Adopting ex racer

Question
I would like to adopt and ex-racer.  Do these guys ever slow down?  I plan on going through training, but people keep telling me that if he ever gets his neck out he will take off.

Answer
Rachael,

It just depends on the individual horse.  Thoroughbreds (and all horses) are just as individual as people are.  I know many, many Thoroughbreds who have transitioned into life as a riding horse just fine, and seem to enjoy the relaxation far more than they did the racetrack.  There are also plenty of Thoroughbreds out there who were way too lazy to be good racehorses, and needed next to no time to get used to hacking around the farm at very slow speeds.
I also have one of my own ex-racers in my pasture who has been retired for 4 years and who I would never try to ride for pleasure, as I'm fairly certain that he'd kill one or both of us being stupid.  He has never really gotten the hang of anything besides "go really fast!, and "stop dead".  So he just hangs out , drives me nuts, and eats about 3 pounds of carrots each and every day.
My advice is to spend a little time getting to know your prospective adoptee before taking the plunge, and watching his/her body language closely.  A calm, relaxed racehorse will probably be a good riding horse prospect.  A nervous, wide-eyed nutcase might settle down, but likely won't.

Good Luck,

Stephanie Frost
www.AlchemyBloodstock.com