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TB Ex-Racehorse Retraining - Info

4K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  Saskia 
#1 ·
I don't currently have a horse so this is just sort of vague info I am after. I was thinking about getting a horse next year, maybe a nice stock horse, or quarter horse cross, or even a WB if I can afford it. As a rule I don't like Thoroughbreds. I've had one, i've leased a few, and generally they are fizzy or untrained, unpredicatable and sometimes dangerous and I have seen many prone to lameness.

Although recently I have been looking around the net at racehorses and problems with the industry, and one is the wastage. I'm a generally compassionate person and I feel that maybe I would be better of morally sort of buying a horse of the track and retraining it, instead of just a young other horse. So my questions...

Has anyone trained OTTB and what were the like?
Given time and patience can you overcome the hot head?
Can you train to be good in open spaces etc?
I'd probably be looking at doing some eventing and some SJ, do you think I could find a TB who'd be alright at both?
I've heard they have weak legs and poor hooves, if I selected carefully could I find a generally sound horse who could stand up to regular competition and daily riding?
Are all of them hard to keep the weight on?
How would I select this horse? Independent vet check etc. but how do I judge its temperment if its hot up on grain and all sort of racey?
I guess you can't really check their jumping ability - how would I sort of go about that?
I'd be buying a horse in Australia, how do I go about getting one? I don't really want to go through those middle trainers, I guess I'd rather look for one myself straight of the track.

I've seen some good ones, that are quiet and such, are these reasonably common?

What are people's recommendations?

Also I'd want a smallish one, 15.2 or so, are their many I could find in this height range, my experience with TBs is that they are large. I won't even looking until the new year, but I am not in a rush to find a horse, I want a good one.
 
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#4 ·
I was kind of under the impression that they couldn't jump. I don't know why. I've only ever known one and he wasn't very good, but I guess I've never really thought about them. I just googled a few things and they seem somewhat alright. I'd want a horse that was capable of jumping at least 4ft without problems. I'm not up to that yet as I have been out of riding for a while but I used to really like jumping. Can the average STB jump that?

Also, I don't know much about them, but what is their general racing age? What age would unsuccessful ones be sold of at? Also, are they broken to saddle/rider, or just harness? Are they any good at dressage, they look quite nice, I was just looking at pics, and they seem like they have reasonable conformation to do most things? Also, are trotters or pacers better?
 
#3 ·
My boyfriend's brother races TB's. When they are not on the track in the south, he trucks them up north to us. In July he dropped of 5 TB's just off the race track. I have been trail riding every single one of them since they got here. They've been fabulous horses. I've enjoyed riding them. (granted they aren't the smoothest horses I've ever ridden, but still I've not had a single problem with any of them being hot headed or just wanting to take off.
 
#5 ·
I only have experience with one OTTB, and I have been extremely lucky. My 4 year old had already been off the track for about 4 months before I met him, so he had time to settle down and be a horse out in a pasture for awhile before his new career. I'm thinking it's probably very important to give them that down time.

I can happily say that not all of them are hot headed. Mine is the kindest horse I've ever met, although he does have a goofy side. Sometimes he'll spook at a flag or something that he's seen 100 times, but I guess they all do that. I think it's pretty easy to tell the nuts from the good ones. You can just see it in their eyes. They pretty much wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Open spaces, training is the key word. They haven't been out there before, but it's just a matter of getting them used to new things. I took mine out on his first trail ride at age 5. He didn't spook once and did fabulous over uneven terrain, water and banks. He impressed the hell out of me. We have since had a few chicken moments involving llamas and cows, but if you can sit out the initial spin and bolt and apply a good one rein stop, it's easy to keep it safe. Mine is much more brave with other horses around than alone. All the TB's I've ever ridden were petrified of cows.

Eventing - perfect. TB's are energizer bunnies and most love to jump. A lot of them are a bit post legged in back, so just make sure to look a conformation for nice dressage gaits.

Legs, depends on the breeding. Mine has huge legs for a TB. His hooves are no worse than any of the QBs in my barn. You have to use a farrier who knows TBs. They have thinner hoof wall than other breeds and it's easy to get a close nail.

