ex-racehorses, direct from trainer or one of the loan schemes?

[Mitchy1nge]

apart from being spindly, sensitive and possibly sickly (compared to my sturdy native types) are there any other stereotypical pitfalls to be aware of?

(I don't know the breed at all, obviously )

A lot! When they're good they are very very good though
Can I recommend if you have Facebook to search for diamonds in the rough dressage? They have two thoroughbreds, both now working at high levels, both barefoot and they were bought directly
There's a bit on them here
horsology.co.uk/category/diamonds-in-the-rough-dressage/

oh my goodness that's amazing, not that we have any such ambitions but they look incredible and obviously those people know what they are doing!

the only Bad Thing is that I clicked on 'donate bits' thinking we have loads we don't use and was not expecting to see something so horrible

bumping in case anyone has an interesting story to tell or any words of advice in general

in general concerning The Thoroughbred or Rehabilitated Racehorse not in general in general

I ride a friends horses. He gets young horses off the track. Some have raced, others just trialled. He leads them off another horse till they learn some manners and calm down. They live out 24/7 all year unless it's very windy or heavy rain. He reckons the first year or two of this tends to result in some injuries due to high jinks and herd dynamics, but to stick with it and not be tempted to keep them in as they are happier, healthier and sounder kept out. His horses all seem very sane (ride out in both heavy traffic and open fields, alone and in a group). He takes no nonsense, no mollycoddling. Until I rode these lot I always rode native and cobs because TBs seemed so complicated. This lot are fab.

24/7 we can do

I thought they had to be kept in quite a lot for some reason, not used to it I suppose?

I ride regularly for a point-to-point yard and we often rehome horses.
(Not necessarily offering you one - just letting you know how ours are).

Ours are obviously jumpers, so a bit older than flat racers. They are all ridden every day in lots of up to 8, all are generally good in traffic and are ridden on the roads. Lots of different riders, from skinny 8 stoners up to much bigger riders - horses carry up to 12 stones in races, so well able to carry larger riders. We gallop every day, so do bear in mind that all (ex) racehorses will assume that as soon as you set foot on grass its all systems gallop! They are schooled over jumps every now and again, and just before race days - again, this is at a bit of a pace. None of ours go out alone, but I'm sure some would be okay doing that. Not all ours are shod as mostly we ride on fields and grass - they seem okay with this.
Ours live loose in big barns, probably around 20 in each barn and are turned out every day, so a bit more hardy than others which are not turned out.

When we rehome, usually because a horse is too old/slow/uninterested in racing, we never give them away, as experience has shown that 'free' horses are never looked after as well as bought ones, and we did have occasions when horses were given back because the new owner lost interest.

If you have any questions, do ask me.

I'm a huge TB fan. In my opinion buying/re-homing a TB is no different to any other horse in as much as it has to be the right horse for you and all TB's are very different depending on their breeding and their life experiences. I only have ex-flat racers, as no jump racing where I am. All my horses are straight out of their training yards, I keep their racing routine to start and gradually phase it out to suit our routine (which in fairness is still rather regimented).
If you go to a re-homing centre they will want to find each horse the right home so will match you carefully with a horse they believe you will get on well with based on your requirements and facilities. Moorecroft is a lovely place.
If you go direct to a trainer you want to know everything that you'd want to know about any other horse i.e. size, age, injuries, how the horse is to handle, how the horse is around other horses, what it's day to day routine is like, ask the work riders how the horse is to ride. Generally I find front runners are confident but strong, horses that run in the pack are usually easier rides but can be nervous if alone.
In general TB's have huge hearts (metaphorically as well as literally), they give 110%, also having lived in a professional environment where there's no time for messing about they tend to be well mannered and easy for the vet, box etc. However, they are VERY intelligent and if you give an inch they take a mile - you need to be fairly no-nonsense or things can escalate.
On a note of promoting the cause of ex-racehorses I own a little 15.2hh TB who was a great little race horse and won his owners plenty of prize money, now aged 16 he is the safest horse I know, he doesn't knick, bite, push, he stands still when he's told he goes when he's told - and he is the firm favourite of 10 children that come to ride each week in a hippotherapy programme!

that's interesting, thanks, I thought they were turned out in tiny groups

I am probably being a bit silly even considering them when I have no experience of the breed at all (although I know someone who bought one as her first horse, when she had barely had a handful of lessons, he was a total gentleman actually) well very little experience, I've ridden one quite old ex-racer who was lovely, such a polite horse! and one who had never raced but was rarely sound

my questions are probably a bit stupid but here goes:

are they really much more likely to go wrong than our hairier heavier horses, and is it likely to be much more expensive when they do?

