Comments on: Saving Thoroughbreds

By: Brennig Jones » Rehabilitating ex’s

Brennig Jones » Rehabilitating ex’s — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:33:11 +0000

[...] was over at Lisa’s place the other day reading this article about racehorse rehabilitation. Apart from emphasising the difference between the US and the UK, [...]

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:31:36 +0000

Ahh… good point, well made. It seems that it would be better to let a trainer retrain the horse, and then adopt it, if someone is willing to let go of the horse at that point.

Do you sell them after rehabing them, or do you keep them?

By: Brennig

Brennig — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:30:02 +0000

I’m on my third TB ex-racehorse. I’ve rehabilitated all of them myself. Unfortunately it takes two years (or sometimes longer) of retraining to get the mental out of their heads and turn them in to safe riding horses. And retraining them isn’t a job for amateurs.

But it’s very rewarding, to see a rehabilitated racehorse having fun and enjoying a new lease of life.

Unfortunately ex-racehorses are as cheap as chips at bloodstock auctions. Far too often people read about how inexpensive they are and that such an ex-racehorse has just won a Four Star three-day-event. And these people engage on a course of action that usually leads to tears. Or worse.