I would have said yes to the hard keeper question a month ago, but give him free choice hay and not too much grain, nothing high in starch, and you'll have a fatty in no time.

For jumping ability, you want a horse with a not too long back and strong hind end. Use this forum's critique section when you find some candidates. I'm sure there's a lot of people who can help you there.

I'm not sure how you can filter out temperment if the horse is still racing. If their hyped up on oats and carbs, they'll all be nuts.

The big thing I got burned on was the teeth. I'm thinking very little attention is paid to racehorses in that area. My horse was parrot mouthed and had teeth going every which way. We've since corrected most of it, but definitely look in the horse's mouth that you're considering to make sure he'll be able to eat properly.

There are a lot more sweet wonderful ones out there than you think. Smaller might be easier to find. A lot of people won't even look at a TB that's smaller than 16.0. Definitely do a vet check, and ask a ton of questions in person. People might try to lie to your face, but their expressions will give them away if you ask them something like, "has he had any soundness issues" or "does he trailer well".

good luck from an incredibly biased TB lover.
 
#6 ·
Has anyone trained OTTB and what were the like?
I only know two "hot" TB's, and both are jumpers. I have ridden, seen, and shown against many laid back, beautifully moving TB's. I have a 4 year old OTTB who won a race. He is totally laid back and bombproof. He is building my confidence after my QH destroyed it
Given time and patience can you overcome the hot head?
Yes! Even a very hot horse can be taught to channel energy into their "job"
Can you train to be good in open spaces etc?
Yep, they can be trained to do almost anything, open spaces is just a basic training
I'd probably be looking at doing some eventing and some SJ, do you think I could find a TB who'd be alright at both?
Without a doubt. There are TB's in top level eventing and SJ
I've heard they have weak legs and poor hooves, if I selected carefully could I find a generally sound horse who could stand up to regular competition and daily riding?
Again, yes. early starting on the track is most of their soundness issues. Be sure to get a PPE, it will greatly increase your chance for a sound horse. This is true for any breed
Are all of them hard to keep the weight on?
No. It's true many have problems with this, but mine at least is getting fat. My mom's TB is a healthy weight too, as are many of the TB's in my barn
How would I select this horse? Independent vet check etc. but how do I judge its temperment if its hot up on grain and all sort of racey?
I guess you can't really check their jumping ability - how would I sort of go about that?
I admit I can't help much with this. I'd suggest going through a rescue. There are many rescues who take horses off the track, get them at a healthy weight and even start training. The price will go up a bit, but you will see the horses personality, medical needs (if any) and get some good info
I'd be buying a horse in Australia, how do I go about getting one? I don't really want to go through those middle trainers, I guess I'd rather look for one myself straight of the track.
Sorry, I'm in the US
I've seen some good ones, that are quiet and such, are these reasonably common?
In my experience, yes. I do hunters, so the TB's I see have to be quiet. And there are a LOT of TB's in hunters
What are people's recommendations?

Also I'd want a smallish one, 15.2 or so, are their many I could find in this height range, my experience with TBs is that they are large. I won't even looking until the new year, but I am not in a rush to find a horse, I want a good one.
Most are larger, but I know of a handful of really nice small ones, invluding the jumper who jumps 3f

Hope I was some help!
 
#7 ·
I was kind of under the impression that they couldn't jump. I don't know why. I've only ever known one and he wasn't very good, but I guess I've never really thought about them. I just googled a few things and they seem somewhat alright. I'd want a horse that was capable of jumping at least 4ft without problems. I'm not up to that yet as I have been out of riding for a while but I used to really like jumping. Can the average STB jump that?i dont know much about jumping, as i dont do any of that stuff (im lucky i can stay on riding!)

Also, I don't know much about them, but what is their general racing age?their general racing age? that depends, in the US horses have to retire at the end of their 14th year. but most dont race that long, usually around 7-9 is when you see the retiring the most.

