My dilemma - Ex race-horse or not

jeda_horse · 03-24-2005, 12:25 PM

Ok, well I saw an ad for a horse that I really like the sound of and I rang the owner and hope to go see him on Monday.

Here is a bit about him, He is a 6 yr old Bay Thoroughbred gelding 16 hands. Apparently he is fairly quite and such but he is almost straight off the track which is my dilemma. Do I get a horse that is better quality with less training or do I get a horse of less quality with more training. I like everything about him except that he has only been trained to race.

So what do you guys think???

What is your opinion on ex-racehorses???
Are they hard to re-train??? I would want him for pony club and competition
Will he be too much work for me???
I'm sure I could handle him behavioural wise but will it be just too much for me to be training him while still training myself???

Like I said I'm going to see him on Monday so I'll obviously know alot more then and hopefully I'll get some pictures, I just wanted some opinions and some background on horses straight off the track.

Thanks

cassidy · 03-24-2005, 12:27 PM

i think the best way to make a decision on this one would be to go AN TAKE A LOOK AT HIM RIDE HIM AN SEE WHAT YOU THINK

THAT WAY YOU BE SURE TO KNOW WETHER THE EXTRA WORK WILL BE WORTH IT

IF YOU GO AN SEE HIM AN ARE STILL UNSURE ASK ABOUT HAVING HIM ON A TRIAL PERIOD

jeda_horse · 03-24-2005, 12:33 PM

Ok, Thanks Cassidy.

I was just wondering what kind of work load I'll be up against, I hoped to compete this year but that is obviously not going to happen anymore.

Would he be ok at pony club straight away????

Circle C · 03-24-2005, 12:36 PM

I'm all about racehorses. I like the training challenge and I like to help them out in giving them a new career.

Just make sure you are going to have the time and patience for a race horse. They are wonderful horses.

devilishjumper · 03-24-2005, 12:41 PM

My opinion on racehorses hmmm... well i couldn't live without them, i absolutely love them almost every horse at my barn was a race horse at some point and that inclued the pushbutton lesson horses. The retraining can be really easy or hard it depends on the horse. Don't go and expect a horse that is going to take off, half the ones we get right off the track won't move. They aren't too hard to retrain and are always worth it IMO. Go try both horses.

jeda_horse · 03-24-2005, 12:53 PM

Ok, Another question Are they more prone to leg injuries and arthritis because of the strain on there legs from such a young age????

Thanks circle c and devilish jumper.

Expressa · 03-24-2005, 01:08 PM

I also really like OTT horses (Dash was OTT when I got him) but it does take time and patience. How easy or hard or long or short to train them depends on the horse or your willingness to work with them. In my opinion, OTT horses are just as much of a time investment as money. So far most I've owned are use to all work and take to lots of love and attention and are usually (not always) willing once they've learned to trust you.

Some problems I encountered w/ Dash when we first got him were... they are trained to push out against the bit when they run. The further their head/neck is streched out, the longer the stride. At first, when loping, Dash thought pulling back mean't speed up instead of slow down. He did not know the first thing about neck reining, and I could kick all day and he didn't go unless I smooched b/c he just didn't understand what kicking mean't.

The main thing is work with the horse as a team so that you don't end up working against them.

Good luck if you decide to get this horse!

jeda_horse · 03-24-2005, 01:15 PM

OK, thanks expressa. That was very helpful

Anyone else got opinions???

SammyDoodle · 03-24-2005, 01:20 PM

I am all in favour of ex racehorses being retrained - they are great horses and can do well in all disciplines.

The only thing I would say is for you to be very honest with yourself in terms of your level of riding and training ability.

It will not be a easy task. It will be very rewarding but it will need real dedication and you must have the abilty, the time and the patience to work with this horse.

jeda_horse · 03-24-2005, 01:29 PM

In all honesty, I know I couldnt retrain him on my own. But my riding instructor is also a proffesional trainer of performance horses so Id be getting help from him

From what they've told me Im pretty sure I could handle the horse. I know that in the end I'll end up with a better horse this way but It will obviously take alot more time.

Thanks for your advice anyway sammydoodle.

03-24-2005, 12:25 PM	#1
jeda_horse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 5,448 Images: 393 Blog Entries: 28	My dilemma - Ex race-horse or not Ok, well I saw an ad for a horse that I really like the sound of and I rang the owner and hope to go see him on Monday. Here is a bit about him, He is a 6 yr old Bay Thoroughbred gelding 16 hands. Apparently he is fairly quite and such but he is almost straight off the track which is my dilemma. Do I get a horse that is better quality with less training or do I get a horse of less quality with more training. I like everything about him except that he has only been trained to race. So what do you guys think??? What is your opinion on ex-racehorses??? Are they hard to re-train??? I would want him for pony club and competition Will he be too much work for me??? I'm sure I could handle him behavioural wise but will it be just too much for me to be training him while still training myself??? Like I said I'm going to see him on Monday so I'll obviously know alot more then and hopefully I'll get some pictures, I just wanted some opinions and some background on horses straight off the track. Thanks __________________ ~ T H O R O U G H B R E D S ~ County Renegade Fyrefly Throw your heart over the fence and you horse will go after it... R.I.P Rusty

