Critique of two OTTBs *Edited, two new ones!*

[Thoro]

Hello,

Wondering if someone has a moment to give me their opinion on two geldings I’m debating between purchasing. Both had their last races in the fall and have had a few rides since, both have good temperaments. I’m just looking for a project to have fun, take our time with and work correctly. Hopefully do some local hunter shows in the future but nothing too big.

First guy: 16.3h 7yrs old. 35 starts and (seemingly) sound with clean legs. Definitely the height I want but his neck looks a bit wonky…I think with some groceries and consistent work he could develop, but I’ve never had a horse with an underdeveloped neck like that so it’d be good to hear opinions. Looks like a decent mover to me.
http://s1038.photobucket.com/user/em…e_media&page=1

Second guy: 16h 8yrs old. Little shorter than I wanted but he’d definitely take up leg lol. 27 starts and sound. Sorry I lost pictures but have video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcp0nW0YVqY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YRlE-5lsf8

Any thoughts?

[Bristol_Bay]

I am not a good judge, but that won’t stop me from saying the the chestnut looks wonky in the hind end. I prefer the first guy. His neck will look totally different in 6 months.

[Renn_aissance]

I’m also not an expert, but based just on what I see here, I might keep looking. The dark horse’s neck doesn’t bother me, but he has some looooooong pasterns in front, particularly the left fore which is asymmetrical to the right. Some but not all may be an optical illusion from the angle of his front feet, although those are their own story- hard to see with the shadow but he looks like he hasn’t got much heel in the front and he’s upright in back. The hind ankles have clearly seen a career. I’d tread carefully with radiographs and probably talk to my farrier before going further; I see a potential future soundness problem.

The chestnut horse looks unsound up high behind. I see stifle but that might be secondary to something subtler going on in the SI.

[Training_Cupid]

Do you mean project for resale, or intend to keep as your own riding horse? If the latter then I think either of these horses are fine if they vet okay and you click with them. If neither is really tugging at you then keep looking.
After I first saw my horse I couldn’t get him out of my head. He was the first one I tried, and I looked at several more after but I kept thinking back to him. I was already mentally putting together a training plan and had a new name for him picked out. I just knew he was the one.

[Thoro]

@Renn/aissance

I’m also not an expert, but based just on what I see here, I might keep looking. The dark horse’s neck doesn’t bother me, but he has some looooooong pasterns in front, particularly the left fore which is asymmetrical to the right. Some but not all may be an optical illusion from the angle of his front feet, although those are their own story- hard to see with the shadow but he looks like he hasn’t got much heel in the front and he’s upright in back. The hind ankles have clearly seen a career. I’d tread carefully with radiographs and probably talk to my farrier before going further; I see a potential future soundness problem.

The chestnut horse looks unsound up high behind. I see stifle but that might be secondary to something subtler going on in the SI.

I sent a message to my farrier about him. I like him but after dealing with my last horse’s soundness issues not sure I want to do that again. I’m having trouble finding a project horse near me that fits the bill and at this point I’ve been horseless for awhile and might be looking to jump the gun too soon. Thanks for the input!

[Thoro]

@Training Cupid

Do you mean project for resale, or intend to keep as your own riding horse? If the latter then I think either of these horses are fine if they vet okay and you click with them. If neither is really tugging at you then keep looking.
After I first saw my horse I couldn’t get him out of my head. He was the first one I tried, and I looked at several more after but I kept thinking back to him. I was already mentally putting together a training plan and had a new name for him picked out. I just knew he was the one.

Horse would be my own project to keep. I’ve pretty much ruled out the chestnut at this point but I still kind of like the bay. I would be buying sight unseen because I can’t find a horse near me that would fit the bill and is in my price range. Not sure how people typically go about doing that, it is waaay more difficult than I expected.

[outside_leg]

The bay is cute, but I agree his pasterns are long. Low heels are pretty much expected in thoroughbreds fresh off the track. How long has he been off? If it’s a relatively short time, you may be able to work with your farrier to grow out the heel, or resort to wedges or pads. I’d definitely be more concerned about his pasterns. Could leave him vulnerable to ligament strains/pulls down the line.

I was in your boat (and in Connecticut, actually) last year. It took me about 6 months to find my guy. I started with my network of trainers and friends, then expended to Canter and Finger Lakes Finest as well as some of the usual sales sites. I found a lot that were too old, had poor conformation, unsound, etc. I took one on trial that turned out to be a bit nuts, and for the price, I didn’t want to deal with the underlying baggage. Eventually I found a 4 year old, lightly started TB in NY and he’s just been stellar. I’ve had him for 6 months now, and he’s turning out to be more talented and more fun than I ever hoped.

Also, when I found him, I knew right away he was the one. I drove 6 hours to see him on the track. He was chill even during some chaos that erupted nearby. As soon as he passed the vetting, I said yes.

So my advice is to be patient. A horse is a big investment. I completely relate to being horseless and frustrated, to feeling like I was never going to find the right project. But I did, and because I didn’t jump the gun with some questionable prospects I saw earlier, I have a horse who’s sound, game, and a real sweetheart.

You’ll find the right horse in time. And when you do, I bet you’ll know.

