Cross Breeds - What do you think about getting a retired race horse?

What do you think about getting a retired race horse?

I've had years and years working with and riding horses and I was thinking about maybe getting a retired race horse some time after collage and after I have a stable job and enough money. I wanted to get one to save another race horse from the slaughter house but I'd also want one I can handle. Do they have the "manners" another trained horse would have? Can they be trained to do regular riding? No jumping or anything but maybe trail rides? Thanks! Ok so some have said its good and they can be very trainable and great horses and some have said is bad and they can be very untrainable (I would say horrible horses but no horse is horrible) horses. So how could I be sure I was getting a trainable and great horse when I go out to get one?

Public Comments

i think it would be a great project if you think you where up to it. i was at a county show where i live and my friend has x - race horses and she did a x race horse class its based on manner and discipline and how controlled and obedient they are and she got a 2nd and a 3rd with her so i think its a great opportunity and there must be a great deal of satisfaction when you achieve a great result like that :D could you answer my question please? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Army2cDcS.Dps92cd3Irw8Xsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100818143031AAMbxxm
My family owns a retired race horse. He's fabulous. He's 16 and is calm and polite as can be. We use him for trail rides and for company for our younger horse. I couldn't speak for other racehorses, though. There's always the risk of previous abuse or something.
that's a great idea! you have to watch out to see if they are sound though, as a lot of them are not. i'm training an ex-racer at the moment, and he is such a sweetheart! he is terrible to hack, as he likes to take off, and from the speed he takes off at, i imagine he was pretty successful lol.. but i'm sue not all of them are like that. he is also jumping little cross rails and verticals, and he loves it, and is a natural! a while ago, i part boarded an ex racer who jumped really well, and wasn't very flighty, or anything.. anyway, sorry this was soo long, but basically, it's a great idea if you know what you are doing!
a lady on my yard got one 6 months ago and it's horrible and untrainable she's tried everything it's so unreliable i wouldn't recommend getting one but it's your choose!
Some of them have great manners, some don't. They are generally very athletic and can be trained to perform in most disciplines, and definitely to go on trail rides. I hope you DO end up adopting one, just be sure to get some experienced help if he/she is directly off the track, or hasn't had any proper retraining, as they do have some specific retraining requirements. Added: well, when you're ready to get one, you must absolutely bring your trainer or instructor or some other experienced person, especially one who understands tb racehorses, with you - - some of them are very difficult to retrain, some are exceptionally easy, and you want to make sure the horse is rideably sound, as well. You have to get a horse with the right temperament and hopefully one who's been handled with kindness and fairness. Some are, and some aren't.
My horse is an ex racer, he's a real sweetie, loves trail rides, any riding at all really :) Get your ex racer from a nice, loving home, Tigger was so bonded with his old owner, she could hug his bum, sit on his bumm, lay on his back, their dog would lay under him (whilst standing) He was just so dopey xD Also one thing you need to look out for is their health. A lot of them have been mis treated, mine was beaten, (he has scars all over him, mostly his face) and he was pin fired (look for lines on the back of the horses legs, you dont want a horse that's been pin fired, it indicates a past injury) He crib bites from being so bored at the old place (stabled for 5 years before he went to that loving home) and he just stayed in the habbit. There are a lot of problems with them, but the pro's outweigh them :)
Retired racehorses can be interesting. I would only recommend getting one if you are experienced and comfortable. One time I rode my friends retired race horse and she is one of the sweetest horses I have ever met. She is great for regular riding as well as jumping
It's a great idea, but it depends on the individual horse and his/her personality. For example, my 18hh 8 year old Thoroughbred raced for 7 years, just retired in september and I've had him since November. I'm 15, and I've trained him completely by myself since I got him. We now compete at 1st level eventing and he's great at it. However, before I got this horse, I had a 15.3hh 4 year old fresh off the track TB, and he was horrid. He bit, reared, kicked, didn't listen to anyone for anything, and was just all around nasty. Basically, what I'm trying to say is, you can't lump all OTTBs into one group and ask how they are. Every OTTB has his own personality which effects the way he can be trained
