Might be gettin an ex-race horse, need tips on re training h

[NewForest4Eva]

How do you re train a horse for dressage?

[ilovejayjay]

Are you sure you are experienced enough for re-training a race horse?

[Kisabelle]

I love ex-racers and have ridden some fantastic ones in the past. Is the one you are thinking of fresh out of training or has he/she been retrained as a riding horse? I have never seen you ride but I would be very wary about getting one straight out of training as it maybe too much for you. One that an experianced trainer has done most of the work on already and has been a 'normal' riding horse for a while should be fine though and would be fun to bring on to specialize in dressage. You would probably still need help from an instructor (we all do ) ).

I used to do some dressage and showing with an ex-racer that was so fantastic that he was also used by the Riding for the Disabled (RDA). He'd races all over the world (born in USA, raced there and Hong Kong, France and England) then was re-trained as an eventer but after a fall on a XC course was re-trained again to specialize in pure dressage. In his old age he wasn't supple enough to carry on with the higher level dressage so he was used to teach lower level stuff to nervous/disabled riders and he loved it. :D

 

[All_in_your_rows]

If you are only 13 i really wouldnt go for a difficult horse... specially not a fresh of the track one

I got my Chessy TBx mare (who handt exsaclty been well trained) when i was 14, granted i hadnt been riding long (a year and a bit) but even with the help of my mum we cound get her to calm down, and we made a bit of progress, and then it all went pete tong! She got so het up we retired her and a friend who needed a field companion brought her off us for £50. I honestly think she wanst ever going to be a riding horse, but i think that with an ower slightly more knowlegdeable than a 14 year old girl, who because she had had a pony and looked after her all by herself thought she knew everything. She taught me alot, but i was possibly the least suitable owner for her. Thank god she had my mum aswell!

[Fern#1]

I Might Be Going To See An Ex-race Horse, Too Buy, But I've Been told you Can Get Problems with there shoulders legs etc. when there older as they race at a young age, Can this be a problem if i did buy one? as i'd want this horse for most of my life and wouldn't want anything to happen to him! I just don't want to make the wrong decision, Please Help?:):cool:

[doinghailge]

newforest4eva, i think you may be feeling a bit deflated after all the advice given but talking from experience at 14 i begged and pleaded my dad to buy me a horse, i thought i new it all and if he agreed i would have gone straight for a thoroughbred, because i thought they were the best.  i am now 38 and have just bought a 6 year old thoroughbred mare, she has never raced, but she is so hot to handle and its only becuase my personality is very strong that i am able to keep hold of her and bring her back to listening to me when she goes potty. 

i see now that if at 14 i had persuaded my dad to get me a horse i would have found myself in big trouble and would have perhaps been put off for life.

your enthusiasm for the ex-racehorse is nice, but you really should listen to all above.  do you know you can get yourself a great welsh section d, or a lovely coloured cob or a trusty irish draught.   then (provided the horse is one you could handle with your experience,) you will have great fun and you will stay in the horsey world for along time and then when you feel able later on get yourself a thoroughbred it you are still keen on one then.

lots of luck whatever you decide, and we are all here to lend a helping hand.

teresa, smokie joe and indian .:)xxxxxx

[bexwarren85]

We have had a few ex-racehorses in the yard. All very different! We have one at the mo, 6yr old who was breed for racing and started his training and was found to be too laid back. He is sooo calm and bombproof on the roads that he is suitable for a novice (not that anyones gonna believe us when we put it in the advert). But they are not all like this. Depends on how long it's been out of racing, if it's had other training, etc. When these horses first come off the tracks they often only have two speeds. A fast walk and gallop. You need to be prepared for something that wont stand still to mount, will want to go as soon as your on its back, etc.

[erhutton]

hi

sounds like everyone has the same kind of opinion, but we're just tryin to look out for u so dont be down heartened :), gettin a horse/pony is exciting and fun but make sure u do it right..............take some who knows about horses (and knows ur ability) with u, dont fall in love with the first one...there's lots to see :). often people tend to by ex racers because they are cheap (and they like to brag that they have an ex race horse.........)

