should i take on a four year old ex racining tb?

[leafbird]

i have two children,and doing a degree in equine science.I have 15 year old mare who i love dearly,but have been offered the most beautiful four year old boy i have ever seen,i really want to take him on,just wondering what other horsey/mums think i should do,he needs alot of work.
I have been riding for 25 years and have worked with green horses many times before, really want to take him on just want people to point out pros and cons thanks xx

I have known some lovely ex racers, but I would never take one on myself, they are a huge risk. There was an ex-racer who was pts at my yard recently, he was old, but had problems his whole life due to somersaulting while racing.
However I also watched an ex racer class at the county show recently and was very impressed, they can become fabulous riding horses. It is just the chances of something going wrong both in re-schooling and health wise, are so much higher than other horses. It is a lovely thing to do for the horse though.
Good luck to you if you do decide to go for it.

Beautiful! A friend of mine is working with a stunning black called 'chicken soup!' IMO they are like greyhounds. Bred in great quantities to provide a few who make the grade. Wagon loads go to abbatoirs before they have even had a life. If you have the time and skills necessary, why not give one a home?

I bought a 4yo ex racehouse at a local bloodsales. Such a risk I still shudder thinking about it but he turned out to be a fanastic buy. I owned him for 9 years and they were mostly trouble free. You need time, confidence and patient necessary to take on any young horse. I wouldn't be put off by the fact he's an ex racer.

Sounds like the only thing from aubergine's list that might be an issue for you is time, given DCs and studies. If you can find the time though I'd go for it, can you get a trial period?

Each and every horse is an individual - some are more easy-going than others. I took a 4 year old racehorse to Pony Club camp when I was 15 years old. He was particularly sweet natured, I'd imagine not all are!

Time and patience are needed for all new family arrivals - children, dogs or horses. :)

Agree with the others re time and patience. I had an ex racehorse tb mare, sadly for her I didn't get to her until she was 18 and had been through home after home. We had a wonderful 10 years together, well the first 5 were wonderful, the last were quite troubled due to injury (fractured her pedal bone) but she had a good end to her life. We qualified for Hickstead dressage comps, were very successful at local level shows and did a spot of showjumping (not much as her style was not that pleasant to sit to over a fence!) but she was wonderful and left me with many happy memories.

Would I buy another now I have 2 children, a husband, and an almost full time job, nope probably not as I couldn't commit the level of time required.

Thank you every one.My main worry was the amount of time i could give him.2 children, a husband and doing a degree, a dog , a cat, plus my mare.Hes on the same yard as my mare at the moment so i have been spending time with him will keep you all posted as to what i do, thanks again xx

I did - beautiful 4yr mare, sweet natured. But despite much TLC, she was forever going lame. Also, she could only go in straight lines and it was seriously hard work to get her to do anything else at all. Wouldn't do it again.