To buy or not to buy

[Slippersandacuppa]

Help please! I’ve been looking at retired racehorses for ages but it’s been a bit of a dream (maybe obsession) rather than anything that could happen.

A friend of mine has some gypsy cobs she bought from a man who takes them in from travellers. They’re beautiful and I’ve been helping her out with them. He has just been given an ex racehorse, 7 years old, ran three times (and was rubbish) then sold to a lady, she loved her but went through a nasty divorce and the mare is now stuck in a stable with no food (whatever hay this man gives her). She’s lost all her condition in 5 months but has a lovely look about her. She’s obviously cheap as chips as they don’t know what to do with her. Would I be mad to go for her? I’ve priced everything up (have to double check that she can live with the cobs - there’s a stable there too) but need to be sure I’m not crazy. If nothing else, I want to get her out of there. I’d have her vetted too.

Thank you!

How experienced are you? This is a seven year old with little experience as a riding horse, which has been abused for the last 5 months and which, presumably, you haven't tried (and won't be able to try?). Can you cope with all of this?

You also don't say anything about what you want to do with the horse and why you think this one will fit the bill. If you want a steady hack, or an allround novice competition horse, or a specialist competition horse then you are better off buying that, than trying to turn a neglected ex-race horse into it. If you want a rehab money pit, I think she fits the bill. Sorry to be blunt but a lot of people buy horses with their heart and regret over years and years afterwards.

The concept of buying/owning your own in general doesn't sound mad if you have the time and money to put into your own horse, but as a serial acquirer of unsuitable horses, I would honestly say you end up spending a lot more (in time, money and blood, sweat and tears) on a 'rescue'/cheap as chips type than you would on just paying out for a suitable 'ready to go' one in the first place, in particular if you want to enjoy 'normal' things like competing, lessons or going out and about hacking. Obviously I do get a certain amount of satisfaction from helping an animal out of a very uncertain future into a useful working life or I wouldn't keep doing it , but then again I would probably also have enjoyed relaxing and fun riding on a sound, sensible and safe animal a lot too!

TBs in general probably have more of a bad rep than they deserve and can make absolutely fabulous leisure type horses, but lots of them are not really suitable for a first horse/novice ride (sorry you don't say your level of experience), due to being quite hot/sensitive by nature, plus harder to keep than a cob or native type (need lots of feed+rugging/stabling in winter) and more liable to confirmational/congenital injuries and MSK issues (although my current 2 are cobby types and both have been quite badly broken at various points so there's no guarantees either way). Plus with one that has raced or been in training you have the additional risk that they may have been in hard and fast work from a very young age leading to increased risk of future injury/breakdown (number of times raced is a guide but you don't know much they were doing in training) and you don't know how well they were retrained on leaving training unless you have a full history (I would take whatever this guy says about her with a pinch of salt even if he seems trustworthy).

Doesn't mean this mare is an absolute no but I would precede with real caution. She may seem like a dream to handle/ride now but bear in mind she will be very weak if kept in a poor condition for months. Once you get her home, fed up and feeling well/settled she may be a very different animal, both mine who I acquired as very green and weedy/uncared for youngsters went through nightmare 'teenager' phases some time after I had them, I was on the verge of giving up with them both at various points as I was frankly completed out of my depth and needed a lot of (expensive!) professional help to sort them out.... honestly if you have the money why not go to a reputable dealer or ask around your local network and look for a proven animal already doing the job you want it for?

Thank you both. Yes, I agree with everything you’ve said. And it’s also a time thing, I run around like a loon as it is. And yet...

I grew up riding ex racehorses in Asia. They were generally neurotic but I loved it. We rode them as soon as they came off the track. I’m also helping a friend back her ponies now so not inexperienced. This is most definitely a case of heartstrings though. I can see that but I can’t get her out of my head! I’ve seen a video of her before she was sold and she’s lovely. I know that might not be the real her. Oh dear. I’ll let you know what happens. Husband isn’t convinced and someone else is interested so maybe fate will decide for me...

Thank you very much :)

Sounds like you know what you are doing and you know what you might be getting into.

The other side of what I said above is that you have to fall in love with the horse you buy. It's not worth the time, money and effort otherwise. So maybe she was meant for you.

What are the facilities like where you will keep her? All year round turn out helps a lot to calm them down and a school with lights makes a big difference to how often you get to ride in the winter. Given her condition she may benefit from a few months chilled out in a field during the day getting fatter, so that would be good timing with the awful winter months.

If I was you I would in a heartbeat. But then I strongly believe horses find us and it feels like a strange coincidence that you've been looking and she's just appeared amongst other horses nothing like her and needs your help.

I am one of the lucky few novices/first horse owners with an ex racer who it worked out for. Not that I got him from the track but he'd always competed or hunted and is now the happiest happy hacker with lessons thrown in you could ever meet.

I am another ex racer fan. I have one and he has turned into a great hacking/riding club type. I think if yiu have the time and money to put into her being retrained then it would be a potentially nice future for her.

I’ve had a fair collection of ex racers long before ROR were beating their drum and have in the past been given money to take them. I’m a big fan but be under no illusions that a starved horse is going to cost a fortune to feed will probably have picked up some awful habits around food which racehorses have anyway as they are fed 2/3 big meals rather than smaller meals with ad-lib hay,

I’d also get the horses racing name and look at: distance they ran over, and any form notes which might suggest they’d be difficult. Even slow horses can take a real hold. It’ll also tell you what trainers they were at and some fire them up a bit less than others. There are some yards I’d not touch a horse with a barge pole from and there are others which will come that will have done proper hacking and work in a school as part of their training.

If you Pm me the horses name I’ll be able to find out for you.

How much riding have you done recently would be my other question? I’m a decent rider and do get paid to ride horses for people locally however at 21/22 I would hop on literally anything and backed a lot of horses, I’d not sit on a breaker now for love nor money.

I’d also be honest with yourself about the potential expense and really sit down and check you can afford it.

Also how much are they asking for her. You can get lovely ex racers for £800 at ascot sales or for free from owners that want the to go to a nice home. I’d be wary of anyone trying to make a large sum off this horse

Thank you for the last messages - they all made me really think about things. I flip flopped all over the place and then got a message that she’d been found a home. They were asking £500 for her. I’m sad but actually relieved in a way after having a real think.
As you’ve pointed out, there are more reputable places and the world isn’t short of ex racers so there’s no hurry. Lastqueenofscotland if I could pm you a potential name in the future, that would be amazing.

Thank you all again. I really do appreciate the reality checks/ support x

Any time Slippers! Glad she’s found a nice home

It wasn't meant to be. Glad she found a good home.

Can I suggest looking at the horses here - fab organisation who do full loans of ex racers. I gifted mine to them ( you make a sizeable donation as an owner)when my daughter outgrew him and they found him a lovely lady and he is in a hacking home ( rehomer doesn’t pay for horse) they match horse and loaner really carefully