is it ever possible to find one that isn't sharp but quiet and kind, who would adapt to a life of hacking and just unaffiliated jumping, XC etc

we have lots of nice places to gallop and I can take care of those requirements but my daughter wouldn't cope if it happened in an unplanned way, so I should probably rule the idea out (but as with all my ideas it is taking hold) although she hasn't hacked for a long time and hates it, she wants to school and jump at home and do little shows

it doesn't sound like a life for an ex-racer but some are really adaptable aren't they?

oh I x-posted with you dappleton

thank you, that is lovely to hear of the therapy TB! that's sort of why I am looking at the moment, not only because my horse is getting old and stiff but for my daughter who can be so unbearably anxious (not just on a horse) but as a fairly competent and capable rider she doesn't want a push-button pony but a safe project

if that is even possible

I have a gorgeous, sweet, kind and safe TB who never raced. She has cost a fortune through accidents, pulled muscles etc (requiring box rest, which isn't cheap!), changing shape at the drop of a hat if she got a bit cold, extra feed/rugs in winter, fly rugs in summer etc etc. I have also had natives and I would say a TB is:

• MUCH more expensive to keep;
• MUCH more accident prone (and when you do get a cut/injury, minor ones won't heal on their own like they would with a native, you need to call the vet asap to stop your bill spiraling out of control when it's got infected and needs daily IV injections etc!);
• Less argumentative and bolshy, more likely to accept that your idea is the best way forward.
• More sensitive, emotionally and to ride. Mine is a one person horse, and not very keen on other people. Has a strop if I go on holiday, will go off feed if feels has not had enough attention etc. Lost weight one year when I was away for a week, despite 4* care from yard, 4x feeds a day, friends popping in to care for her etc etc. She stressed it off and spent the days at the gate calling for me. Why? My DH was home (helping to look after her) and I wasn't (had gone to see sick parent), so there must be something wrong if I wasn't coming down.

Gd's new horse is a tb who has never raced or been in training. She is the sweetest horse I have met. She's intelligent and very trainable. Time will tell re delicateness, but she loves turnout and will live out in the summer.

hm that sounds the very definition of high maintenance! I am used to my own pretty undemanding, slightly aloof boys

50bales, oh yes I slightly blame you for this a bit and your lovely photo!

it took me a long time to pay off vet bills from a difficult abscess leading to bone infection, I couldn't cope with that on a regular basis

I am quaking a bit about the reputation for vet bills, but then our big hardy draft horse cost us 4.5k when she got cancer. Luck of the draw I reckon

Go on Mitchy, you know you want to

I do quite want to a bit

for one thing I like travelling fast

but there seems a higher than average potential for things to go wrong, although of course as you say (and I have seen) hugely costly injuries and illnesses occur in any breed, and my daughter, I don't know how well she could detach and view a trial period as a trial

I don't want to end up with 100s of horses, my bum hurts as it is

Some horses are more accident prone than others....! I have an ex racer. He came out of training last year. They had him in training for one season and despite costing them a fortune at the sales due to his breeding they soon realised that his heart wasn't in it.

I've taken him back to basics with his jumping as he tends to launch himself but he is now enjoying life and managed to live out 24/7 through the winter. He has done 3 dressage comps so far and not been worse than 4th and hacks out in company or by himself. He's been cubbing and cross country schooling and I would be doing more if I could (I am 6 months pregnant and finding it frustrating at times!!) He has also got a lovely lollopy canter and so far has not shown any racehorse tendencies of wanting to go fast!

Basically all horses have different attitudes and so you just need to try them and see what you think. Do you have any contacts with any racing yards as you do need their input as to whether they have anything suitable for your needs...

he sounds lovely!

no contacts no, except those people up the road who are at the other end of the industry and have yearlings and break them for racing

Where are you?

Ours are near York.

My first horse was an ex race mare , she did flat and hurdles and retired at 6 ,she was beautifully bred ( by Salvo) but generally useless. She was extremely high maintenance , we found that the only way to keep her remotely sane was to run a very strict regime .She was turned out every day ,but needed riding at least 6 days out of 7 . She was a beautiful hack ,very safe and good alone ,company was an issue if you were cantering as she got very competitive ( I was 14 when we got her) . She was rubbish in the school and just couldn't see the point in going round in circles so a lot of bucking ensued . She was also extremely accident prone and after retiring at 18 due to mental health issues( hers) she went on to 27 ,continuing to cost a fortune in vets bills . That said she was the love of my horse life and has been irreplaceable .