What age would unsuccessful ones be sold of at? it depends, usually just a few grand at the most.

Also, are they broken to saddle/rider, or just harness? Most are just broke to harness, but are easily broke to ride. most of my harness horses have never been ridden, but i get on them bareback and ride and they arent a problem. i actually recently just rode my 7yr old mare, Sumaturo. we got her when she was 3, and she was extremely headshy and crazy. we have had her all that time, and she has NEVER been ridden. i put a saddle on her one day and got on. she rode like she had been doing it all her life. a lot of the people who have riding horses that have STB racehorses will ride them.

Are they any good at dressage, they look quite nice, I was just looking at pics, and they seem like they have reasonable conformation to do most things? as far as i know theyre pretty well rounded horses, and they are also gaited horses, so ya know....

Also, are trotters or pacers better? there really is no "better". the only thing i will say is pacers also trot naturally. some trotters will not pace and some will, so it all depends i guess on if that makes a difference to you. also they have different muscles built up from using the specific gait all the time. trotters are more muscular in their chests, while pacers and more in the hind quarters.
 
#10 ·
Sam is an OTTB, but he was retrained before we got our hands on them, I think.
Sam started racing when he was two - and didn't stop until he was 9! He's fourteen now, and I think he's starting to get arthritis. Oh, well. He still loves to run!
Yes, they can be hot, but if you don't feed them like racehorses - they won't be racehorses! Sam and William (another OTTB Sam lives with) are on grass hay, four flakes a day, and no grain, and, get this - Willie looks rather round! They are also on 8 acres of pasture, but it's not much - all dead grass. The other horses there at the barn are now on grass hay and grain, but before they were on Alfalfa and grain - and boy did they show it!

Sam and WIllie are good in open spaces - unless you ask them to run, of course. *eye roll*.
They can have bad feet - Sam's feet are terrible, esp. his right front. I've been working really hard to get in under control, but it's hard!
Sam and William both are the greatest trail horses. They're so calm, we've put my 5yr old brother on him and he's great! Sam's just a lazy old man, my other brother, 10, was riding him and could hardly get him to canter! (I guess I'm the only one who can get him to canter, eh?)
Good luck! TB's can be nice horses if you get the right one and train him right!
 
#11 ·
Here are two ex-racers. One I own, (the chestnut) he is 20 years old, 16 hands tall and has been doing pony club/4H his whole non-racing life. He did up to 5', was trained to 1st level dressage, barrel racing, bareback, natural horsemanship, etc.

The fleabitten grey is 12 year old, 17 hands tall and has been showing 3' hunters. He has major dressage potential and is a beginners lesson horse.

Both are very sweet and calm. One of them, Bear (the grey), im buying this week. I have proof that one of them was abused (Junior, the chestnut) and we think that Bear was abused as well. Both of them are the only horses, that we have, we trust putting little kids/beginners on.

Here is a video of them:


Aubre (NordicJuniper), the rider, hasnt ridden a different horse for the last year (since she started riding Junior with me). She is very timid with new horses. She got right on Bear and walk/trot/canter and jumped him. He was perfect for her and did his best to take care of her.

I am biased to TBs, though I do like other breeds, but I think they get a bad rep thanks to people thinking that they are mean and hot headed. I myself, dont really like Arabs, ive always had more problems with Arabs (though I think it depends more on the horse itself), and I think they are more air-headed than TBs. That is just my opinion.

I think that if you dont like TBs, maybe you shouldnt get one..? But bond with a horse is more important then the breed. I find bonding with TBs is easier then bonding with other breeds; again, just my opinion.

Hope I dont get eaten alive for anything that I said, just my opinions. :]
 
#12 ·
Here is my daughter riding bareback on Sushi, one of the thoroughbreds. :)

 
#13 ·
Hi there..
OTTB's can make wonderful horses! My Dad is a breeder and I have taken many TB's from the track and restarted them to do Low level Dressage and Huter Jumpers. The ones I retrained were all great on trails and had great personalities as well.
One was sold to a young girl who ended up taking the horse to the Jounior Grand Nationals. She did very well there and won a lot. This was about 20 yrs ago.
I would suggest that you take your time in picking one. It did concern me too when you said you did not like TB's. I think it is hard to conclude this when you have only known one and had a not so good experience with it!

