Barbaro

[FS_Amy]

I've had a few ex-racehorses, like all horses, they have different personalities.  Many do make great riding horses.  I've had success both in and out of the show ring with ex-harness racers in particular.

The really sad part is that many of the racing injuries could be prevented simply by waiting to start these horses until they are 3-4 years old instead of 18 months-2.  Racehorses don't even hit their prime until they're between four and six (show horses even later).  SO why are they raced so young?  So they can retire to stud and bring in more money that way.  Most racehorses are more valuable as breeding horses than racing.

However, one thing about a post above.  While Barbaro's (or any horse's) sperm could be retrieved and saved, it would not be worth much in the racing world.  Unless this has changed in the last year or two, foals conceived by artificial insemination are not eligible for Jockey Club registration, and therefore cannot race.  This is also true of Standardbred harness racers

[AfterShock]

I've had a few ex-racehorses, like all horses, they have different personalities.  Many do make great riding horses.  I've had success both in and out of the show ring with ex-harness racers in particular.

The really sad part is that many of the racing injuries could be prevented simply by waiting to start these horses until they are 3-4 years old instead of 18 months-2.  Racehorses don't even hit their prime until they're between four and six (show horses even later).  SO why are they raced so young?  So they can retire to stud and bring in more money that way.  Most racehorses are more valuable as breeding horses than racing.

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You're correct Amy, they're started waaaay too young waaaay too often.  Time is money, right?
If I recall correctly, with the Thoroughbred registry, a foal is considered one year old on the last day of December of the same year. So, if it were foaled on January 1 -- they would be considered a yearling on December 31. Pretty normal. But if they were foaled on December 30th -- next day, they're a yearling. And they start to break them to ride at what 2 --> 2 1/2 years? Real years? Makes ya wonder.

Former race horses often have leg problems with splints and tendons, or the hooves -- as a result of being shod,-- having those shoes pulled,-- and other shoes nailed on. Too often and the hooves get honeycombed and crumble -- no way and no where for the nail to cinch up to and grab. Then there's the thrush problem in the damaged, exposed hoof. 

When folks think "race horse", many might imagine they all get the royal treatment -- and some do. And some don't. Depends on the budget.

Then there's the brood mares. Breeding farms have at least several brood mares, usually pastured. When the big daddy horses ain't bringin' home the bacon, brood mares often are first in line to get no hay till big daddy gets his groove.

It's a business that's hard on horses. And I hear the same thing occurs with greyhounds.
And they say fighting pit-bulls is cruel?

I agree with not rushing it by starting them too young. Start handling them early, put something light on their back to get a youngster used to feeling a saddle, work them on a lunge line, but save putting weight on their backs and save over working them too young. I like 3 --> 4 years before gettng real serious. Hail! They're like people teenagers about then. Around about six or seven and they have more sense.

Big mistake when first time horse buyers think they should get their beginning rider child a young horse so they can grow up together. Better to put 'em on a ten or twelve-year old, or even older. Make good baby sitters around that age.

[nascarbabe2U]

Well he did have his days.....and you could always predict the weather according to his behaviors...I think the poor guy was just lonely.....His owners, Ben & Zee never rode him or paid any attention to him. He just roamed around the corral.  But he loved to be talked to. And for some strange reason he'd try lick yer shirt or try and nibble at it if you used a fabric softener...strange animal he was. He had bad teeth and hated carrots but would nibble some hay or alfalfa from your hand. He wasn't big on oats either.  They bought him a girlfriend once but he didn't dig sharing his space so they moved her.