05 Aug 2026
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By Buy That Horse
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Why You Cannot Properly Try an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred at the Racecourse
Understanding the Reality of Buying Thoroughbreds in South Africa
Understanding the Reality of Buying Thoroughbreds in South Africa
One of the biggest misconceptions among people looking to purchase an off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) is that they can simply arrive at a racing yard, ride several horses and choose the one they like best.
Unfortunately, that is not how the racing industry works.
While it is perfectly reasonable for buyers to want to try a horse before purchasing it, buying a Thoroughbred directly from a racing yard is very different from buying a horse that has already been retrained for another discipline.
Understanding how the racing industry operates helps buyers set realistic expectations and often improves their chances of finding the right horse.
Racehorses Are Professional Athletes
A Thoroughbred in training is not a riding school horse or a sales horse standing in a competition yard. It is a professional athlete following a carefully managed daily programme designed around racing performance.
Feeding schedules
Exercise routines
Gallop days
Veterinary care
Physiotherapy
Farrier visits
Recovery periods
Race entries
Allowing multiple prospective buyers to ride different horses would interrupt this carefully managed programme and could increase the risk of injury or affect the horse’s racing career.
Safety Comes First
Racehorses are generally ridden by experienced work riders who ride several horses every morning.
These riders understand:
Racehorse behaviour
Racing equipment
Fitness levels
Individual temperaments
Emergency situations
Even accomplished showjumping, dressage or eventing riders may find a Thoroughbred in active race training very different to ride. These horses are fit, athletic, highly responsive and trained to travel forward with purpose. They are not yet trained to work like sport horses.
Allowing unfamiliar riders onto horses that are still racing creates unnecessary risks for both horse and rider.
Insurance and Liability
Insurance and legal liability are another important consideration. If a prospective buyer falls from the horse or the horse is injured during a trial ride, several serious questions arise:
Who pays the veterinary costs?
Who is responsible if the rider is injured?
Who carries the insurance?
What happens if the horse misses an important race because of the injury?
For trainers and owners, these risks are simply too great.
The Horse Is Still in Active Training
Many Thoroughbreds offered for sale have not yet officially retired.
Some may still:
• Have races planned.
• Be entered for upcoming race meetings.
• Be owned by syndicates with multiple shareholders.
• Still be competing and earning prize money.
The horse is therefore still a racehorse first. Only once it officially retires can its retraining for another discipline begin.
Trainers Are Extremely Busy
One of the biggest frustrations buyers experience is waiting for replies from trainers. It is important to understand that racing trainers are incredibly busy.
Their day starts before sunrise and revolves around caring for dozens of horses, supervising staff, organising veterinary visits, farriers, feed programmes, race entries, transport, owners and the countless responsibilities involved in running a professional racing yard.
Responding to enquiries about horses for sale is only one small part of their day. Many trainers receive messages from numerous people looking for Thoroughbreds, and they simply cannot respond immediately to every enquiry.
A delayed response does not necessarily mean they are ignoring you or are not interested in selling the horse. More often than not, they are simply busy doing the job they are paid to do—training racehorses.
Good Horses Are in High Demand
There is enormous demand for quality off-the-track Thoroughbreds in South Africa. Professional retrainers, competition riders and horse agents are constantly looking for suitable horses. Many of these buyers have built long-standing relationships with trainers and are contacted as soon as a suitable horse becomes available.
Some horse agents purchase several Thoroughbreds every month, often before the horses are ever advertised publicly. This means that quality Thoroughbreds can sell very quickly.
If you spend several days requesting additional information, waiting for numerous videos or hoping to arrange a trial ride that is unlikely to happen, the horse may already have found a new home.
Why Videos Are Not Always Available
One of the most common requests trainers receive is for additional videos. While videos are certainly useful, they are not always easy to provide.
The horse may have already completed its work for the morning, the trainer may not have someone available to film, or there simply may not be time during a busy working day. Remember that a racing yard is not a horse dealership with a dedicated sales team.
Its priority is caring for horses and preparing them for racing. If videos are available, that is a bonus. If they are not, it does not automatically mean there is anything wrong with the horse or that someone is hiding information.
Protect Yourself Before You Buy
Purchasing an off-the-track Thoroughbred is an exciting opportunity, but buyers should always protect themselves before committing to the purchase.
It is strongly recommended that every buyer arranges an independent pre-purchase veterinary examination with a qualified veterinarian of their own choice before purchasing the horse.
