Your opinions wanted!!!!!! And also a little rant

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sallyg84

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Obviously there is a current craze for rehabilitating race horses with new charities popping up every day.
It is great to see these horses being given a second chance at life after most have already paid their dues and some!
But I find it quite alarming that it is seen as 'fashionable' to have one.
I have worked with TB for donkeys years now and have produced many for new exciting careers but I am seeing an increased amount of these horses falling into the wrong hands - we had a mini training event at a friends yard for TB's the other day and there were TB's all over the place, sweating, rearing, bolting and hapless people sat aboard all laughing and joking with eachother at these 'crazy TB's'
The idea is not to just enjoy a good laugh and try to look good on top of a 'spirited racehorse' but to actually give them another chance in life to be happy loved horses!
Does anyone agree or am I just iver-protective of this beautiful breed that is so often misunderstood!
It goes without saying the training was cut short for a large number of the riders that day and I def think we have made some enemies!!!!
 
I've not seenw hat you've seen BUT I've known so many people who've been riding for not very long and get themselves one of these as a first horse. They usually end up sat out in a field cos they can't ride them, and they're too scared to feed them anything so they just get thinner.

Some people do absolutely fabulous jobs with them, but there are also a lot of people who do the above.
 
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there were TB's all over the place, sweating, rearing, bolting and hapless people sat aboard all laughing and joking with eachother at these 'crazy TB's'

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Laughing and joking - so presumably happy owners, and not at all phased by their 'crazy TB's'. Just the way it should be.

Smashin.
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I think wherever you look you'll find riders with badly matched horses, it's not restricted to TB's IMO.
I've only come across a handful of rehabilitated race horses with very good owners and successful in their chosen discipline. I've yet to see what you've described but maybe because that's I don't get out much!
 
I totally agree that what is inherent in a TB is to be enjoyed and celebrated but it was the complete disregard for actually teaching them anything.
I have an ex pointer myself and yes he can do the most ridiculous things but he has things to learn and I don't just go ah well he's a TB lets forget it you are meant to be crazy.
Coming from racing yards it is often the environment that makes them so hot, not their temperaments.
I just hate to see these horses in the wrong hands not being given a fair chance!
 
Funnily enough was chatting to a friend about this the other day as there do seem to be a lot more ex-racers out there now adays. I'm not sure if its the 'I want a horse but don't have a lot of money so am going to get something cheap off the track' or what but it does seem that a lot of people underestimate just how much work is needed to turn these horses into happy riding club horses. Yes they are a hot-blooded breed but there are plenty out there that have fantastic owners who have done a wonderful job and don't use the excuse that they are just a TB so are obviously going to be crazy.

Bit of a ramble buy you get my point.
 
Sweating, rearing, bolting horses are not happy and relaxed horses no matter what their breeding...

I think it's a really positive thing that TBs now have the option of life after racing, but it's like all "fashion" things - how many people on here have blamed warmbloods for ruining their confidence?

I think that it's just so hard to match a horse and rider together - I was told yesterday, yet again, that I should sell my horse & get something more "suitable" even though I think me & horsey are well matched - and lots of people have ambitions beyond their ability.

I have to say that "hot" horses tend to try SO hard for their riders when they understand what they're asked that it's so unfair they get this "crazy" rep.
 
I totally agree, they are the most kind loyal horses when you make an effort to understand them, sadly most of them have already had a life of being misunderstood and if you bother to make the effort they will reward you a hundred times over!
 
I totally agree. There seems to be so many ex racehorses about at the moment and it does seem to me that this is because they get sold off so cheap that people who don't know what they're doing and can't afford a schoolmaster end up buying them. I was asked a little while ago to help a lady who was having trouble picking up her horse's feet. She had bought an ex racehorse for £500 and had it turned out in a pen in her back garden. She hadn't ridden for about 20 years! it makes me soooo mad! Equally, there are those who do know what they're doing and it's lovely for these horses to have a life after racing.
 
im not sure i agree.. I know alot more people have ex-racers.. it think it is because there are more options for training them available now..

