Would you take on a tb?

elliegirl12

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 March 2007
Messages
1,415
Location
hampshire
Visit site
Me and mum have been offered a 4yo, thoroughbred was raced once, 15.2hh but she cannot cope with it because of her wind pipe? I have heard about racers with this problem but i havent a clue about it to be honest!! does it affect them in what i would like to say "a normal life"?

We would want to do xc, sj etc with her and speaking to the breeder we got our girls off she would cope with it, she also said her sister had gave her two her (she races the tbs) - she just needs to rehome her.

Now looking at pictures she looks nothing special, but does look sweet, apparently hasnt done very much still green (to be exspected)

We had a throughbred before and she ended up with kissing spines. very sensitive to anything.

What would you do? steer clear or give it a shot?

will probally go see her next week sometime as we know the lady from my horses now, so she isnt going to pressure into anything.
dad isnt really to happy about us looking at another thoroughbred though to be honest.

To put it straight, we bought our two horses we own now of the breeder that is offering us the horse.

Advice would be sooo grateful :) x

And i really hope this post makes sense to everyone :o
 
Yup, my horse has this very problem. Doesn't effect anything we do, he does make a bit of a noise but nothing too bad, the fitter he is the better it gets. He should be okay for the level XC that we want to do (needs work on his jumping so haven't tried with over the jumps yet). I took him out for a long fast hack last summer (several hours) with lots of canters and a gallop with no problems.

It does seem to be help him being fitter but to be honest I have no hugely grand plans so it doesn't matter.
 
Had two TB's. Said never again after the first one, and never ever again after the second!! They are brilliant horses and I love riding them but both nearly bankrupted me with vets bills - they seem completely incapable of looking after themselves :eek:

After your last TB having kissing spines, do you want to knowingly take on another potential series of vets bills and specialist mangement?
 
In the pictures gallery there is a thread about ex racehorses. Some of them are winning showing at county level, top eventers, high levels of dressage. I've ridden a grade A showjumper, that trained for racing. I'll find the link.
 
i did. if you're competent enough to reschool it then definately take it on. they're hard work however and you only get in what you put out. any immaturity needs to be nipped in the bud.
 
I always said "Never!" My hairy cob was safe and dependable and that's what I needed. Besides, TBs are too tall... five years down the line I have a 16.2 ex P2P boy AND I've just taken on loaning a 17.2 WB. Glutton for punishment? Me? lol

Seriously, it's been a HUGE learning curve and retrospectively, I'm so glad I DID get my TB as it's opened my eyes to so many new things like "feeding the poor doer who's allergic to sugar" and "dealing with overgrown, cracked, flat TB feet"

I wouldn't recommend a TB as a first horse but providing you are the type of person who are not afraid to ask for advice and act upon it, you have decent levels of horse-owning competency AND most importantly, are a confident rider/handler, then I don't see why anyone shouldn't give them a whirl. I've found my TB gelding to be far more affectionate than my cob mare ever was and I feel that we have a lovely bond now.
 
I was looking for a big fat hairy cob to have pleasure rides etc on and ended up with a 16.1tb gelding who I love to bits. He was my first horse (had been riding school horses & ponies for years but never owned my own) and it has been a massive learning curve! Having a horse that big that hides behind me when he gets worried! Spooks constently wont buck you off but has temper cow kicks when being told to do something when he doesnt want to do it(when riding)! Always hurting himself (colic surgery couple of yrs back) sarcoids etc i could go on! But i wouldnt have anything else! I love him to bits and wouldnt swap him for the world! It took a while for me to get used to him as I had never experinced anything like him before but he is amazing! Schooled upto elementary dressage ex eventer been there and done it! We are concerntrating on the dressage scene this yr as I dont do jumping and hes doing fab! Wow didnt mean to write that much lol!

Lizx
 
I said never again to a TB after my first one, but am now on my fourth!!! I've even had a exracer with wind problems and that had been fired on the front legs, but never had any issues with those things, just everything else. All of them have tested my sanity and wallet but wouldnt have it any other way, just have so much fun with them.
 
"I hope she won't mind me saying, but PrincessSparkle's is particularly stunning "


awww thank you, im all proud mother bursting with pride now!!!

my boy was hobdayed when racing, doesnt affect his dressage in the slightest in fact id feel perfectly happy SJ and eventing him too, you wouldnt know he had ever had a wind issue.

i dont find him any more high maintenance than my other horses have been (iv had irish and wamplods previously), he needs a fly rug in summer as is allergic to bites, but on the other hand, works barefoot and is an ok doer, no special dietary requirements and tough as old boots.
he can be sharp to hack (but anyone relatively experienced would handle it) but in the school your granny or a kid could ride him, and he is a doddle to clip and handle etc.
 
As said before, if you are experienced and competent enough to put in the work required, go for it! I've ridden several TBs and owned 2 and I love them! The good ones are genuine, honest, hard working and very trainable and mine have been very lovable too. My current TB has very good feet. My previous TB was also easy to maintain his weight, he was a scoop of cool mix twice a day sort of boy!
 
We are rather excited to go and have a look at her :), however it all depends on what is happening with kyra, she may be getting turned away and put in foal, to make space for new girlie seen as she is showing no improvement :( on friday as said to breeder we will ring her up with the decision with kyra as vet is out on friday two decide what is going to happen, and will let her know soo buy all your post me and mum have been rather persuaded all over again!!, we remember magic our ex tb, she was a ex racer bred three foals then brought back into work, and we brought her on, started bucking reared over backwards with mum and then got diagnosed with ks.

I will sure let you all know two, and will send piccies of proposed new girly am not putting up the pictures i have been sent as they are terrible and do her no justice what soever

Thanks guys

x
 
Yes! Just because it's a tb doesn't mean it will break/be difficult! Although it is a baby so only take it if you have time and experience. If you don't want her I'll have her- sounds just my cup of tea!
 
as most people have said they can be expensive and broken but they are fab horses ! :) :) My tb spent the first year with me mostly broken but with a few changes in management eg ride him hard everyday :) he has settled and touch wood we have one nearly 18 months without a vet visit :) He will test riders as he is naturally a backwards thinking ,lazy little wotsit but when he has got his single brain cell in gear he can produce some really good work. My new 3 year old is very different and seems to be naturally more confident and more forward so very excited about this one :) so I guess the answer is agaisnt my better judgement is YES!! :)
 
Top