Not Choosing an Ex-racehorse

I'm currently helping my friend Zoe seek a horse to buy. She is adamant she does NOT want an ex-racehorse –and, much as I love ex-racers, I entirely agree with her. Because a retired racehorse, however well re-trained, is not right for everyone.

Zoe is a 40-something working mum, returning to riding after a career-&-kids gap of some twenty years. She's always loved horses, and used to ride well, but after such a long gap says she's 'forgotten more than she ever knew'. (If only more people were so honest, and realistic!) Actually I think Zoe is exaggerating, but she's certainly rusty, unfit, and lacking in confidence. And, she has no previous experience with racehorses, 'ex' or otherwise.

She has been sensible, and had some refresher lessons on a steady riding school cob. She's keen to learn, knows her present limitations, and now has the flexi-time and money to do justice to a horse of her own. And, she's chosen a good livery yard where help, advice, and riding buddies will always be on hand.

Even so, and ex-racehorse would definitely not be right for her, at least not just now. A Thoroughbred is seldom a dope-on-a-rope type. A well-rehabilitated retired racehorse can be patient and kind and remarkably forgiving of human numpties. But even the best ex-racer will always be fast, sensitive, a bit unpredictable, a bit 'hair-triggered.' And, being highly intelligent and perceptive, ex-racers are quick to sense human moods. They can start to worry, or take advantage, if they detect hesitancy, anxiety or fear in a handler/rider. And a worried, or bolshie, ex-racehorse reacts swiftly, lithely, and sometimes dangerously.

An ex-racer, perhaps more than any other type of horse, needs humans who are calm, confident 'herd-leader' types, people who know what they are doing and are happy to harness and enjoy all the positive characteristics a former racehorse will have.

An ex-racehorse does NOT need a rider/handler who doesn't know the right thing to do with them, who is nervous, a bit clumsily heavy-handed, dithering and slow to react, or too physically unfit to get on board quick 'n' easy. ( And at the moment, Zoe tick all those boxes! But she's working on it....)

One really depressing thing we found, trawling through the Horses For Sale sites, was how often we saw this phrase: “ I just can't give him the exercise/time/commitment/ lifestyle he needs”. ( I found much the same thing recently looking at rehoming ads for young Border Collies. So sad.) Well, hello ... OF COURSE an animal needs time and commitment from its human! And all creatures need exercise. Generally, (except perhaps for sloths and iguanas) four legs need more exercise than two. And ex-racehorses ( and Border Collies!) need LOTS more! What a pity people do not always consider these things before going out and acquiring an animal.

Thoroughbreds can be very high-maintenance. An ex-racehorse will certainly need more, in terms of time, commitment, and money, as well as exercise, than many other horses would. Ex-racers, especially ones recently out of training, need more feeding than other breeds, and more rugging in winter. They need more attention from the farrier, the horse dentist, and probably from a back-specialist. They may well need special pills-and-potions for brittle feet, ulcers, stress, weight gain, etc, etc. Sounds like a bottomless money-pit? Yupp, afraid so.

Ex-racehorses, especially when in a new home, are happier in the company of other horses. (And happy usually means easy to manage.) As with most horses, they can become very stressed if kept alone for long periods. And for a new ex-racehorse/human partnership, it's best if there are other people around too, just in case anything goes wrong during the settling-in phase, when it's more likely to happen. Also, having another, steady horse to ride out with is a great idea, certainly until the new horse and rider have got to know and trust each other. And that, of course, takes time, and patience. And commitment ( from other people, as well as yourself.)

Most especially, an ex-racehorse needs exercise – whether that's through riding, lungeing/long-reining, or simply walking in-hand – as well as daily turnout ( even if only for an hour in a sand pit) Unlike some steadier breeds, ex-racers cannot be kept stabled for two or three days without proper exercise, and have no nasty consequences. (Try it, – the ex-racer will come out of the stable like a champagne cork. Then try to ride, if you dare!) So if you only have time for a half-hour hack twice a week, an ex-racehorse is probably not for you – unless you have someone to help with the exercising when you can't do it.

And don't think you can get away with turning your ex-racer out in a field 24/7, and then happily hopping on board when you get a moment, 'because he's had plenty of exercise.....'. Afraid it doesn't seem to work like that. Thoroughbreds are smart, and inquisitive, and usually keen to be doing something. If they lack human contact and interaction, and have no-one giving them stuff to do and think about, they will soon make up their own entertainment and lifestyle choices – which may not include you! They may become hard to catch, and bad-mannered to handle and difficult to ride. They will have turned into naughty schoolboys on holiday who simply don't wanna go back to school/work.

If this all sounds likely to put people off getting an ex-racehorse, that may be a good thing. When someone ends up with an animal – horse, dog, ant-eater, whatever – that just isn't right for them, it often ends in misery for all concerned. The animal can't be blamed for not being 'suitable'. It's the human who makes the choices, so it's important to consider everything very carefully, and honestly, before making a decision. Ex-racehorses are, nearly always, gorgeous – but sometimes just not 'appropriate'.