had any health issues as a result. Both are regularly maintained by an osteopath.
My advice would be to go and see how you feel :D
 
2 at my yard 1 mine. Both sensible sorts. Mine likes the odd yeeha but only when appropriate. The other is very quiet indeed. Don't write them off!
 
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