03-24-2005, 12:27 PM	#2
cassidy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: england - its sunny sometimes honest! Posts: 21,572 Images: 820	i think the best way to make a decision on this one would be to go AN TAKE A LOOK AT HIM RIDE HIM AN SEE WHAT YOU THINK THAT WAY YOU BE SURE TO KNOW WETHER THE EXTRA WORK WILL BE WORTH IT IF YOU GO AN SEE HIM AN ARE STILL UNSURE ASK ABOUT HAVING HIM ON A TRIAL PERIOD __________________ May your life be like toilet paper - Long and useful A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli http://www.freewebs.com/linz88055/myprofile.htm

03-24-2005, 12:33 PM	#3
jeda_horse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 5,448 Images: 393 Blog Entries: 28	Ok, Thanks Cassidy. I was just wondering what kind of work load I'll be up against, I hoped to compete this year but that is obviously not going to happen anymore. Would he be ok at pony club straight away???? __________________ ~ T H O R O U G H B R E D S ~ County Renegade Fyrefly Throw your heart over the fence and you horse will go after it... R.I.P Rusty

03-24-2005, 12:36 PM	#4
Circle C Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Meadville, Pennsylvania Posts: 2,989 Images: 59	I'm all about racehorses. I like the training challenge and I like to help them out in giving them a new career. Just make sure you are going to have the time and patience for a race horse. They are wonderful horses. __________________ "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." ....and yes, I'm pro horse slaughter.

03-24-2005, 12:41 PM	#5
devilishjumper Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pennslyvania USA Posts: 2,130 Images: 101	My opinion on racehorses hmmm... well i couldn't live without them, i absolutely love them almost every horse at my barn was a race horse at some point and that inclued the pushbutton lesson horses. The retraining can be really easy or hard it depends on the horse. Don't go and expect a horse that is going to take off, half the ones we get right off the track won't move. They aren't too hard to retrain and are always worth it IMO. Go try both horses. __________________ ~Kim~

03-24-2005, 12:53 PM	#6
jeda_horse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 5,448 Images: 393 Blog Entries: 28	Ok, Another question Are they more prone to leg injuries and arthritis because of the strain on there legs from such a young age???? Thanks circle c and devilish jumper. __________________ ~ T H O R O U G H B R E D S ~ County Renegade Fyrefly Throw your heart over the fence and you horse will go after it... R.I.P Rusty

03-24-2005, 01:08 PM	#7
Expressa Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tx Posts: 2,363 Images: 151	I also really like OTT horses (Dash was OTT when I got him) but it does take time and patience. How easy or hard or long or short to train them depends on the horse or your willingness to work with them. In my opinion, OTT horses are just as much of a time investment as money. So far most I've owned are use to all work and take to lots of love and attention and are usually (not always) willing once they've learned to trust you. Some problems I encountered w/ Dash when we first got him were... they are trained to push out against the bit when they run. The further their head/neck is streched out, the longer the stride. At first, when loping, Dash thought pulling back mean't speed up instead of slow down. He did not know the first thing about neck reining, and I could kick all day and he didn't go unless I smooched b/c he just didn't understand what kicking mean't. The main thing is work with the horse as a team so that you don't end up working against them. Good luck if you decide to get this horse! __________________ "Horses can't talk but they can speak if you listen." Expressa (5/9/87-7/28/06) Dash (4/6/93-9/29/04) "The love of horses knows not it's own depth till the hour of separation."

03-24-2005, 01:15 PM	#8
jeda_horse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 5,448 Images: 393 Blog Entries: 28	OK, thanks expressa. That was very helpful Anyone else got opinions??? __________________ ~ T H O R O U G H B R E D S ~ County Renegade Fyrefly Throw your heart over the fence and you horse will go after it... R.I.P Rusty

03-24-2005, 01:20 PM	#9
SammyDoodle Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,282 Images: 67 Blog Entries: 1	I am all in favour of ex racehorses being retrained - they are great horses and can do well in all disciplines. The only thing I would say is for you to be very honest with yourself in terms of your level of riding and training ability. It will not be a easy task. It will be very rewarding but it will need real dedication and you must have the abilty, the time and the patience to work with this horse.

03-24-2005, 01:29 PM	#10
jeda_horse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 5,448 Images: 393 Blog Entries: 28	In all honesty, I know I couldnt retrain him on my own. But my riding instructor is also a proffesional trainer of performance horses so Id be getting help from him From what they've told me Im pretty sure I could handle the horse. I know that in the end I'll end up with a better horse this way but It will obviously take alot more time. Thanks for your advice anyway sammydoodle. __________________ ~ T H O R O U G H B R E D S ~ County Renegade Fyrefly Throw your heart over the fence and you horse will go after it... R.I.P Rusty

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