He is lovely. Apart from the occasional nap!! But apart from that is very chilled and a bit like a big dog. I was worried about taking him off competing but he has been fine so far and I am just annoyed that my breeches and jacket are getting too tight to decently compete!!

Whereabouts are you? I would suggest phoning some of the rehoming places and discuss with them what you would like.

Off to ride my boy now. After such a glowing reference about him he will probably be a tantruming toddler

I think you have to be a bit careful here, racehorses direct from the trainer are a completely different thing that ones that come from a rehab charity.

Direct from the trainer you get a horse that has raced, that is all. That means:

• the horse probably won't know about hacking other than walking in a string to the gallops
• it almost certainly won't know anything about schooling and working in an outline
• it probably won't know anything about jumping in the sense of teaching SJ (gridwork, lengthening/shortening canter, etc.)
• it may have other idiosyncracies, e.g. may never have been mounted from a mounting block (leg up, sometimes while horse is moving is more common). I've seen a lot of racers that are not turned out at all, although I am sure management practices vary
• it may be rather speedy cantering in company in open spaces!
• travelling may so far have been an occassion for great excitment

That means that you are getting a very challenging project and you need serious experience, facilities and back up to take it on.

Getting a racehorse from a rehab charity means that they will have done some of the rehab work themselves and will be able to assess your riding skills and give you a realistic opinion on whether they could match you with a horse - a much safer option.

The Diamonds in the Rough sisters post a lot on HHO. They have done an amazing work with both their boys but keep in mind that they have a very good idea for a dressage horse and that the older sister is a semi-professional rider who teaches riding and specialises in difficult horses. Her ex-racehorse is a very talented horse but he still puts it the most enormous rears I have ever seen in my life - this is not malicious gossip PrincessSparkle posts about this very often on HHO and you can see some impressive photos of his above ground antics. The second racehorse they have is also a spirited character and has needed some skillful riding to get him to where he is. For example, he needs to be hobbled to travel in a box, at a show he needs to be ridden in the warm up, put back in the box to relax, and back out again for a second warm up before the test. They are doing incredibly well with their horses, all credit to them, but my point is that just because they make it look easy it doesn't mean that it is easy!

If you are looking for a horse for your DD to move onto after natives/ponies I think you are going to have to be very very lucky to find the right one in an ex-racer. I'd go for something purpose bred that had a bit of pony in it, like a TB cross connemara.

I'm friend with the Diamonds in the Rough girls on FB,and they live not far away.She posted a dressage test that Fig did earlier in the week,where he did the most enormous spook and leap into the air.The judge had awarded them 0 points and written 'horror' on the sheet for that movement.

If I've got this right OP you want a first competition horse for your DD who is not a very experienced or confident rider?

To be honest in such a case you want a been-there-done-that competition horse with a nice temperament and a tolerance for more novicey competitors (I don't mean your DD is a novice rider but she is a novice competitor which is a different thing). This doesn't mean the horse has to be a boring, push-button ride, indeed if your DD wants to compete there is no such thing. Even a simple transition in a Prelim dressage test takes a lot of riding, the rider cannot afford to be a passenger, so your DD will learn, improve and have fun. However, if she is to have a chance to learn the horse needs to teach her.

An ex-racer is a serious project for an experienced rider. The horse not only has to be taught everything, it has to be re-taught a lot of thing in many cases. It requires skill, experience and a feel for what one is trying to achieve.

Get her a nice TB cross some kind of native type horse (although don't dismiss anything just because of breed) that has experience at lower level, all round competitions and is ready to take to take a new rider around a 3 foot SJ/XC and do a nice Prelim/Novice test. If hacking is not a consideration for you this may help a lot as you could get a much better price on a horse that won't hack. Otherwise I think you need to think of an older horse to keep the budget reasonable.

Are you used to big horses, we had a tb that I bought at auction as didn't want to leave ger there, am a short arse and found just getting rugs on her was a struggle!
Friends daughter bought one last summer as a project , very experienced hunting family, he is sometimes lovely and sometimes a plank. Friend has threatened to shoot him on many occasions,esp when he rears up and falls on parked cars when loading.
On the other and lovely to look at, generally well mannered and can have fantastic paces.