A veterinary examination provides valuable information about the horse’s current health and soundness and allows buyers to make an informed decision before ownership changes hands. It is equally important to arrange horse insurance before the horse leaves the racing yard.
Accidents and injuries can happen at any time, including while the horse is waiting for transport or during transport to its new home. Having insurance in place before the horse departs provides valuable financial protection should the unexpected occur.
Retraining Changes Everything
One of the greatest qualities of the Thoroughbred is its intelligence, athletic ability and willingness to learn.
Once retired from racing, these horses can be retrained for many different careers, including:
• Showjumping
• Dressage
• Eventing
• Endurance
• Polo
• Pleasure riding
• Trail riding
• General all-round riding
The horse you eventually ride after retraining may feel completely different from the horse that left the racetrack. Many become calm, willing and exceptionally versatile partners.
What Buyers Should Do Instead
Rather than insisting on riding the horse while it is still in race training, buyers should focus on gathering as much information as possible.
This includes:
• Asking for any available videos.
• Watching the horse being handled.
• Discussing its temperament honestly with the trainer.
• Reviewing its racing history.
• Asking about previous injuries or veterinary history where available.
• Arranging your own independent pre-purchase veterinary examination.
• Arranging insurance before the horse leaves the racing yard.
• Being ready to make a decision if the horse meets your requirements.
Buyers should also remember that if they are genuinely looking for an off-the-track Thoroughbred, patience, trust and prompt decision-making are often part of the process.
Final Thoughts
Buying an off-the-track Thoroughbred is different from buying a horse that has already been retrained for showjumping, dressage or pleasure riding.
The racing industry moves quickly. Trainers have demanding schedules, quality horses are in high demand, and experienced horse agents are constantly looking for suitable Thoroughbreds.
Understanding this process helps buyers appreciate why trial rides are generally not possible, why trainers may not always reply immediately and why additional videos are not always available. Instead of focusing on whether you can ride the horse at the track, focus on its temperament, conformation, athleticism, veterinary history where available and its potential after retirement.
Many of South Africa’s finest sport horses began their lives on the racetrack. With the right retraining, knowledgeable management and a little patience, an off-the-track Thoroughbred can become an exceptional partner and excel in almost any equestrian discipline.
The key is to remember that you are not buying a finished sport horse—you are buying potential. And with the Thoroughbred, that potential is often extraordinary.
One of the biggest misconceptions among people looking to purchase an off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) is that they can simply arrive at a racing yard, ride several horses and choose the one they like best.
Unfortunately, that is not how the racing industry works.
While it is perfectly reasonable for buyers to want to try a horse before purchasing it, buying a Thoroughbred directly from a racing yard is very different from buying a horse that has already been retrained for another discipline.
Understanding how the racing industry operates helps buyers set realistic expectations and often improves their chances of finding the right horse.
Racehorses Are Professional Athletes
A Thoroughbred in training is not a riding school horse or a sales horse standing in a competition yard. It is a professional athlete following a carefully managed daily programme designed around racing performance.
Feeding schedules
Exercise routines
Gallop days
Veterinary care
Physiotherapy
Farrier visits
Recovery periods
Race entries
Allowing multiple prospective buyers to ride different horses would interrupt this carefully managed programme and could increase the risk of injury or affect the horse’s racing career.
Safety Comes First
Racehorses are generally ridden by experienced work riders who ride several horses every morning.
These riders understand:
Racehorse behaviour
Racing equipment
Fitness levels
Individual temperaments
Emergency situations
Even accomplished showjumping, dressage or eventing riders may find a Thoroughbred in active race training very different to ride. These horses are fit, athletic, highly responsive and trained to travel forward with purpose. They are not yet trained to work like sport horses.
Allowing unfamiliar riders onto horses that are still racing creates unnecessary risks for both horse and rider.
Insurance and Liability
Insurance and legal liability are another important consideration. If a prospective buyer falls from the horse or the horse is injured during a trial ride, several serious questions arise:
Who pays the veterinary costs?
Who is responsible if the rider is injured?
Who carries the insurance?
What happens if the horse misses an important race because of the injury?
For trainers and owners, these risks are simply too great.
The Horse Is Still in Active Training
Many Thoroughbreds offered for sale have not yet officially retired.
Some may still:
• Have races planned.
• Be entered for upcoming race meetings.
• Be owned by syndicates with multiple shareholders.
• Still be competing and earning prize money.