I have an ex-racer and I do not have him for fashion.. i have him because he is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

If people want to give racers a second chance at a life then let them..s eems to be alot of slaging off still going in circles of the equine world.. IRRITATING!

lou x
 
I'm not slagging off people who are genuinely caring for and loving their horses, I know that with most things it is a minority but there are people who see it as a cheap option and go into it without knowing the full facts, I am a true supporter of these horses and the people that give them a genuine second chance, it what they deserve and having the classes available now is a great incentive for more people to give these horses home.
Not slagging people off but just wanted to ask if this was more of an isolated case that I witnessed than the norm, which is obviously what.
As always with horses or any other animal there are people who take on things they don't understand or cannot handle.
But there is plenty of the good out there too!
 
to be honest.. ima bit sensitive at the moment and i felt as tho you were having a dig at anyone with a racer...

Ted means the world to me.. and i definatly dont have him for fashion.

Lou (I NEED PROZAC)
 
I have Bill my own who was an ex pointer and he is the best horse in the world(no offence meant - we all feel the same about our own babies).
I truly love TB's and I know there are plenty out there such as yourself that truly love and understand their horses - im sure he has quirks that you love and understand just like any other.
But with all the hype and new opportunities it just worries me that some people will take on something they cant handle.
How long have you had Ted? Was he flat or NH?
 
Or maybe, these people had put loads of effort into retraining their loony horses, got them working nicely at home, then took them away from home and surrounded by other TBs, and found the horses had all reverted to their old ways and all they could do was laugh?

I'm sure we've all been to a show and watched a show class where one or two of the horses broncs, bolts or ditches their rider regardless of type or breed. I'm all for re-training ex-racehorses but you don't know how your horse is going to react away from home until you take it, and at least the riders found it funny and didn't get off and cry or something!!
 
Of course but it was not that kind of laughing it seemed to me like they didnt much care as was only a crazy ex racehorse. There were plenty of people there who's horses did get wound up but calmed them down or at least attempted to. Ive opened up a can of worms it seems - im only talking of a small minority of people, not trying to bad mouth all TB owners i promise!!!!!!!
 
I had Ted on Oct 15th 2006. He was a Pointer who did a couple of NH races...
H was broken in irland and did a tendon on the track over there after ebing ran on a heat.

He has not been fired at all.. sould in the Ascot sales in 1998 to a syndacate who ahd him for many years. he was trained by Dick Baimbridge and was one of his best horses.. a very popular mens open horse who was ridden by Julian Pritchard..

Yours?

Lou x
 
Bill was a pointer that belonged to my friend, don't know a great deal about his history but her parents were moving to France and rather than him just live in a field he came to me and is now a pampered pet more than anything else ha ha!
I originally thought of eventing him but he seems to have quite a knack for dressage, which is a challenge as he is 17.3hh and as long as a bus!
I hope to find out more about him and am researching his history through his bloodlines hopefully!
He came to me quite poor with no muscle tone and quite skinny - he is NOT a good doer - so for the first year just been feeding him up and letting him chill out. But the summer grass has given him quite a belly and he is eating a saracens prep mix which is really building some muscle and shape!
 
i agree that its great to give these ex-racers a 2nd chance. as a teenager i had an ex races horse and had great fun with him. he was very placid to ride on his own but did resort back to his racing days when cantering with other horses but once he was in front of them he didnt bother. he brought my riding & my bottle on alot further than a schoolmaster would of because i adapted to each situation, most of the time i couldnt find his on switch lol.
i have noticed a trend in people over horsing them selves & there abilities then wondering why it all goes wrong but this isnt just with t/b's its with all breeds.
 
Mine was in terrible condition too.Might have been his age as well poor boy only weighted 350 hes now 530 .They are not always the cheap option either my vets bills in two years would have bought me a school master ha little did I know.I am guilty of the first horse comment but have been riding for close to 40 years so dont consider myself inexperienced plus I had him on loan and knew all his tricks before I bought him.They have natures to die for and are very affectionate.Mine was a ex sprinter so I have to be careful how I go up a gear if not the adrenaline kicks in,hes only ever bolted once and came back once asked just took my breath away with initail speed.I have to push him on now(last time I rode in canter was months ago poor boy has been broken for a while).I found out all the history and race history really interesting like looking at your own family tree.I think you all have the odd hairy moment with them especially if they are young mine was only 4 1/2 so he had a lot of growing up to do anyway.In all honesty mine can be a bit boring at times when he is in regular work he settles down.Just looking forward to him being rideable again not long by the looks of things .
 
sally what is your horses blood lines..
Ted is underweight at themoment but has not had any summer grass as has been on box rest with a pulled tendon (on the other leg!)
Turned him out this morning for the first time.. dreading going up the yard later if im honest.



