You’re in the market for a new horse, perhaps your first horse, a second horse or a horse for your child. You’re flicking through the horse adverts, and you realise that the dream pony you want is going to cost you money.
The thing is, to get a horse from zero experience to one that can go out and compete, even to Prelim level, requires time and money, and the owners selling rightly want to be compensated. You have a quick peek in the Horses for Sale in the $1000 and under section, and there are hundreds of beautiful well-bred thoroughbreds going cheap.
Talented ex-racehorse. 4yo. 16hh. TB Gelding. Plenty of spring. Would suit showjumping or eventing. Perfect for ambitious rider. First to see will buy
But here are some questions to ask yourself before taking one on;
Are you sure it’s sound?
Do you have the experience necessary to do it?
Do you have the time to retrain an ex-racehorse?
Are you prepared to put up with its quirks?
Are you prepared to gamble your money on this animal?
Are you sure it’s sound?
Before you take on any horse save yourself the heartache and make sure it is sound. Find out BEFORE you’ve spent 6 months feeding it up, rugging it, forking out for agistment and retraining the bugger! You might only be spending $500 on the horse but the vet bill for x-rays once the damn thing goes lame will cost you a lot more than a vet check. So just get it checked out!
Do you have the experience necessary to do it?
So many people have succeeded with getting a horse off the track and creating something wonderful, and giving it a new career. My story with Oakley Groover, is exactly that. I mean who doesn’t want to buy a horse for $300 and take it to the Olympics? But remember I had a great support system in my parents. They were professional horse people. We were already accomplished as a family at taking on racehorses. Dad would re-break them. They would have that time in a yard, with him. Mum trained western horses, which is all about obedience and patient. So between the two of them, they were able to offer a young thoroughbred a good re-education.
And then we’d ride them and event them and the ones that didn’t make it got moved on. We only had a few acres, five at Kilcoy and dad rented another two. Basically we had a good system where they were re-broken, re-educated, tried and if they were too wild we didn’t keep them.
I once heard an analogy, that the combined age of horse and rider should equal at least thirty. So if you have a 15-year-old rider, you can pair it with a 15-year-old horse. 15 + 15 = 30 so the partnership has a combined mental age of a thirty year old (in theory anyway).
This means if you have a 4 year old ex-racehorse, really it should only be handled by a 26 year old rider, (4 + 26 = 30) - a 26 year old rider who has been riding for most of their life. Of course you can blow holes in this theory. It assumes that the 26-year-old rider is sensible and has more experience than the 15 year old rider. It also assumes that the 15 year old horse is quiet and sensible and actually behaves like a 15 year old horse should. I’ve seen plenty of feisty 15 year old horses, and also plenty of quiet 4 year old horses. But it’s a guide, and not a bad rule of thumb to apply when you’re looking at a horse for your child. You, or your child must have enough experience to deal with a young horse.
Do you have the time to retrain an ex-racehorse?
Again, we get sucked in by the dream. These ex-racehorses are cheap and we have the skills to re-educate them and give them a new career. But remember it takes time. It’s a rare story to pull a horse off the track and have it go around its first eventing track okay. It might take you a few months but realistically it’ll take you a few years to re-educate your horse on the flat and teach it all these new skills.
A client of mine recently wanted my opinion on her getting an OTTB, and I advised her against it. Not because I don’t think she can do it, but because she’s a working mum and she has enough on her plate already. She wants a horse she can pull out of the paddock and have a bit of fun with, one that is already educated and that doesn’t mind if she hasn’t ridden it every day the week ahead of a competition. One that won’t go off it’s brain if a plastic bag gets loose and heads towards it.
As professionals we often have to ride difficult horses. It’s our job and it’s often how we keep a roof over our head. If you only have one horse, and it’s your hobby, something you’re meant to enjoy, make it just that – something you will enjoy on a horse you will enjoy.
Are you prepared to put up with its quirks?
All horses have quirks, it’s just that racehorses often have more. They weave, they windsuck or they fret while on the float. Most of these quirks won’t bother anyone, but just be aware they exist and make sure you have the patience to tolerate them.
Are you prepared to gamble your money on this animal?
Like buying any horse, getting an ex-racehorse is a gamble. So just make sure you’ll be okay if things don’t work out.
And finally despite all that I’ve said, owing an ex-racehorse can be tops. Just look at the horses I’ve had, most of them are thoroughbreds and they’ve given me heaps. It is rewarding teaching a horse new skills and it is rewarding when they suddenly “get it” and give back in ways you never thought possible.
I am possibly the worst at taking my own advice. If I could, I’d try and rescue every animal that needed rehoming. Unfortunately I’ve yet to win Lotto, get a multi-million dollar inheritance or find a billionaire willing to support this crazy dream. So in the meantime I have to be realistic, and find a balance. There are good horses out there, just be picky with what you decide to take on and understand the journey you’re undertaking.
I’ll get off my soapbox now. Till next time, happy riding
Rebs
