A new bond

Ex-racehorses tend to be cheap, athletic and trainable – but they are used to professional handling. Becky Murray discovers how some amateur riders have clicked with ex-racers in their new careers

- Becky Murray

FORMER racehorses have long excelled across the disciplines. From the show ring to the highest levels of eventing, their trainability and athleticism make them a popular choice among many top riders.

And it’s not just professionals to whom they appeal. Retired racehorses have often come with a more affordable price tag, making them attractive to individuals with a smaller budget, especially in the current market which has seen horse prices soar over the past 18 months. But given thoroughbreds are known for their sensitive nature, what sort of rider does it take to guide a racehorse into a new career, and is an amateur up to the job?

Kate Hayward, Midlands nutrition advisor for Saracen Horse Feeds, bought former Flat racehorse Arogo (Gunner) for £800 in 2019, 10 days after the three-year-old gelding’s final race. Kate was seeking a horse for eventing, but after spending a lot treating her previous Irish Sport Horse mare’s soundness issues, she was left with a limited budget.

“When it came to buying my next horse, money was a huge factor. I had £1,000 and knew that wasn’t going to buy me something I could get on straight away, so that’s why I looked at ex-racehorses,” she explains.

“I gave him three months of downtime, did some long-reining and groundwork and basically treated him like any young horse, taking things back to basics. At New Year, I got on him for the first time and he’s been an absolute dream.