What would you do with this horse?

[Warmblood1]

I have a nice OTTB gelding that I’m trying to figure out what to do with.

I originally purchased him as a project but shortly after purchasing, I had a back injury which changed my ability to ride completely. He is good natured but hot and sensitive and needs to be restarted slowly - something my back injury will not allow.

I have recently had to separate him from a gelding he is attached to due to the other horse being very aggressive towards him (he would leave multiple huge bite wounds on the OTTB). I’ve tried everything I can to keep them together but it is not possible. Since separating, anytime the other gelding goes out of sight of the OTTB, the OTTB paces the fence constantly causing his ankles to be sore and for him to drop noticeable weight in just a few days. (ETA: he has osselets on his ankles and an old incision on his fetlock and knee). I don’t want him to drop a huge amount of weight when I’m trying to rehome him.

I was originally going to sell him for a low amount (lowest 4s) as a lower level project because I had not seen lameness until now. I need to rehome this horse because I have an upcoming surgery and the current living situation is obviously not working out. I’ve reached out to some rescues but do not anticipate much from them.

What would you do? He is 8 or 9 years old, well bred. Jockey Club papers in hand. 17.1+ hands and well built, a liver chestnut and is substantial - he looks and moves like a warmblood. He’s very nice outside of the ankle rounding and needing to be restarted but is hot and sensitive. Definitely not for a beginner rider.

Would you give the horse away? Charge a certain amount and if so - what? What price ensures he doesn’t fall to slaughter? I do not sell horses and really do not have many contacts as we are relatively new to the area. Where would you list the horse online?

Any help is appreciated.

[Feathered_Feet]

It’s not entirely clear what you mean by “sore ankles,” but you are posting this in one of the most aggressive horse markets we’ve seen in years. Throw him up on Facebook for what you think he’s worth as a handsome, promising project horse and see what bites. Or start looking for TB rescues and give him to one of them.

[Scribbler]

@Feathered_Feet

It’s not entirely clear what you mean by “sore ankles,” but you are posting this in one of the most aggressive horse markets we’ve seen in years. Throw him up on Facebook for what you think he’s worth as a handsome, promising project horse and see what bites. Or start looking for TB rescues and give him to one of them.

I think a lot of young trainers would take this on as a resale project but will bargain you down. I agree, post him at $4000 and see who comes out of the woodwork. Then choose the best young trainer with a good track record of flipping TB into ammie homes. The best guarantee of his future is a good solid 90 days under saddle and then life in a program with some training oversight for a few years.

Sellers always want to find a “forever home” for their fallen through the cracks horses. They shy away from. selling to a “horse flipper.” But honestly that’s the best outcome, to sell to someone with skills in making up horses. The forever home promise for a problem or green adult horse is likely to come from a naieve ammie or junior. And end in disaster. Whereas a competent enough trainer who can see the potential can make him into a horse that’s very desirable and has worth.

Just vet the trainer a bit,look at their sales page, make sure they aren’t just a hoarder.

[beau159]

@Warmblood1

What would you do? He is 8 or 9 years old, well bred. Jockey Club papers in hand. 17.1+ hands and well built, a liver chestnut and is substantial - he looks and moves like a warmblood. He’s very nice outside of the ankle rounding and needing to be restarted but is hot and sensitive. Definitely not for a beginner rider.

Would you give the horse away? Charge a certain amount and if so - what? What price ensures he doesn’t fall to slaughter? I do not sell horses and really do not have many contacts as we are relatively new to the area. Where would you list the horse online?

Any help is appreciated.

It’s a sellers market right now. List him for a fair price and see what you get. Obviously, PPE is up to the potential buyer.

Trying to give him away for free won’t mean he won’t go to slaughter. If anything, I would think that would INCREASE chances. Someone less qualified gets him, doesn’t have any money stuck into him, so easy to give up and send him down the road if it doesn’t work out.

Someone instead who actually wants him, has money invested into him, is going to be more likely to work through the issues.

[Scribbler]

I doubt there’s anything wrong with this horse that a competent OTTB flipper trainer couldn’t sort out. Horses out of work and unhandeled quite often develop undesirable behaviors that are easy enough to sort out in a program. He is however not getting any younger. Sell him now to someone who can sort him out.

[Warmblood1]

@Feathered_Feet

It’s not entirely clear what you mean by “sore ankles,

He has arthritis and osselets in his ankles. There is also an old incision on his knee and ankle as well but I could never verify exactly what surgeries were done. I have not done extensive vetting, I’ve been to preoccupied with my health to be honest.

@Scribbler - my intentions before he became lame were to sell him to an experienced trainer or rider as a project but now I do not believe he will hold up to moderate work. Just light riding at this point.

@beau159 I do not want to give him away, for sure. I just don’t know where to price him with him turning up unsound. I’ve never tried to sell a horse with lameness issues.

He needs a lot of work. He needs ground work before anyone tries riding him. He is hot and sensitive as well, will not tolerate someone flopping on him back. He’s also a big mover. He has a good temperament, however, and is not at all malicious, just hot. I think he would cool down quite a bit with work though, if he would hold up.

Just not sure how to price a sore horse and I believe light riding is only suitable at this point. I’m honestly trying to avoid large vet bills. I don’t want to price him so low he becomes at risk for the wrong person, however.

[eightpondfarm]

i have no ideas, just wanted to wish you and this horse the best of luck.

[Warmblood1]

Thank you very much.

[StormyDay]

Oh, that changes things. Moving along a horse with known issues that’s lame when not in work is hard. Throw in high strung gelding OTTB and it’s almost impossible.

The ‘pleasant’ option is to get him sound and send him to a trainer for 30-60 days, then sell him to a home that will use him for lower level stuff.

The not as pleasant, but still very reasonable and brave option is to have him PTS.

The not good option is to move him along and hope that whomever gets him next can get him sound and take care of him in the manner he deserves. Most of the time that backfires and the horse ends up in a bad situation.

Whatever choice you choose, know that it’s difficult no matter what, and many of us have been there and feel for you.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

A not-really-restarted horse that is currently lame, needs work to keep his brain busy, but tends to break down when in serious work, and is not for a beginner is a difficult sell. A trainer with experience rehabbing as well as restarting TBs would obviously be ideal, and at least from the horse’s perspective, more ideal than just selling directly to a buyer.

[Horsegirl_s_Mom]

Is there a prognosis from the vet on the likelihood he can be returned to soundness?

[TheJenners]

@StormyDay

The not as pleasant, but still very reasonable and brave option is to have him PTS.

I would do this route, since he is not sound and it doesn’t sound like he would stay sound in any sort of program.

[HereComesZach]

I’m so sorry you’re in a tough spot with this one. As someone who seems to accumulate NQR horses, I have to mention that he’s going to be double hard to find an appropriate home for, as the riders talented enough to bring along the hot sensitive types usually also have higher athletic aspirations than a horse going lame out in the pasture can accommodate.

Having been in your situation, I’ve put the horse to sleep. I’m in an area between several well known and highly trafficked auctions, and horses like that near me end up with someone trying to squeeze a few dollar’s worth of meat price out of them at the very least, and it’s not the end I like to risk for my guys. The sad truth of the matter is that there are far worse fates that await NQR horses than a kind end at the home they are familiar with.

Best of luck with whatever choices you make, it’s a tough spot to be in for sure.

[sportyspicepony]

Why don’t you start with a lameness exam or x rays to get an official vet determination on how much he could hold up to moderate work and then go from there? I’m getting the impression that you’re just saying that right now bc it’s your suspicion, which could totally be right, but could also be wrong. Either way it might be good to confirm that first with a vet and then decide your next steps accordingly.