Veterinary

• Your new horse should have a full M.O.T - including teeth, chiropractor - using someone that is experienced with racehorses and the sorts of injuries they incur.
• Worm your new horse, and undertake a worm count. If the horse is not in particularly good condition weight wise and this doesn't improve after a second worming (and ulcers have been ruled out) then have a blood test done.
• Don't forget your horse's vaccination schedule.
• It is a good idea to have veterinary insurance.

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It is likely that your horse will have incurred some form of physical injury (back, pelvis and legs being the most common sites) particularly if it was a National Hunt horse.

• Such injuries may well have theoretically healed and so not cause any particular issues early on but as re-training work progresses, problems especially in the back may present and will need addressing.
• The primary injury affecting racehorses are sprains to the tendons of the front limbs. In the majority of cases these will recover with rest to perform other branches of equestrian activity.
• Horses which suffered from limb fractures (primarily from the knees) will be liable to further problems. Radiography will give a fair assessment of the future prognosis.
• Chronically lame horses are a bad risk, and professional advice will give a good guide to the likely future outcome.

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• The presence of ulcers is possible as a large proportion of racehorses have them, albeit low grade.  Signs include poor performance, loss of coat and condition. Whilst the change to a diet containing more fibre will help, you may well need to provide specific treatment to eliminate them so you should consult with your veterinary surgeon on this.
• Horses prone to epistaxis (nose bleeds) should offer no problems when put to less strenuous activities.
  
• Poor-doers or fussy feeders, who have not thrived in a racing environment, will usually improve in a situation where they have individual attention.
• Respiratory disease may just be a result of poor hay or straw, combined with being stabled for most of the day. Maximum turn-out along with shavings/paper for bedding will help.
  
• To avoid colic ensure regular feeding in small quantities, and do not change the diet too quickly.
  

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