I’m looking for my next eventer!
He’s pretty. I like his movement behind better than up front. Just from the short clip, I wouldn’t immediately say “dressage horse.” But the trot can be improved, and for eventing, he might be fine. Do you know his registered name so we can look at his breeding?
ETA: If you do go try him, please don’t be so fussy with the hands as the rider in the video. All that yin-yanging would have ticked off all of my OTTBs.There could be the slightest uneveness behind, but I think that might be resistance to the hand.
Of course, if you like him, complete pre-purchase before buying. 
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He looks to be a nice person, given he is patiently tolerating extremely busy hands from his rider. There might be some imbalance behind but that could reflect imbalance by his rider in the canter. If you go and look at him, go with a knowledgeable friend who will give an honest opinion and watch him walk and trot on a hard surface: if the surface is hard it is easier to hear the rthymn of the steps. Then watch him being lunged: that should help you assess his natural balance and his step. Poor lunging technique can pull him off balance so perhaps then ask to see him loose schooled. Many OTTBs have issues after training but at his age there shouldn’t be anything long-term.
When you first look closely at the living horse, START at the feet - no foot no horse - then work up legs, shoulder and quarters. Look at how balanced the horse stands, weight through his feet, a leg at each corner. Too many people look at the head and stay “oh, pretty” and fail to see glaring problems because they already think the horse is lovely.
Most TBs are good at Eventing because they have natural athleticism, are brave and have good engines. If you buy a horse specifically as an Eventer, however, be prepared for new developments down the line. The horse may become your 5* performer but it also might tell you that really it was born to be a show jumper, or a field hunter or even that it prefers doing dressage to jumping over silly things. What I’m saying is buy with an open mind and don’t put all your dreams into a horse.
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Great advice, appreciate it!
I actually don’t like this one. Something is weird behind, tail carriage looks stiff.
Horse looks kind to tolerate “loud” riding without much fuss, but unless you can afford to do a PPE for kicks and giggles, I’d keep looking.
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I think he looks like he could be a Nice horse!
I believe the rider is trying to “force” a dressage frame to show what the horse could look like. He’s just not fit enough to really carry himself that way and be relaxed. Kind of like when the big European guys show us 4 year old warmbloods jumping 3’6 when those horses are barely broke. You can tell she has to use a lot of inside rein because he probably doesn’t have a lot of steering so he bulges the outside shoulder.
He is three. You have to go see him and sit on him to really know what you think imho. Also he’s three so this is going to be a long process to get him properly fit and properly broke. personally, I enjoy that process but it’s not for everyone.
I agree no matter the purchase price, unless you have a field he can live out his days for almost no money, a PPE is wise.
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I saw his ad too and liked the look of him. I agree with others that he’s only 3 and will need a lot of time, and please get a ppe including back x-rays. Kissing Spine is not a deterent, but you should know going in what is involved with it if he shows that. Just my opinion of course, I’m not an expert in anything related to horses.
Agree about getting back rads, I have a KS horse and it’s been a genuine nightmare. I adore the horse and he’s taught me so much, but… Would never, ever, want to do it again.
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Absolutely, that’s the plan along with hocks and front feet minimum!
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It appears to me he could be nice, as well. He seems quite tolerant…. To my eye, the rider appears to be posting “at” him, and chasing him out of the rhythm. Yes to the PPE.
If you’re going to do front feet, just do the hinds while you’re at it. If it looks like there could be a little something funky behind as some other posters here have suggested, negative angles in the hind hooves are an easy thing to check right off the bat.
We only x-rayed fronts at my OTTB’s PPE. He ended up having consistent hind end soreness that was related to NPA in his hinds.
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Agree with this. Wish I would have done it earlier on my current horse.
Thanks, good idea!
I came across an online ad for this horse a month ago. I liked his conformation, but I really wish I could see how he moves on a loose rein or without a rider. It’s much more valuable to me to evaluate the raw material than demonstrate the horse can go with his head down. I’m very far away from this horse (so not a potential match for me) but I’m curious about what he’s like in person. Good luck!
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thanks for your input! I agree that would be more helpful!
To me, he looks like a big ungainly horse who is hard to hold together. Could be that when you loose rein him he’s heavy on the forehand and falling all over himself. Not my favorite kind of young horse to work with. He looks like a lot of work. But I’m at that age where I don’t like to work that hard anymore, so…
That’s a pretty cool pedigree:
https://www.pedigreequery.com/lightkeeper2
He is out of a Tiznow mare, by a stallion who is out of Tiznow’s full sibling Tizso. That’s quality up close. It so happens that both Relaunch and Seattle Song are very nice for sport and I really like what I see in the two broodmares that are also doubled. So I would say a nice find pedigree-wise for sport.
But you don’t ride the pedigree.
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