LOU X
 
I have an ex-racer and came across him by chance as I was really looking for a quiet cob that could live out all year. A lady wanted to re-home him becaure he had bolted with her (over fed)

I probably wasn't in hindsight experienced enough to take him on, I found out later he had no formal re-schooling. However he is the sweetest, kindest gent I have ever met. 100000% in any trafic, leads out all the younger horses on hacks and has never tried to race another horse. I have even taken him on the gallops at Newmarket.

He is flashy though and can play up and my riding has improved hugely for having him, but had he not been quite so sweet I would have ended up in a right muddle.


X
 
SallyG84 it infuriates me too - I grew up on a racing yard - NH and a few Pointers, we also broke in a produced horses for the Dunlops, Richard Rowe and few for Guy Harwood - and we were very closely connected with the Moorcroft centre too who were amongst the 1st to delve into this tricky rehab process..
At the end of the day there are some with such badly buggered tendons/cracky in the head and dangerous to themselves and others the kindest and safest thing to do for the horse is to have it PTS
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On the other hand I have seen alot of caperable riders take tricky horses from the track on to hunt, hack, PC even, dressage and a couple eventing (I was parked next to Georgina Browne (Paul Nichols' missus) at Cheltenham she was absolutely lovely and we discussed how many sucess stories there are too) It is tricky however to monitor what happens to everysingle horse that leaves racing..

I agree it has become a fashion "fad" to have a wild / difficult TB (not all of them are - weve had some real donks too!) partially I think its in the riders head and they "create" problems if they are amateur enough not to be able to seek the right help or quite simply deal with a horse they CHOSE to take on. darn right irrsponsible and unfair on a wonderful piece of horseflesh....
 
I am afraid that there are just to many people who have horses that they are too scared to ride. It does not just apply to thoroughreds.

There are of course some very capable and fearless riders out there who will get a lot out of these horses.

The thoroughbred is bred to race on grass and to have immense courage and in my mind are not in general suitable for beginners or novices.
 
I had an ex pointer and whilst "some" can turn out fantastic, unless you have a lot of experience, time and money, I wouldnt touch one with a bargepole again. On the ground he was great, on his back he was a nightmare and I am relatively sticky rider and dont get nervous. He is now a happy hacker and thats all he will ever be without killing someone.

I think if you get a nice one great, but not something I would revisit at all!!
 
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At the end of the day there are some with such badly buggered tendons/cracky in the head and dangerous to themselves and others the kindest and safest thing to do for the horse is to have it PTS
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I am so glad you said this! Slightly off topic, but my first horse was an ex-racer TB mare, totally unsuitable but I didn't know better and my riding school 'advised' me to buy her off them. She was absolutely nuts and had to be PTS following four years of trying every training and veterinary/management avenue. I eventually spoke to a wonderful lady at the racehorse rehab centre, told her all about the mare and she said that ocassionally they get the odd one that is just too far gone to re-train. The first one she had she made the mistake of re-homing and it got itself in a serious accident badly injuring its rider. Since then she prefers to decide to PTS the extreme cases and strongly advised me to do the same with my mare (please don't anyone go off the deep end - the mare was seriously dangerous!). So I suppose I think ex-racers are a tricky choice that should be approached with great caution and not as a fad!
 
Hi Nailed you have sent your post to me Cellie you might want to repost if you want a reply
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Good luck for tonight having been through tendon injury I know exactly how you will be feeling.
Have you tried top spec balancer my boy is in fantastic condition Several people have commented on his overall look and he is not being ridden at moment.Mare kicked him in his spavin which had just healed.
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The fact is there's far too much indiscriminate breeding out there, with way too many horses with little or no ability expected to perform on the track, frequently shoved from one yard to another in the hope that a change of scene will enhance their performance (it rarely does) and when that fails end up God knows where. I assume that geldings are relatively easy to rehome, but mares are frequently bred from (which only makes an already bad situation worse). I'm not sure I think it "fashionable" to have an ex-racer, but there is currently a lot of publicity on the subject .. quite right too and more is needed. I do agree that they are not for the inexperienced owner, and need plenty of time and patience, particularly if they are straight out of training. All horses and ponies can have a funny five minutes in a new environment. Overall I think it very encouraging that their riders felt confident and safe enough with them to laugh and enjoy their show.
 
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