Racehorse 101

Historically, Thoroughbreds have had a bit of a bad rap when it comes to doing anything other than going fast in reasonably straight lines, with or without obstacles in their way. Insecure in nature, difficult to manage, terrible feet… ex-racehorses have been tarred with a fairly negative brush, give or take a few notable exceptions.

And yet today Thoroughbreds purchased out of training – whether raced or unraced – have never been more popular. There are many reasons for this, with much of the credit due to organisations such as Retraining of Racehorses for raising the profile of the breed’s versatility.

The truth is that an ex-racer isn’t the right choice for everyone, but if it’s the right option for you, you’ll be hooked. In this series we’ll explore what it takes to rehome a horse from training and develop him into an all-round riding horse, with a lot of fun – and learning – along the way.

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Many trainers do cross-training with their racehorses to keep them fresh and happy. This ranges from swimming to schooling on the flat and over showjumps, as well as cross-country schooling and hunting. As such, when enquiring about a horse it’s good to ask what type of work the string does to establish any additional education he may have had.

Where to start?

Thoroughbreds, like all sport horses, come in many shapes and sizes, so having an idea of what you’re after is a good place to start. Even then, where to find your perfect ex-racer can leave you wondering where to begin.

If you want to do all the work yourself, and effectively buy a horse straight off the track, then going direct to a trainer is an option. However, if you want to view lots of horses in one place, heading to a ‘horses in training’ sale held at various auction houses around the country is another option to consider.

If you want a horse who’s already started the retraining process, there are a number of rehoming charities to explore, including Greatwood, Thoroughbred Rehoming Centre (TRC) and Heros, as well as many others. Big racing outfits such as Godolphin also have rehoming programmes, and are worth looking up.

Did you know?

Many trainers advertise horses who are looking for non-racing homes on their websites, so spend some time researching those in your area – the National Trainers Federation website allows you to search geographically for trainers.

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Many racehorses will settle best in the field with a friend, so a companion of some sort can be key to helping him to reap the benefits of his rest period.

For more advice on everything you need to know about retired racehorse ownership, check out October Horse&Rider – get your copy today!