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Good luck naps, I was looking for an ex racehorse a while back but I bought a warmblood instead. I have retrained a couple and although they have their physical problems and are not generally capable of competing in affiliated competitions due to unsoundness, both made lovely pleasure rides.
I don’t have a problem with someone trying to find a nice home for an old servant. Many racehorses get sold for meat and transported live for 20+ hours in an unventilated lorry where many are dead by the time they get to their destination.Giving a racehorse away to a nice happy hacker is in no way commensurable to that cruel act, so long as you continue to look after the horse until you find the right home (rather than letting is starve). Alternatively, there are abattoirs in the UK that put the horse down on site if you organise to deliver it with little to no suffering at all. Sometimes this is arguably a nicer option than a slow demise into neglect and starvation.
I hope you find a lovely home though naps, advertise on horsequest.co.uk it gets a lot of traffic. I recommend you send him to someone to re-school as most horse riders will not be able to deal with a racehorse straight off the track.
I can’t see the problem at all with putting the horse on here – far better here than being sent throught some ropey sale -that is what I would call irresponsible. Just because a horse is no longer a decent racehorse doesn’t mean it can’t go on and do another job well.
If we didn’t have too many I would definitely be interested. I bought an ex-racehorse as my 16 year old daughter’s first ‘proper’ horse (she had had ponies since being a tot) and she has had tons of fun and success with him. We bought him unseen and untried on the strength of a few photos and a vetting, first time we saw him was when he walked off the transporter’s lorry into our yard. I suppose in racing terms he would be a ‘yak’ having run on the flat and over hurdles over a good few years with no prize money to show for it. But he is sound and healthy and has won an awful lot in his so far brief showing career. I wouldn’t hesitate to have another!
I agree with the points raised in the last two comments. However, I don’t agree with people buying racehorses whilst being either unaware or willfully ignorant of the perils of offloading a racehorse.
A dog is for life and not just for Christmas. But a horse is just too burdensome.
Bachelors Hall you win the prize for the most self righteous and pompous poster I have ever had the misfortune to read on here.
If you had any grasp of real life you would realise that if everyone followed your idea of fixing up a retirement home before purchasing a racehorse the sport would die. Harsh reality.
Byallmen,
Good to read of a positive outcome for your equine recruit as opposed to some of the doom and gloom painted by others.
The criticism of Naps is completely unwarranted, imo.
What on earth is wrong with looking at different ways of rehoming a racehorse, such as a posting on this forum?
I’ve come across ex-racehorses at livery yards and riding schools over the years, and ridden one or two myself. They can be very adaptable and tractable, more so than some would have you believe, although no doubt there are a few headcases around. All the ones I came across seemed to be enjoying interesting and pleasant lives, although the odd one could take a bit of a tug.
As for who should be responsible for a horse’s welfare for the rest of its life, you could just as well argue that any, or some, of…the breeder who bred it…the pinhooker who bought it as a foal…the trainer who bought it on spec as a yearling…are equally culpable if things go wrong.
The criticism of Naps is completely unwarranted, imo.
Absolutely, and must play a part in why this forum seems to be dying a death and why forum xmas drinks attract a no show.
Surprised this thread hasn’t yet deteriorated into an argument about the whip, value, or why AW and flat racing should all be done away with
GL with the horse naps.
Having spoken to naps via email he seems a very responsible owner, who wants the best for his horse.
I think he is currently in touch with a very experienced friend of mine who’s very interested in the horse
Venusian wrote "As for who should be responsible for a horse’s welfare for the rest of its life, you could just as well argue that any, or some, of…the breeder who bred it…the pinhooker who bought it as a foal…the trainer who bought it on spec as a yearling…are equally culpable if things go wrong."
I would add to that those who have backed horses, the gamblers, also should have a responsibility for horses that can no longer race, after all they might have made a profit from them.
Naps, maybe these people can help you find a new home:
Good luck with your re-homing. I would recommend emailing a good photo of him to some of the show riders who are now very into producing for the RoR series. Lynn Russell being one, she also sells and re-schools. The RoR have a classified section on their website which may be worth a try, Di Arbuthnot would point you in the right direction. There seems to have been some animosity towards your efforts which is unjust and a rather daft suggestion one can keep a horse at livery for 40!
Hi. I Think its disgraceful that people are slating you for your decision to try and find him a good home. It was infact me that was looking for an x racehorse to take show jumping. Please could you e-mail me some photo’s and I will take a look. I will PM you.
If there is an experienced home awaiting racehorses who have not made it on the track then I think its a great thing. As long as the home is suitable and rider is more than capable it is not always neccesarry to go through a rehoming programme.
Good Luck
As an update, he’s going to live with a very good friend of mine in Wales, who is very experienced and will give him a lovely home.
She’s arranging a day to go and collect him from his trainer today I think.
Very happy for them both
Great News. Owner, Trainer and new Owner are to be congratulated
Backing two runners is the relentless pursuit of value. Backing each way is a shortcut to the poor house. Only 7% make a long term profit.
Great News. Owner, Trainer and new Owner are to be congratulated
I’m very happy for all concerned, she’s delighted, and hopes that in time he’ll be a really fun all rounder/eventer. She bit my hand off when i mentioned him!
Great news!
Best of luck to Emmy’s friend with him and hope he turns out to be a good ‘un.
Just goes to show it was a great idea of Naps to put him on here, and was all that nastiness towards him really necessary? Totally uncalled for IMO
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