But having said that i know that at 13 i would have done what i wanted regardless of what people said to me:w00t:, so if u are goin to go ahead with this make sure u know EXACTLY why it is an ex racer(its not always that they are too slow believe me) and that u have plenty of help and support from very experienced people.

its not something i would advise u to do but then i dont know u and u dont know me but remember:

* it is difficult to admit when u have made a mistake

*it is the hardest thing in the world to have to sell ur horse for what ever reason

Personally i had a tradgedy with my ex racer...................going forward was not the problem, rearing and falling over on top of u was, alot of time and effort and a huge amount of money was used tryin to sort him out. In the end he was alot better but i had to admit he needed someone with more time and money than me:crying:, as far a i know he ended up show jumping :). (this is a very long story made short)

take care

Emz x

[hmf]

You're getting a rough ride in here aren't you!

It doesn't matter how old you are, just get yourself some good books and videos etc. The horse will tell you how you're doing anyway. You can get some seriously hot horses that aren't ex-racers, I.E a badly trained cob! It all depends on how you train them. Yes there are easier horses, but if you're prepared to see it through with the horse you purchase then go for it.

[Fighter Pilot]

:)  Hi, ive got 2 ex-racers, 1 I have been reschooling for the last 18months and 1 being let-down in the field at the moment waiting to be brought back into work in September.  The problem with ex-racers is your never really sure what your gonna get (although are we with any horse!)  If you buy one straight from the track you will have to let it down, give it a long rest to relax from racing and then go right back to basics, groundwork, lunging, long-lining, and then start right from the begining with schooling.  You may even have to teach it simple things like being tied up, standing still and so on as they are looked after differently in a lot of cases.  You also need a lot of patience and a lot of help e.g. vet, farrier, RI and they are rather more high maintenance thatn your average horse can be, but having said all that they are wonderful and loving animals that do truly deserve another chance.

If you are going to go ahead, and I would seriously think about it first, as you do need loads of experience and patience!!

They do tend to have more health issues, but again its something that could happen to any horse, although they do seem to be more accident prone - Pilots a nightmare:w00t:  Good luck with anything you decide, youll always get good advise off here.

[Fighter Pilot]

O and depending on what sort of size your looking for flat racers tend to be more highly strung than jump racers, they are backed and started at 18mths and raced at 2 whereas jump racers are started and raced later and tend to be calmer, but bigger!  my boys are 16.2 and 16.3.

[Pallywotsit]

As much as I love TB's i would never get another i got one as my first own horse she was a star but she had so many issues with trust and riding and health she was put down last year after owning her for 2.5 years and only having 6 months riding and fittening out of her and £7000 in vet bills its not worth it she was good but at times was always a chance she would bolt at any minute especially in company she done it a number of times and i had concussion and so many bruises she would bunny hop and joy everywhere she was vever really settled until she was retired and everything was a constant battle you will never enjoy a quiet hack or ever relax but you'll have good stomach muscles.

If thats the type of horse your after and you will probably get one anyway if you want one be very very carefull get it vetted and bloodtested and go see it a few times and spend as long as you can with it speak to as many people you can get its racing name and check all the details related to it to find out if its had any breaks in racing if so due to injurys? speak to the breeders or trainers :) and be prepared for the one step forwards two back and offen dont for one instance think it will be easy your talking a good couple of years to be re training this animal

[T-D]

get your vet and trainers advice on the horse - many ex race horses have gone on to win sj and eventing, but some can have very bad back and leg problems so be careful

good luck

[dizzy blonde]

as you all no i work with tb mares and fillies in and just out of training and have a great respect for the breed and i think every one will agree with me when i say a tb in the right hands can be wonderful a great athlete and friend with time and care correct handling and training BUT in the wrong hands can be a very dangerous unpredictable animal likely to hurt either itself or owner and can make the animal so confused to the point of no return or making it even more difficult to right the wrongs. they are so cheap people think its a great idea but end up costing them more in long run in vets bills, trainers for help, food, rugs

[UKCowboy]

I've only read this thread quickly, did anyone mention 'Feed' ?

Most racehorses are fed 'High Energy' food hence most racehorses deemed as crazy and need to be weaned off accordingly'

Retraining racehorses is by no means an easy task. Saying that I may be given one in the New year so I'll let you know