Why I say no viewings in the first two weeks after a horse comes off the track.

Jess Land is a NZTR acknowledged re-trainer of off-the-track thoroughbreds.

Why I say no viewings in the first two weeks after a horse comes off the track.

Picture this, you have been in one job your whole life, know the routine and system and are really comfortable in that position but have never done anything else. You then shift jobs to something totally different, get a new manager and on the first day get taught a whole new way of doing things, then on day two you get someone new again and the same on day three, four and five…

By the end of that first week you are going to be utterly confused, have no idea quite what is actually expected of you and wondering what the hell you got yourself into.

By comparison you turn up at your new job, have a new manager that’s use to training people up and for two weeks you get a basic run through of everything that’s expected of you, at that point others chip in, give you ideas and throw different ways of doing things into the equation.

You are going to cope a lot better in system two aren’t you! You have a basic idea of what’s expected of you already and having other ideas thrown at you might get a touch confusing but it’s not going to be utterly overwhelming in the same way!

That’s what it’s like for these horses when they finish up at the track and join the sport horse world. It can be a really confusing time for the horses and if they get a couple of weeks to just work out the system they often settle into it a lot better.

So yes I’m fussy, you can meet them in the paddock and get them a bit cheaper in the first two weeks but I am not prepared to let 6 different people come and view a horse and confuse the poor bugger past the point of reasonable just to make you feel better about the sale. If you are buying a horse in that really early stage off the track you need to be capable and experienced and happy to shape the horse into what you are wanting and accept the fact that not every horse is perfect for the job you want. They are cheaper at this point but you have to be able to do the job and make the transition as smooth as possible for them and be prepared that you might just be a stepping stone home on the way to the horse getting its perfect match.

If you want to come and view them, push their buttons and really make sure they are going to be suitable. Pull your pennies out of your pocket, be prepared to pay for the work someone else has put into the horse to have it at a point where you can actively try it and get a good idea of its suitability but please stop expecting people to do that first stage for free it’s not always sunshine and rainbows and you get a much more proven product due to it which should be worth something.

I’m a big advocate for the TB’s. I think they are the most wonderfully trainable animals that give you everything and are just amazing at adapting to what is one hell of a lifestyle adjustment for them. It makes me sad they aren’t valued as highly as they should be because they are far more suitable for people than most of these crossbreds and warmbloods people are willing to pay mega bucks for and for most people wanting a good middle of the road all rounder to enjoy they are perfect mounts. Lets try and normalise giving these horses time to adapt, accepting what you are picking up if you take them in the first week and being prepared to pay their worth if you want one that is a step further along!

I’ve had a few questions on why I won’t let people view them in those initial two weeks recently so I thought it was good time to clarify my reasonings and thoughts behind it because at the end of the day contrary to what some people seem to believe I’m just trying to do what’s best to set the horse up for the best future possible and having 6 different riders in the first week off the track isn’t it.

Jess Land: Jess Land Equestrian