horses being turned in for rescue

[Linny]

In the horseshow world TB's are a dime a dozen. They used to dominate but the Warmblood breeds own it now. Since horses coming off the track can be had cheap, they often end up in "backyard" barns with families looking to have a horse on the cheap. As such they get poor training and usually scare the crap out of their 14yo girl owner within 6 months. They then end up being given away to an even worse place. I know this because for years I rode just this kind of horse. He was lovely, well bred and messed up. He'd attack you if you weren't paying attention and was very erratic. He'd been abused by a "breaker" after going to a kid who's parents were not willing to spend $3k on a well broke quarter horse. They saved $2k and got Grey off the track.

[sumitas]

Originally Posted by Linny

In the horseshow world TB's are a dime a dozen. They used to dominate but the Warmblood breeds own it now. Since horses coming off the track can be had cheap, they often end up in "backyard" barns with families looking to have a horse on the cheap. As such they get poor training and usually scare the crap out of their 14yo girl owner within 6 months. They then end up being given away to an even worse place. I know this because for years I rode just this kind of horse. He was lovely, well bred and messed up. He'd attack you if you weren't paying attention and was very erratic. He'd been abused by a "breaker" after going to a kid who's parents were not willing to spend $3k on a well broke quarter horse. They saved $2k and got Grey off the track.

Geesh, not another sickly inbred juice freak from Ky . These thoroughbreds have been so juiced up for decades I don't think anyone with 1/2 a brain can really believe those Ky pedigrees amount to a hill of beans .

[Linny]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Geesh, not another sickly inbred juice freak from Ky . These thoroughbreds have been so juiced up for decades I don't think anyone with 1/2 a brain can really believe those Ky pedigrees amount to a hill of beans .

This particular horse was a NY bred. He'd run well too. I see it happen all the time because in addition to working in racing, I ride hunters and jumpers. I showed alot on the circuit "back in the day" and have seen the tide turn against TB's. I know alot (hundreds) of TB's who came off the track and went to homes that were not prepared to deal with a track trained horse. It's a no win situation.
In eventing they still have a place. In the hunters and jumpers, they are rare and the ones that are out there are rarely well trained or managed because since they can be bought cheap, they tend to go to cheap owners who use "modest" trainers. It doesn't matter where they come from. I know people who breed TB's specifically for sport. They have hunter and jumper pedigrees, they've never been trained to race etc. Raised just like warmbloods and yet they are alot less money to buy because of the stigma of the TB.