We currently have 8 former TB race horses retired/repurposed here. I find the picture painted by Tom to be a little more grim than our experience. We could not offer affordable retirement for these horses if we were not able to keep costs down. Of course none of the horses are insured, few need shoes, we trim the barefoot ones ourselves, with good premises fly control you don't need fly sprays, and it helps that there is a vet in the family. Some geldings come off the track very rideable, some not; you will want to choose a quiet one - yes, many race horses are actually very calm once away from the track. They are generally mannerly, nice horses that have "been there done that" and unlikely to shy you off into a bramble bush.
