What do you do with thoroughbreds after their career?
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Blue feather
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What do you do with thoroughbreds after their career?
I have a small farm so I am pressed for room not to mention the extra expense of non-productive thoroughbreds. I breed to race. What do some of you breeders out there do with your horses after their broodmare or racing career?
I keep them all. I've gotten to the point where I can't believe or trust anyone about where the horse would wind up. The herd keeps getting bigger, but I created them, so I'm responsible for them. I don't breed to sell, only to race.
"When I am on my deathbed, I imagine I will say, 'Thank God I did that'" - Arthur Hancock, on buying back Gato del Sol from Europe after Exceller was killed in a slaughterhouse in Sweden.
connect up with trainers of sporthorses
You can either have people you work with in hunter/jumper, eventing, or dressage to buy your homebreds who aren't making it at the track, which they would probably take on as resale projects. Otherwise alot of people sell their horses in ads like the banner headlines this site hosts.
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karenkarenn
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Blue feather
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Good question since lots either don't make it, or you still own them when they retire. My first suggestion is to breed well enough (or at least try to 
) so that anything with ovaries has broodmare value somewhere to someone if not you.
Secondly, when starting young horses, hack them, get them used to lots of things, take pics when they are chubby, and free jump them a wee bit to see if they have later potential as a hunter/jumper/eventer. If you do this and want to sell or market them when they are race fit, you have some info and pics over fences to share with someone and are not trying to see if a dead fit or horse who is injured can jump without being hangy-legged.
When I have a nice mover who I know jumps with good form, I call a local coach or pro and tell them. I used to reschool, show and sell, but it isn't worth it to me. It takes too much time from the business of racing and I find a coach has better contacts for good clients. When advertising horses, you get some real nuts and I find that very hard to deal with. I love to keep in touch with people who are happy, and have people who have one of mine invite me to call if I have another like him. I won't give one away again.
It is a tough thing in this market. When you know the horse has a lovely disposition, it is good to ask the people who worked with it to help you. Lots of exercise riders and grooms also show or event and might be able to help you sell a horse as well.
) so that anything with ovaries has broodmare value somewhere to someone if not you.
Secondly, when starting young horses, hack them, get them used to lots of things, take pics when they are chubby, and free jump them a wee bit to see if they have later potential as a hunter/jumper/eventer. If you do this and want to sell or market them when they are race fit, you have some info and pics over fences to share with someone and are not trying to see if a dead fit or horse who is injured can jump without being hangy-legged.
When I have a nice mover who I know jumps with good form, I call a local coach or pro and tell them. I used to reschool, show and sell, but it isn't worth it to me. It takes too much time from the business of racing and I find a coach has better contacts for good clients. When advertising horses, you get some real nuts and I find that very hard to deal with. I love to keep in touch with people who are happy, and have people who have one of mine invite me to call if I have another like him. I won't give one away again.
It is a tough thing in this market. When you know the horse has a lovely disposition, it is good to ask the people who worked with it to help you. Lots of exercise riders and grooms also show or event and might be able to help you sell a horse as well.