In my opinion TB's are intelligent and trainable, if with an experienced rider or under the full guidance of an experienced instructor. Personally I would not recommend a green TB to a first horse owner, unless it really was the quietest animal I have ever seen (and I've only seen one). They "can" be unpredictable at times and can be very strong. I have owned TB's my whole life and have show jumped and done dressage with them. I grew up on a commercial TB stud and was an apprentice jockey and strapper for years. TB's are often given a bad rap, but if handled correctly and taken slowly with a very good foundation then they will be top performance horses. I have re-educated 100's of TB's for performance, pony club and pleasure riding and they are very adaptable. If this is something you would like to do and you think you have the patience and strength of mind needed. Make sure you have a good instructor to keep you both on the right track. You will have to educate this horse to do all of the things you probably take for granted now, such a lateral movements, how to maintain correct rhythm etc. You have to build and give your horse a solid foundation. Repetition will be your friend and with 1 or 2 years of hard work you will have a lovely horse. I have an appreciation for all horses, but I don't take any horse lightly these days. I have two spinal fractures from separate falls, both from TB's and I'm more careful about who I ride. Every horse deserves great respect, but TB's in the wrong hands can be very dangerous indeed. Keep in mind a cheap horse is cheap for a reason. Someone has to put the time required into making it a good horse ;-) By the end of it you may spend more than buying a horse ready to go, just on lessons alone. Also be VERY careful about buying a horse who is under weight, even if they seem quiet, they will be a different horse with a belly full of food ;-) Most TB's are babies especially the ones off the track. Most have either had a preparation or barrier trial, even if they did not officially race. If they have, it is very important to be slow, steady and calm with them. These are "some" things I do with young TB's, I work a lot on the ground to gain respect. Most of this is boring to young people, but without a good foundation the house will fall down. I spend lots of time leading them around my property, I work on LOTS of halt transitions. I use voice and lead at the exact same time, I also use my body, so just like riding when you want to stop, you plant your bottom. When leading I stop instantly with my voice command. If he has kept walking, even by a step or two he has pulled on his own lead. Does not take long at all and they will stop instantly and square. To walk on again I use voice, lead que and walk myself (soon the voice will be all they need). TB's are very smart (horses in general) they pick it up quickly if someone IS consistent. While they are out walking I get them used to lots of things like motorbikes, kids, machinery, cars, dog, sudden movements or noises, something hanging from a gate and flapping and different ground surfaces (soft sinking ground etc). All of the things you don't want a horse to react to under saddle. I take them out for picks of grass because some horses just can't relax and stand and eat. I tie all the horses up, they then stand while I groom everyone. If you only have one, leave them tied while you do other chores. If he raced he should be used to this, but might be fidgety. Teach them to move off pressure in any direction. I really find that if you are consistent and calm, horses respond. I'm very matter of fact with my horses, I talk to them all the time. But I don't baby them, give treats (the best treat is a good rub) or react to silly things they do, and they will do lots. LOL You just have to learn to keep your heart rate steady and not show fear, if they pick it up, then they think there is something to be scared of. You have to set yourself up for success, get them going really well on something before you move onto the next thing. Slow and boring, yes LOL. But you will end up with a well rounded, responsive, educated horse everyone will be envious of. I see all too often on YA people who have just got a new or young horse and want to jump it tomorrow. They want to rush the process and skip the steps that are truly "training" a horse. They think it makes them better horse people, if they can do things quicker. But in fact it shows their ignorance and they are the people who keep trainers in business. And on the jumping, ground poles are excellent. Even if you don't plan on jumping a horse, scatter some poles around the arena and just incorporate them into your every day work. It will teach them to look where they are going, my old dressage instructor had us going over knee high single stride poles (often without stirrups). It really teaches them to pick up their feet.
Let me just start out and say that every horse is different. Some Thoroughbreds can be very high strung or spirited or other can be like my OTTB, calm and quiet and a 1 on the temperament scale. My Thoroughbred, Denny, is very calm and quiet and he doesn't act up and always does what I ask him to do. He's 8 years old and raced for 2 years and only ran 9 times. He came off the track sound and sane. I jump him and really enjoys it! His a little bigger boned than most TB's are so he's a little more durable. I think you should totally go for it and get an ex-racer! They can make amazing trail horses and eventing horses and have wonderful personalities. You just have to find the right one. I found Denny on DreamHorse.com and it turned out he was my dad's friend's friend's horse so she knew him really well. You can find nicely trained ones on any horse selling website. Make sure when you are in the search for one that you visit multiple times, ride him, jump him (if you plan to), and definitely get a vet check. I'm 14 and my first horse is Denny. I didn't plan on getting a Thoroughbred for a first horse, but it was just sort of fate :). Here are some books I recommend. They're about Ex-race horses. - The Buying and Re Schooling of the Ex-Race Horse by Christopher and Victoria Coldrey - Second-Chance Horses: Inspiring Stories of Ex-Racehorse by Blood-Horse Publications If you want to get a OTTB, go for it!
I've often thought about doing this too. I mean there are so many OTTB now a days and the racing industry continues to eat them up and spit them out. I'm sure as long as you got a trainer to help you with any issues you'd do great. I met an OTTB who was as cool as a cucumber, hadn't picked up any bad habits from the track, and was so gentle with little kids. He'd let them crawl practically right under his neck and he'd just playfully stare down. So there is bad and good in everything. You just need to find out what you want. I'd suggest look at some TB breeding and find some bloodlines that tend to be less hot.