Racehorses deserve a wonderful retirement just like anyone else. But buying a retired racehorse does come with challenges. It’s crucial to be realistic and understand the needs of a horse trained to do a specific job. Here are our success stories and some vital information you should know.
By Golly
Golyna – “By Golly” is a 10-year-old unraced gelding by Unbridled’s Song who is currently thriving in the hunter/jumper world in the Adult Amateur 50+ divisions at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. Katie’s father had By Golly in training as a two-year-old, and he was quite the character as a colt. He always had the sweetest disposition and was easy to spot in the barn with all of his white.
Early in his three-year-old year, he was sent to the racetrack to run. Unfortunately, he had a minor injury that required a little more time, and the owner decided to let Katie rehab him and find him a home for a second career. This may have been one of the smoothest transitions anyone could have wanted. Katie showed By Golly at a local horseshow, and he quickly made his way to Tryon, North Carolina, to his new home.
Moving into a competitive hunter/jumper barn, By Golly showed his talent as the highest scoring Thoroughbred at Green incentive finals as a 6- and 7-year-old. Becoming the highest earning Thoroughbred in the incentive program and the fourth highest money earner for American Bred horses in the incentive program in 2019. Transitioning to a new owner in Ocala, By Golly has continued to be competitive against horses bred for the hunter ring. Following him in his career has been exciting and shows that Thoroughbreds continue to be versatile, and there can be a little something for everyone.
Gabriel
Power Buzz – “Gabriel” is a 6-year-old unraced gelding by Power Broker who isn’t living far from where he started his career as he is a homebred of Katie’s family. Making it to the racetrack as a two-year-old after going through a two-year-old in training sale, he would not stop growing.
He left the racetrack and returned for a little R&R to finish growing up. He did everything right when he was put back into training but dealt with an old, slight injury and continued growth spurts. It was decided that he would make a lovely horse in a second career, and he quickly found a home close by in DeLeon Springs, Florida.
As a 6-year-old, it was the best decision we could have made for him. The growth spurts only slowed down more recently, but more importantly, he found the perfect home. His new owner has been patient in allowing him to grow up and provides him with the best friends of donkeys, goats, cats, and chickens!
Realistic Thoroughbred Care
Retired racehorses are intelligent and beautiful, but they will take additional training to ensure they’re comfortable and happy once they’re off the track. You’ll need experience, time, money, and patience to care for a retired racer. And keep in mind that retired racehorses aren’t good starter horses for a novice rider. This article from Horse and Hound UK gives a lot of information that could be useful when making this decision.
Where to Find a Retired Racehorse
Several adoption agencies across the U.S. specialize in the placement of retired racehorses. You want to work with an agency with a good reputation for caring for and placing horses. The top agencies include:
The Ology of Great Horses
The team at horseOlogy has an incredible roster of horses available for investment as they begin their racing careers. Get into the sport of racing on the ground floor by purchasing shares of our thoroughbreds. We follow our horses through all stages of life while we have them and beyond.
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