TB Exracers........

[horsefeed]

I might have the oppurtunity to acquire an Ex racer, I have the choice of a 2 or 4 year old. Both are geldings.

I am leaning towards the 2 year old as I though it might adapt better to life outside racing.

The thing that is most worrying me I only have grazing and no stables, will it be ok to go straight out?

Will it be ok out with my small herd?

Part of the deal is I also have which other one until it is ready to be rebacked and brought on by its owner, will have the 2 make it easier for them to adjust?

Thanks

[jackiedo]

TB's can and do live out very well, with shelter, food and rugs.
However, at this time of the year you cannot just turn a horse out that has been used to living in.

[horsefeed]

I do have another TB who I have had since I was 11, he lives out far better then he ever did in (he never raced though). So I have experience with regards to TB's character and things but sure how their early racing days will effect them.
I have a field shelter that the racer would have free access too plus good quality grass and hay plus SS feeds once/twice a day as needed and he would obviously be rugged up well as my boy is.

[Susan]

Dec 23, 2008 13:39:23 GMT 1 jackiedo said:

TB's can and do live out very well, with shelter, food and rugs.
However, at this time of the year you cannot just turn a horse out that has been used to living in.

Jackiedo
I do think you could if the right situation shelter and good rug.. TB's are often far more hardy then we give thenm credit for and a 2 year old in company if enough grazing I am sure would do fine.

It is actually mild at the moment compared to what we have been suffering. Out 24/7 also gives its limbs a chance to be moving, better then hours stood in stables.
Often race yards have them T/O 24/7 as well..

[gixer]

with good rugging and shelter they should be ok.

I'd be inclined to go for the younger of the two personally.

Racehorses can be brought into a full and active life post racing. Find out WHY they are being retired just incase there are injuries you need to factor in, although usually its just a case that they were to slow for racing.

check out www.ror.org.uk/retraining.htm there are people there you can ring for all sorts of advice etc including feeding turning out training etc etc etc etc
My YO has an ex racer and is an ective member with ROR and swears by them.

[jaxnbreeze]

I don't know much about ex-racers although I did have a tb. I will be stewarding at the show-classes for ex-racers at Newark Show next year and I am really looking forward to it. I think it's wonderful that these lovely young horses are given the opportunity of a second career. If I were younger I would love to have one myself. Jacquie.

[jackiedo]

I have had 2 ex racers, one I still have, she retired from Racing then went into Polo, then retired from that. Apart from them both weaving (one more than the other) they were great. Sadly one died 2 years ago now.. I still cry when I go past her field

[speedy]

My ex-racer was living out until last week and would've coped with longer, but he loves his stable and kept breaking the electric fence to get to it, so I gave in and stabled him! My TB mare is still out though - and naked! The flat racing yard I worked on used to turn all their racers out at the end of the flat season (after each individuals last race) and bring them in on Xmas Eve to start training again. None of them every wore rugs, although they had a LOT of hard feed and hay, plus natural shelter. It all depends on the individual horse, but they are generally tougher than you'd expect.

Personally if you take the 2yo, I'd give him a couple of years to mature. My ex-racer is crippled at 10yo due to racing at 2yo

[jackiedo]

Speedy... now there is no break between the seasons .... poor things are often never given time to recharge

[horsefeed]

**UPDATE** Both are arriving tomorrow, I'm going to keep one (undecided at the moment) and our local instructor is going to have the other. We believe they are both mares not gelding though.
I am thinking of having the 2 year old and allowing her until next summer before starting to do some basic work (long reing, walkies etc) and then backing her the following summer.
But the 4 year old would also be more mature and I could give her 6/12 month chill time before bring her into work. Please help me decide.

[K8]

I don't think you can decide until you meet them! You might get your head set on the 2yr old and fall for the 4yr old, so wait and see!!

Good luck tho, can't wait to see piccies!! Lucky horses!!

[julz]

I'd go for the two year old, let him live out, and learn to be a horse, and not a racing machine...

My friend had a exRaceer, who lived out in all weathers but came in when it was really bad, but that was just him, preferrring to be in on stormy nights....

[loullou]

my TB ex racer lives out full time. is rugged. no field shelter, is absoltuely fine on it.

[basilhorse]

is the only distinguishing feature their ages? i'd try to assess temperament, conformation and any injuries rather than age if i could. Can you ask their current owners/trainers what they're like? other than that can you look at their eyes? I've found the nicest horses I've had were the ones with the kindest and softest eyes.

I have found ex-jumpers or jumping bred are more level headed than flat racers but that is of course a generalisation.

My first horse was an ex-racer and I was 14 years old. The horse had been in training from the age of 2 (ish) and retired to a life of hacking and riding club type stuff with me when he was approx 12 years old. He adapted brilliantly and was a fab teenagers horse.

it can be difficult to tell how they will be to ride. i currently own 2 ex-racers. forest has been in training pretty much since he was 2 years old (now nearly 10) and is a dream to handle. A nightmare to ride according to the trainer (I haven't tried yet). The other, (basil (also nearly 10)) can be bolshy to handle (though is normally pretty good) but under saddle he is a real softy though green. i have always had lengthy chats with the trainers before taking them on to find out their opinion on whether they would make good riding horses (ignoring forest as he was a special case and i took him on knowing he might be difficult).

none of my ex-racers (I've had 6 over the years) ever showed any aversion to just being chucked out in the field with the others when i got them.

wishing you the very best with whichever one you decide on. ex-racers are fab horses

[Olivia]

is the 2 yr old going to be 2 supposedly in january or 3? i think i would go with the younger one, depending on temperament etc, but should be more trainable as younger. good luck with them!