Why don't you find some to ride before going to the point of purchasing one??
Have you trained horses before?

It has been a long time since I worked with horses and my horse was trained for racing but I cried when my dad wanted to send him back to the track! He ended up giving me the horse and he is really great.
I have to say that being he sat in a pasture waiting for me to recover from a car accident, I did have to seek out some help from trainers to get him started.

IMHO- if you have not trained horses in the past it would be a good idea to seek out a trainers assistance. They can help you find a horse that is suited for your level of capabilities...

Not to say your not capable just a general suggestion. I do think if you find the right one that you may be pleasantly surprised at how wonderful they are.

Best of luck to you on your search!!
Half Pass
 
#14 · (Edited)
Vintage is off the track and she was excitable when I first got her but now she's really calm we were at our first show on sat and she did great! It just takes time I only have one problem with vinty and that's standing to mount but under saddle she's great!! Vinty also free jumps 4ft and does amazing in dressage she's going to the royal this year she tries her heart out and she's only 6. She is a little hard to get the weight on but once it's on it normally stays on
 
#15 ·
I've broken a horse before, taking it from yearling to well adjusted 4ish year old, and worked around other young horses. A lot of the horses I have ridden have needed a fair bit of work - I don't have much money to buy a horse and if you want something young you generally have to go with uneducated, and the people I knew were somewhat the same.

I've owned a TB, and he was trained, not you know to epic proportions but he had been unofficially competing at elementary dressage, and he was an EFA D Grade Showjumper with points. He wasn't great but he wasn't a "raw" horse. He was good at Gymkhana's too though, we'd always win barrel racing and flag races etc. He wasn't a bad horse, he performed well and wasn't dangerous unless you had a big problem with the trying to run of cross country, he just had an attitude and would be prone to moments where he would just be a pain to get out of anything. It was hilarious though, my friends who could ride a little (a year or two lessons in a school) and they would get on him but because they couldn't 'ride' he'd just plant his feet and refuse to move. He was gelded late so he was very into mares, and would even try and mount some of them, although we generally tried to avoid this situation occurring. He wasn't a rig or anything, just the way he was.

I've known many TBs that aren't so good. One that i looked after and rode for a while you had to hold its leg up during rugging so it wouldn't kick you in, he was generally not so nice, although he was a lovely looker (9 yr old). Another that I knew would get so worked up if you asked him to do anything but trail ride, I rode him for months but its like his head would just freak out - he was slowly getting better, but he wasn't mine so I didn't end up putting too much work into him (10 yr old). Another OTTB I knew you couldn't do anything with but plod along, but I think thats because he had been abused post track, I imagine he would have gotten better with work but he was already 17 and just used as a trail horse. Another one I rode while my horse was out was this 17.2hh OTTB who seemed perfectly lovely and calm but would have these episodes where he would endeavour to through of his rider by any means necessary and then just sort of stand there. Unfortunately the owners didn't tell me this even though their daughter had needed a knee reconstruction from this horse. When I came of I was on crutches for a month.

I don't just dislike TBs for no reason. I think they are lovely looking horses, generally intelligent and quite versatile, which are all reasons why I would consider one. I also think that they make a good cross breed, ie. Anglos, QH/TB, draft/TB etc. I've seen some great unraced and purpose bred ones that perform very well, not to mention some lovely OT ones. Its just my experience with OTTBs has taught me that they can be unpredictable, unreliable and uncooperative. The reason I went on here was to hear others opinion, because I know how much riders can screw up horses, and that could have happened to the ones I knew.

From what I can hear from you guys is that with consistent time and work that a lot of them can be retrained successfully. Its something that I am going to have to think over though. Perhaps I might get an unraced breed for my next horse, and if I have time for a second in the future look into an OTTB. When I start horse looking I'll see what is out there. Thanks for all your insights.
 
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