BUYING OFF THE TRACK
Is an ex-racehorse for you? While Christine is an experienced rider who was able to reschool Otto when his career on the track came to an end, former racehorses aren’t suitable for everyone. Ask yourself the following questions:
■ Will they suit my ability?
While some ex-racehorses are calm and quiet, others only know fast and stop (hopefully!), so they are often only suitable for experienced riders.
■ Do I have the time?
An ex-racehorse will be pretty institutionalised and may not ever have been tied up, schooled, asked to stand still while being mounted, and so on. He will need training in all of these things and more, which takes time and patience.
■ Do I have the right skillsets?
Retraining an ex-racehorse isn’t always easy. A contact on the rein is likely to bring about a head in the air rather than a nice rounded outline — and this is just one issue you’re likely to encounter.
■ Am I confident enough?
Be aware that your ex-racehorse may suffer from his own confidence issues when being hacked out alone, while riding in company, especially in open spaces, could bring its own (even more hair-raising) challenges. Being a calm but confident rider is absolutely essential.
■ Can I afford it?
While many horses off the track are a steal, the gear they need may not be. For example, a Thoroughbred is likely to require an extensive rug wardrobe and new tack, as he won’t come with a GP saddle and bridle. Thoroughbreds may also require stabling during the winter, prompting a large bedding and hay bill.
■ There’s lots more advice available on the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) website at ror.org.uk.