Cross Breeds

adopiting retired race horse?

which one sounds the best for me? Im 11, i've been riding for 3 1/2 years. I ride english, I own one pony already. He's a gray appaloosa POA. im an experienced rider, and trained my pony all by myself. I tought him not to buck, not to run out of the arena, and changed him from western to english. Jet Note This is an 11-year-old chestnut gelding who is living on a TRF farm in South Carolina. He is listed as a companion animal and is 15.2 hands or under. Proud Jason This 9-year-old bay gelding resides in South Carolina and is listed as a companion animal. He's a big one at 17 hands and up. This 8-year-old mare is very green, but is believed to be sound for all disciplines. She has an enlarged throatlatch area, which has been examined by a vet and the prognosis is that it will not bother her except in higher level collected frames. She is a sweet mare and loves attention. She is between 15.3 and 16.3 hands and is located in Virginia. ---------------------------- the third ones name is Ocean Patriot. continued-- Agassi Agassi is a 5-year-old gelding who came to the TRF from the Virgin Islands. He was retired with a bowed tendon, but is very sound now. He has been evaluated to be a pleasure horse and may do light showing. He is 15.2 hands or under. Bill We don't know his racing name. He's just "Bill," to us. This 9-year-old has enlarged knees from previous injuries, but is sound on them. He is not recommended for jumping, but is capable of light riding/trails. He's an extrovert who believes humans are walking treat dispensers. He is between 15.3 and 16.3 hands and is located in Virginia. Oh No Apollo This 6-year-old bay gelding is currently residing at our facility in Clarksburg, NJ. He is a performance riding prospect who is between 15.3 hands and 16.3 hands. Thelastcrusade Want to own a piece of racing history? This guy is the winner of the 1992 Pennsylvania Derby. Now 16, he has an enlarged fetlock on both back legs. They... ...don't seem to bother him any. He prefers a regular routine and is recommended for an experienced rider. He is between 15.3 and 16.3 hands and is located in Virginia. Blue Light Special A 13-year-old chestnut mare, she has a slightly enlarged fetlock on her right front. This does not seem to bother her or interfere with her performance in any way. According to her farm manager, she is a sound mover and an easy keeper. She is 15.2 hands or under and is suitable for pleasure riding. Her current location is Virginia. Sonny Puff An old boy of 17, he has done quality time at therapeutic riding programs. He likes to be turned out as much as possible. He is a good pasturemate, but can only be lightly ridden. He is between 15.3 and 16.3 hands and is located in Virginia. [this one seems good for my mom because she teaches a therapuetic(?) riding program, but i wouldn't be able to do too much on him.]

Public Comments

1. i think race horses..yes even retired are a little advanced for you, me having 15 years experience in riding..i'de only hesitantly mouth a RRH...maybe a retired show horse is more appropriate due to them HAVING to be social..i've been bitten many times walking past open stall gates by race horses..they seem picky and arrogant..due to them not having to be social with every day people
2. Well, in my opinion, getting an X racehorse isn't the best idea. Their former training never really leaves them and as soon as they start running, they don't stop. A lot of people swear they'll never even own or ride a pure TB. But, I love them to death, I think their a lot of fun, but truthfully of the track horses are ruined, they tense up a lot and are pretty weary. But, best of luck! Hope I helped, ;D
3. I really do not recommened you for this. I've been riding for 8 years and I'm 15 now. I work at two training stables and I am trying to get a job at the track. I have taught myself to ride and I train about 10 horses a day. Even I wouldnt get a retired racing horse. Even if you do think that you can handle one. If you want to rescue a horse then maybe you could find a horse rescue in your area, I just really hope you look into this througbred thing well before you decide to get one.
4. I have a horse from the TRF and have worked with and ridden racehorses all my life. Racehorses have a different mindset and even years after coming off the track, they will continue to display behavior typical of how they were trained. A lot don't like to be ridden alone as they are used to being ridden in strings, a lot have injuries that you need to know how to address and work with, many have behavior and mental issues. There is a reason that they are at TRF. If they were sound, had already made the leap and adapted to a new career etc, they would be somewhere else. Many too have been previously adopted by TRF/ReRun etc and then returned. People found them too green, too crippled, too many issues and realized that owning an ex-racehorse isn't all that they assumed. Sometimes they are more horse than they bargained for. I should say that companion horses cannot be ridden and somebody over the age of 18 has to sign to that effect. You also have to have 2 vet checks per year. Also remember that the descriptions are there to entice people and just because someone thinks a horse looks suitable for all disciplines, I guarantee you that nobody will have put that into practice. It's a risk because you don't know what you are getting or what their history is. My horse is 11, he's already been to 2 homes and returned. A few months ago, one woman looking to adopt him got dumped by him and backed out. I've had him now about 3 months. He's stiff, one sided, has a lot of issues with a bowed tendon, suspensories, limited range of movement in one pastern. I've spent over $700 on ultrasounds, x rays etc so that I know what his degree of limitation is. I pay about $150 just for front shoes because they have to have gel injected under them to float the heels to absorb some of the concussion. Some days you can't ride because he's sore. You have to work around him which I have no problem with but for a cheap horse, he's very expensive and very high maintenance! :-) While I applaud you for wanting to give one a home and appreciate that you are experienced, they may be a little too much for you to handle at this stage. You don't want to adopt one, find it's too much for you to deal with and then return it because the horse is then attached with further stigma that he was sent back.
5. i would say you are still a little to un experienced for retired race horses. even my riding instructor couldnt even back a retired tb for any amount of time. even though they are geldings, they still act like stallions, they are given drugs to act like stallions because they race better if they dont like eachother or at least thats what my moms friend, a groom from a race track says. if you seriously want one, i would say take one of the companion horses (which means they cant be ridden) you are doing a horse a favor and you can still be best friends from the ground! you can ride your pony and do ground work with your tb. good luck and dont bite off more then you can chew, you dont want to have to sell back your tb if you cant handel it :)
6. allright as much as you might hate to hear this, you are too young and inexperienced to take on an ex-race horse. Trust me, I know for I have retrained two for pleasure riding. First off, a race horse isnt really trained, just taught to tolerate a rider and run. That's it really, in black and white. (and some basic reining, left,right,stop....sometimes) It takes YEARS to become experienced...a lot more than three and a half. It's best for you just to stick with already trained horses until you are a little older, for your benefit and the horses.
7. Just adding a little something you might find interesting... I was riding with a wagon train one time and some people joined us on the second day. One of the guys had a retired racehorse and had spent alot of time with it and was going to ride for the day. The horse acted great until they hooked up the teams of horses. The TB went nuts! Luckily he was such a good rider and had trained the horse somewhat and didn't get hurt. Only thing we could figure out is the clinking of the metal on the wagons sounded like the gates of the racetrack! Got the horse away from the wagons and he was fine. Like others have said, mindset. Something to think about.