Would you take this horse?

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Seton

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I have been offered a 7 year old ex racer for free. Just come off the track with a lower leg joint problem, could be fetlock, not sure. I assumed happened during her last race in April.

Horse is not in my care. Vet due out to assess.

Stay away now or wait for prognosis. The horse would just be for hacking. Thanks
 
It depends on your circumstances. Even if the horse comes right (after being lame for three months?), you've got months of care costs (and possibly vet fees) before you will even be hacking. If you have to pay livery, it's far from free ...

If it really was injured in April and they don't know what's wrong with it, I would be walking away. Either it has gone untreated and ignored and has failed to heal in three months, or it's been on/off niggly, or they can't work out what the problem is. I wouldn't personally take on anything in those circumstances if you paid me!
 
Sounds like a walking vets bill. If you have the money to spare and just want to be charitable then its worth a shot. It depends on your set up though. At the moment, I've a wonky semi-lame exracer I got for free, but I can throw it in my field so costs are low. if I was paying livery or high rental for a space then I wouldn't have touched her. If she doesnt come sound its not the end of the world. But if I was depending on her to do a job then it would be easier to just go to a charity and get a tougher, sound horse.

My last exracer was a walking money pit. Even as a hacker all my exracers need shoes. They need more feeding in winter, they seem to get more abcesses, they need more rugs and forage. The benefit of the horse being free is soon over ridden by the extra costs that can be involved in running a tb. On top of that you don't know if the horse is even suitable as a hacker. one of mine loved hacking but was very very sharp, he would be pottering happily down the round and then out of nowhere do 180 degree spin and drop a shoulder. I got used to it, but he definitely wouldn't be classed as a safe hacker.

On the other hand I got a free ex-trotter from the pound who is tough as nails, barefoot, lives on thin air and is a bombproof hack. There are plenty of other options that might suit your needs better if you want to rehome a rescue horse.
 
There are plenty of untalented but sound ex racers looking for homes for under 1K.
Why consider a lame one, who will presumably need rest & rehab, and at the end of it might still be lame or even if it’s not might not be a suitable ride for you.
 
You’re replies are pretty much was I was expecting.

I’m certainly not in a position to provide ongoing Vet care, I’m coming back into horses from a 10 year gap and just want a horse to love and go hacking. Looks like I may have to walk away. Need to use my head and not my heart for this one
 
ihatework said:
There are plenty of untalented but sound ex racers looking for homes for under 1K.
Why consider a lame one, who will presumably need rest & rehab, and at the end of it might still be lame or even if it’s not might not be a suitable ride for you.
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This is now becoming my line of thinking. I may get on it in three months time and it’ll be a nightmare
 
Seton said:
You’re replies are pretty much was I was expecting.

I’m certainly not in a position to provide ongoing Vet care, I’m coming back into horses from a 10 year gap and just want a horse to love and go hacking. Looks like I may have to walk away. Need to use my head and not my heart for this one
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If you're not in a position to provide vet care, and are returning to riding after ten years, why are you considering a lame ex-racer?
 
Seton said:
You’re replies are pretty much was I was expecting.

I’m certainly not in a position to provide ongoing Vet care, I’m coming back into horses from a 10 year gap and just want a horse to love and go hacking. Looks like I may have to walk away. Need to use my head and not my heart for this one
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Not in your circumstances, no.
 
KittenInTheTree said:
Conversely, why are they being offered said horse? Is this the new option for lame horses - palm them off on others as gifts?
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Yep, and to those who don't know what they're in for.

I had a gelding up for sale recently, advertised as not a novice ride, can be spooky and strong, and the amount of people who enquired about him who were just returning to riding or who wanted something 'bombproof to keep forever' was mind-boggling. I wish people would be realistic - it would save each party a lot of time.
 
"Never look a gift horse in the mouth" has been said before; but in this instance, I'd say press the stop button and have consideration for what this horse might cost you in terms of vets bills for the future would be my advice.

Good horses rarely come buck-shee; and whilst it may seem worth a punt, you may be taking on a walking vets bill TBH; when TB's/ex-racers need veterinary treatment, you're talking about a LOT of money usually.......

You don't say anything about your riding ability or experience OP, but TBH an ex-racer TB wouldn't be the best choice you could ever make for a happy hacker - unless you are a very experienced rider who's used to this sort of ride and something which may well take hold as soon as you get on a bit of open ground, which unless you're used to it might just be a bit disconcerting!

Sorry...... p!ssing on your parade OP, but honestly, if its a happy hacker you're after, I'd walk away from this one.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
"Never look a gift horse in the mouth" has been said before; but in this instance, I'd say press the stop button and have consideration for what this horse might cost you in terms of vets bills for the future would be my advice.

Good horses rarely come buck-shee; and whilst it may seem worth a punt, you may be taking on a walking vets bill TBH; when TB's/ex-racers need veterinary treatment, you're talking about a LOT of money usually.......

You don't say anything about your riding ability or experience OP, but TBH an ex-racer TB wouldn't be the best choice you could ever make for a happy hacker - unless you are a very experienced rider who's used to this sort of ride and something which may well take hold as soon as you get on a bit of open ground, which unless you're used to it might just be a bit disconcerting!

Sorry...... p!ssing on your parade OP, but honestly, if its a happy hacker you're after, I'd walk away from this one.
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Definitely not p!ssing on my parade, thank you for your informed response.
 
Hi there.
Personally, I wouldn't if it was already lame. As others have said, who knows what it will be like for riding when it isn't lame. Have they said why its still lame three months on?
If you really do want an ex racer, ring some of the local yards to see what they have coming into retirement.
As someone else said a typical ex racer isn't normally ideal for a happy hacker although mine actually is and is very chilled out so they are out there - just may take a while to find. I would have paid top money for this horse due to her being 200% bombproof and has perfect manners. So don't right them off just yet.
Good luck x
 
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