[Didi]

You are right to count out the chestnut. He is unsound and doesn’t use his shoulder well in any case. I could not get the video on the bay, but his neck is really long and he looks a little light behind. The main things, though, since you are going to keep him is temperament, willingness, and chemistry between the two of you. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Lord_Helpus]

Keep looking. My wonderful Waldo had a skinny neck as a 2 - 5 year old (never this bad). By 6 I had to put him down because every vertebrae was malformed or degenerating.

There is no normal reason for a neck to be this narrow.

[Thoro]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the advice. The bay came off the track in October so his feet could improve, but I guess his pasterns are awfully long. I’ll keep looking, there’s a mare I was thinking about that I may try to post some pictures of.

[findeight]

If 16h or over height is important to you and/or are looking to resell? Don’t fall in love off a picture or video until you verify it’s actually the stated height, it’s hard to find TBs actually over 16h. I just spent several hours in a car helping a friend look at 3 OTTBs as potential resale Hunters in 3 different places advertised as at least 16h that weren’t even close. She wouldn’t have thumbed her nose at an honest 15.3 and change but…:no:

[visorvet]

+1 I would not be at all worried about the neck. As long as it comes out of the horse’s shoulder nicely and the horse carries himself well, then the neck will blossom when the horse is in regular work. Thoroughbreds lose tons of muscle when they are out of work, and what they do on the track may or may not produce nice neck development. The gelding I purchased last year had a positively concave neck and now he’s a beefcake and everyone assumes he’s a warmblood. I just purchased another one like this last week and anticipate he will look very different in a few months.

[Thoro]

@findeight

If 16h or over height is important to you and/or are looking to resell? Don’t fall in love off a picture or video until you verify it’s actually the stated height, it’s hard to find TBs actually over 16h. I just spent several hours in a car helping a friend look at 3 OTTBs as potential resale Hunters in 3 different places advertised as at least 16h that weren’t even close. She wouldn’t have thumbed her nose at an honest 15.3 and change but…:no:

I would be okay with a stockier 15.3 that took up some leg, but since most TBs aren’t built that way I end up looking too big on them.
Will definitely keep that in mind - I was looking at a mare I was told was 16.2, even if the rider had abnormally long legs there was no way she was over 16h

[findeight]

@Thoro

I would be okay with a stockier 15.3 that took up some leg, but since most TBs aren’t built that way I end up looking too big on them.
Will definitely keep that in mind - I was looking at a mare I was told was 16.2, even if the rider had abnormally long legs there was no way she was over 16h

You should be able to get an answer if you ask approx how tall the rider is. If you don’t or they say they don’t know and it looks like the rider is way big on the horse? Trust your gut and first impression, Hunters are very much about first impressions and it can be a really long drive home after looking at something that’s just not even close. Nothing wrong with that honest 15.3 in the Hunter ring except too many advertise it as 16.2. Mine was supposed to be 16.1…15.3 and change on the stick.

[Thoro]

Found two new potential horses! Both 4yr old mares. Recently off track and very lightly restarted. Would definitely have PPEs done, but they are both close enough I could go see them as well.

Grey: https://goo.gl/photos/xENoH8TE9ZJBvdj67

Bay: https://goo.gl/photos/mwWBjCKG8CtmYXJ46 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbjig0hiFxw

Do you think I’m a little more on track with conformation/potential soundness than with the geldings?

[ThegoodLife]

The bay looks REALLY off behind. They grey seems really small, but I get the impression she has a good brain.

[findeight]

Of these two the grey for sure, looks further along, stockier type, moves square, would like to see her canter and that’s not 16h… The bay seems really wonky behind to me though, in her defense, lunging in small circles this slooooooow doesn’t make anything look good.

Heck, if they are close? Go look. But take a neutral friend to avoid impulse buying. Not in love with either of these based on what you said you were looking for but you never know until you see them in person. And sometimes a willing temperament is better then a few inches.

[Thoro]

@findeight

Of these two the grey for sure, looks further along, stockier type, moves square, would like to see her canter and that’s not 16h… The bay seems really wonky behind to me though, in her defense, lunging in small circles this slooooooow doesn’t make anything look good.

Heck, if they are close? Go look. But take a neutral friend to avoid impulse buying. Not in love with either of these based on what you said you were looking for but you never know until you see them in person. And sometimes a willing temperament is better then a few inches.

Grey does look small, but rider said she was 5’10" and since I’m not quite that I figure she might be fine, I’d be able to tell better in person. You were very right about heights though, most everything I’ve seen has been about 2" smaller than advertised.

Grey is more in my price range, bay would be at the top of it but doable.

[Thoro]

@ThegoodLife

The bay looks REALLY off behind. They grey seems really small, but I get the impression she has a good brain.

Thanks, I am not at all good at seeing issues with the hind end, that’s how I ended up with my last horse and his issues Of course I didn’t have a vet look at him before either. Hoping they would notice too.

[StormyDay]

I would like to see conformation pics on the grey. She looks shorter than you want but I like that she can trot down the road without being a dork about it. To me, brain= everything but you may feel differently on that.
That bay is a no. It has a crazy eye and is lame. I would pass.