New pics from today! Should I buy Star!

[oldchickenlady]

If you can afford a trainer (and a GOOD one, with references from someone you know, not just someone posting a craigslist ad) and can afford some lessons for yourself, then maybe she could be retrained. Be sure to invest in a helmet! And your local vet may be a good place to find a trainer or other horse people in your area. I applaude your wish to rehabilitate this horse, but don't do it at risk of your life! Good luck and be safe!

 

[Stacykins]

My cousin owns an ex racing horse. He is only for the most experienced riders. My cousin has been riding horses since she could walk and trains as well, and even decided to send him professional trainer. He still reverts to his racing days, where he has only two speeds: walk and SPEEDY GONZALES! He is a gorgeous, mild mannered boy, but it was ingrained in him since a very early age. I don't think it would be wise for a beginner to try out a racer, just my opinion.

 

[heathersboers]

Personally...I would not buy her. The money you will have tied up in her trying to retrain her is not worth it... An x racehorse will always be spirits and hi strung.they are taught to run and That is what they do...I even had a 17 year old TB mare that I worked with for 5 years trying to make her intermediate rider safe. It was all I could do to hold her back.... I have broke and trained over 50 horses....3 being ex racers.....you will not enjoy the fast pace that they have been taught....if you do gentle them down some....they still have the take off instinct. I know you like her...but you will get your feelings and yourself hurt the first time you saddle her up.....I broke my jaw on my mare due to her taking off with me....she ran me into a tree branch full blast. She hadn't been raced in 14 years...but decided on a whim That she just wanted to go.....I sadly sold her and now am deathly afraid to ride my horses. They are pets.I was a beginner rider who saw how gentle she was on tbe ground....and i wanted to ride her....i will never have another x racer.they are dangerous and hardly trained any manners.Please be careful if you do get her..

 

[chickenzoo]

She looks like a nice horse. Many horses will rear in playing around with other horses, many will rear when not properly taught to load in a trailer. Have you handled this horse at all? Do you have a friend with more horse experience that could help you? Are you willing/ have time to try and train this horse? Are you in a hurry to be able to ride her? A green horse and a green rider are normally not recommended, but you also don't know the whole history of this horse. If you have someone who could test her out for you, or pay someone to evaluate her why you watch, then go from there. If she seems like a good mellow trainable horse then have a vet look at her. At $300 it is worth the investment to get others opinions, especially if you like this horse.

 

[KYChixMama]

It is difficult to make a recommendation about any behaviour issues unless one has seen them oneself. That being said, I've ridden an ex-race horse for years - and she is far calmer and steadier mount than most others I've been on. I'd be more concerned about someone getting hurt on the pony we have now due to his nature than I ever would have riding her. So I wouldn't use her previous track history to gauge her steadiness as a mount.

Personally, I would have a trainer come out and ride her - work with her for a little bit - and then have them give you a recommendation on if she will be the horse for you. Hopefully you have a trainer that knows your style, preferences, and ability, and can give you a well-grounded recommendation. I would also ask for the medical information/vet contact for when she was injured. What was the injury, it's extent, severity, etc. It doesn't take much for a horse to be retired from racing, and often an injury that would get her retired would never affect her being ridden as a pleasure horse.

 

[genuck]

I agree with oldchickenlady don't buy her if you are a beginner. Ex race horses take a LOT of retraining, and you don't know how she rides. There are lazy ex racehorses that you have to push push push and there are hot ones that never really settle. If you still insist, along with the vet stuff I would have an experienced trainer (your trainer) come out and evaluate the horse. They might not even get on her with her post race training being unknown. I've seen quite a few accidents from race 'instinct' being accidentally triggered even when they thought retraining was sufficeint.

 

[arabianequine]

I did tell the owner no on buying Star.

He gave me $30 for hay....not gonna last long. I think he hopes he will sell her this weekend.

 

[KYChixMama]

Quote:
I feel for you - I know this was a hard decision.

 

[quinkerton]

She is very cute. Many horses will rear in the pasture with others. I also owned a horse tha would come up trying to load on a ramp load trailer, but was 100% fine on a step up. Have her eyes checked. She may have vision issues. I would offer him 150.00 cash and say take it or leave it. She is cute none the less and if she doesn't pan out as a riding horse you could always breed her. I would put her with a trainer or maybe get a friend that has some experience to help you out. She is put together nicely.

 

[petchickenlover]

Quote:
I know you said no and all, but i see you are in WA and i just wanted to mention i know a great trainer in the Oakville area...However she does not take "problem" horses.