War horse longevity in sport?

[Ruth0552]

@Xanthoria

People who have a different definition of sound to me

This is something that should be repeated.

There are a lot of definitions of “sound” as far as I can tell. I’ve seen sales videos of horses where I thought maybe you could have done one where the horse wasn’t head bobbing lame. But I’ve seen lots of owners digging around, dragging Pookie off to god-knows-where for thousands in diagnostics because the owner doesn’t think she’s right, but the horse is moving well and jumping fine. And when you go looking for something, you’ll find something eventually.

[Texarkana]

There is a mental fortitude component to soundness. A horse that could regularly run for multiple years, making over 50 starts, probably has a good amount of mental toughness to power through minor discomfort. At least that has been my experience working with TBs both on the track and in second careers.

A personal anecdote: I owned a horse who made 109 starts. He was the soundest horse I ever owned. But fairly early into his 20s, all of that wear and tear hit him at once. I thought I would be riding him forever, but I had to retire him earlier than expected. When I say earlier than expected, we are still talking over 20 years of age. He had quite a number of careers in his life!

[shinybrite13]

Wow, thanks for that link! Super informative. In addition to what the vet pointed out to me (during a failed pre-purchase on a “war horse”), I feel much better informed for my next go round.

[WinsomeTK]

Out of the OTTB’s I know, some stand out. One used as a school horse AND regional competition horse for the kids AND ridden by owner who competed 1m - 1.10m in the provincials. He had the occasional limp/warm leg but he was a tank.
Another one was a fine boned mare with 13 starts and decent earnings. She always had issues, had arthritis at a fairly young age and despite the great care received was euthanized at 15. Her arthritis was awful and was starting to prevent her from eating and laying down.
Both had clear PPE’s at time of purchase.

[hldyrhrses]

I leased a horse that had raced over 75 times, went on to event Intermediate and below with lots of riders. Had a leg so over at the knee it looked broken. Went to probably 100 USEA events and lived into his 20’s where a tumor in his nose took him out. Never missed an event due to lameness!!!

[Vindicated]

THIS…

You look hard enough, you will find something wrong with an otherwise sound horse.

[Vindicated]

Texarkana makes a SUPER valid point.

A tough horse is a tough horse.
A horse of one of my clients, horse was well known for objecting to every little ache and pain in a very dramatic fashion, had a minor gas colic and decided he was dying. I looked at the BO, my WS and BM and said if (my horse) ever acts like this, call the vet, hook the trailer up and get drugs on board before even calling me. Tough horse wasn’t close to track sound when he retired after 7 years on the track, multiple stakes winner-Two years of rehab and he took to his new life to a duck to water. Never complained once, always looking to work.
I personally look for a tough horse, and love a good horse that is still track sound after many starts over many seasons-not much Dr Green and common sense can’t fix with a horse like that. I think I just found another good one, retired racing sound after 9 years. He’s walking around the arena bareback at the moment, looking to work more.

Also, a slow horse IS sometimes just slow-and the usually have zero work ethic.

[Texarkana]

@Vindicated

A horse of one of my clients, horse was well known for objecting to every little ache and pain in a very dramatic fashion, had a minor gas colic and decided he was dying

I own a non-TB homebred like this. She is a very sound horse in the sense she does not have any issues/injuries and has very little wear and tear. But she is overly dramatic and can not, will not function if uncomfortable in any way.

She will be three legged lame from a superficial skin wound. She has had a number of minor gas colics, yet you would not realize they are minor from the theatrics she puts on. She hurls herself to the ground, groaning as if she is dying… then farts, and the episode is over. Don’t get me started on the couple times she has been ill in her life- a slight fever and she gives up her will to live.

Luckily this stuff doesn’t happen frequently. It’s comical so long as you haven’t just paid your entry fees.