The horse is therefore still a racehorse first. Only once it officially retires can its retraining for another discipline begin.
Trainers Are Extremely Busy
One of the biggest frustrations buyers experience is waiting for replies from trainers. It is important to understand that racing trainers are incredibly busy.
Their day starts before sunrise and revolves around caring for dozens of horses, supervising staff, organising veterinary visits, farriers, feed programmes, race entries, transport, owners and the countless responsibilities involved in running a professional racing yard.
Responding to enquiries about horses for sale is only one small part of their day. Many trainers receive messages from numerous people looking for Thoroughbreds, and they simply cannot respond immediately to every enquiry.
A delayed response does not necessarily mean they are ignoring you or are not interested in selling the horse. More often than not, they are simply busy doing the job they are paid to do—training racehorses.
Good Horses Are in High Demand
There is enormous demand for quality off-the-track Thoroughbreds in South Africa. Professional retrainers, competition riders and horse agents are constantly looking for suitable horses. Many of these buyers have built long-standing relationships with trainers and are contacted as soon as a suitable horse becomes available.
Some horse agents purchase several Thoroughbreds every month, often before the horses are ever advertised publicly. This means that quality Thoroughbreds can sell very quickly.
If you spend several days requesting additional information, waiting for numerous videos or hoping to arrange a trial ride that is unlikely to happen, the horse may already have found a new home.
Why Videos Are Not Always Available
One of the most common requests trainers receive is for additional videos. While videos are certainly useful, they are not always easy to provide.
The horse may have already completed its work for the morning, the trainer may not have someone available to film, or there simply may not be time during a busy working day. Remember that a racing yard is not a horse dealership with a dedicated sales team.
Its priority is caring for horses and preparing them for racing. If videos are available, that is a bonus. If they are not, it does not automatically mean there is anything wrong with the horse or that someone is hiding information.
Protect Yourself Before You Buy
Purchasing an off-the-track Thoroughbred is an exciting opportunity, but buyers should always protect themselves before committing to the purchase.
It is strongly recommended that every buyer arranges an independent pre-purchase veterinary examination with a qualified veterinarian of their own choice before purchasing the horse.
A veterinary examination provides valuable information about the horse’s current health and soundness and allows buyers to make an informed decision before ownership changes hands. It is equally important to arrange horse insurance before the horse leaves the racing yard.
Accidents and injuries can happen at any time, including while the horse is waiting for transport or during transport to its new home. Having insurance in place before the horse departs provides valuable financial protection should the unexpected occur.
Retraining Changes Everything
One of the greatest qualities of the Thoroughbred is its intelligence, athletic ability and willingness to learn.
Once retired from racing, these horses can be retrained for many different careers, including:
• Showjumping
• Dressage
• Eventing
• Endurance
• Polo
• Pleasure riding
• Trail riding
• General all-round riding
The horse you eventually ride after retraining may feel completely different from the horse that left the racetrack. Many become calm, willing and exceptionally versatile partners.
What Buyers Should Do Instead
Rather than insisting on riding the horse while it is still in race training, buyers should focus on gathering as much information as possible.
This includes:
• Asking for any available videos.
• Watching the horse being handled.
• Discussing its temperament honestly with the trainer.
• Reviewing its racing history.
• Asking about previous injuries or veterinary history where available.
• Arranging your own independent pre-purchase veterinary examination.
• Arranging insurance before the horse leaves the racing yard.
• Being ready to make a decision if the horse meets your requirements.
Buyers should also remember that if they are genuinely looking for an off-the-track Thoroughbred, patience, trust and prompt decision-making are often part of the process.
Final Thoughts
Buying an off-the-track Thoroughbred is different from buying a horse that has already been retrained for showjumping, dressage or pleasure riding.
The racing industry moves quickly. Trainers have demanding schedules, quality horses are in high demand, and experienced horse agents are constantly looking for suitable Thoroughbreds.
Understanding this process helps buyers appreciate why trial rides are generally not possible, why trainers may not always reply immediately and why additional videos are not always available. Instead of focusing on whether you can ride the horse at the track, focus on its temperament, conformation, athleticism, veterinary history where available and its potential after retirement.
Many of South Africa’s finest sport horses began their lives on the racetrack. With the right retraining, knowledgeable management and a little patience, an off-the-track Thoroughbred can become an exceptional partner and excel in almost any equestrian discipline.
The key is to remember that you are not buying a finished sport horse—you are buying potential. And with the Thoroughbred, that potential is often extraordinary.