Here’s one that I’ve been eyeing in Colorado. I’m not sure if her pedigree suits you but she’s a lovely filly.
Also check horses of racing age auctions. (mid west area) We bought a lovely, winning TB mare, sound, 17 hands, 5 yrs. old, GREAT pedigree, in foal to a nice Fla. stallion, all fees paid…for $1700 a few years back!!
[QUOTE=Sporthorse Shop;8904037]
Thanks for all the replies. To answer some questions, I am in AZ. If I strike out in this quarter of the US (mid texas to mid california up to nevada, colorado) I will expand my search to the entire US and Canada. I appreciate the advice regarding keeping an eye on the claiming races, I would not have thought of that. Are there tracks in this region, I am thinking southern California most likely that tend to have these types of mares and races? What are some TB sales that would be considered mid range?
Age range would be up to 14. I would look at a mare that was a dud in producing race babies as long as she is breeding sound and meets my sporthorse ideals. An unproven breeding mare would need to be under 10 so if she has reproductive issues I can at least retrain her for riding and have her still young enough for resale.
Regarding bloodlines, I am still learning what a good sporthorse line is and the nuances between them. My approach is when I find a mare I like I start researching her lines on COTH or other places and then decide whether the general consensus is the lines are desirable. Also, I have Epic Win and Reputed Testamony, Loyal Pal and Forfeit frozen stored and want to find a good match for those.
The main rehoming site I had been looking at was Canter and I am unsure if they are sold with no breeding contracts. The FAQs did not specify.[/QUOTE]
I believe Canter has a no breeding contracts which limit the mare being bred to a TB and the foal raced. There are no restrictions on breeding for sport horses.
Keep looking, those mares are out there. You might want to let the second career organizations know what you are looking for…Canter, New Vocations, Finger Lakes as mentioned. Many of these organizations are in close contact with trainers and will know of horses which perhaps are close to retirement.
The only problem with finding good, bargain priced mares far across the country is that shipping will be double the purchase price!!
[QUOTE=Equilibrium;8903786]
Correct me if I’m wrong, but many adoption places place no breeding contracts on their mares. Most “war horses” will be tried in the breeding shed for racing.
Terri[/QUOTE]
“Most “war horses” will be tried in the breeding shed for racing”
Of courses this depends on the pedigree. But if the mare has a decent to better pedigree she would most likely not be “knocking around” in low level races just to pick up some checks.
The TB breeding “dynamics” has changed a LOT and the market since the financial meltdown. There isn’t nearly as much interest in “warhorse” mares with moderate pedigrees anymore.
When I am looking for mares to hopefully breed marketable racehorses out of. I take the yearling and breeding stock catalouges find pedigrees that are of interest and see what maybe still on the racetrack that I figure may fit my budget.
Make a list of the running horse’s names and go to Equineline Horse Profiles. Check out if they are still racing, what kind of races, if claiming the price and are they still compeditive. If they sold at auction the price.
If they sold for more money than the pedigree suggest chances are they were/are well made.
Then I contact the connections and or get somebody to claim for me. I prefer to try and buy privately offering a bit more than their claiming price so I can do a basic vetting, over all soundess and breeding soundness.
Granted I am looking for TB race broodmares but the principle is the same for people looking for TB mares to breed for sport. Just don’t bother looking though “high end” sales catalogs/books. Keeneland Sales, yearling and breeding stock are huge. The “quality” of the pedigrees decreases with each book. So start with the “last” books. These aren’t “bad” horses plenty of well made horses just much “lesser” pedigrees. Sport breeders are looking more for the “blood” rather than the mare’s, stallion’s produce records on the racecourse.
IMO and experience mares with lengthy race records, hard knocking doesn’t necessary mean they will pass on their “toughness, soundness”. They maybe problematic getting in foal easily on a consistent bases. They may require close and expensive management.
A lot of the best producing TB mares have been either unraced or had very short race careers. I am much more interested in their “blood” and the families they are from.
If looking for specific broodmares sires, and or stallions, dams, etc the leading sales companies websites have searchable catalogs and sales results. There are a number of filters to help with a search. Choose the type of sale, the year and the session “book” and the number of filters needed.
http://flex.keeneland.com/horsesearch/horsesearch.html?catalog=Y
There are generally 2 parts to Canter. Trainer listed and CANTER owned. Canter can only put restrictions on the horses they own and adopt out. The other horses are just listed by Canter for the trainers. You deal directly with trainer to buy the horse. Canter is not involved directly in the sale, they only act a place to advertise the horse. Therefore Canter can’t put restrictions on breeding those horses.
IMO and experience mares with lengthy race records, hard knocking doesn’t necessary mean they will pass on their “toughness, soundness”. They maybe problematic getting in foal easily on a consistent bases. They may require close and expensive management.
A lot of the best producing TB mares have been either unraced or had very short race careers. I am much more interested in their “blood” and the families they are from.
Yes, in the case of this mare
http://www.pedigreequery.com/sweet+cali+cat
She only had 2 starts, and clearly wasn’t setting the world on fire, but she produced, in my opinion, pretty well
http://www.pedigreequery.com/progeny/sweet+cali+cat
I may be a little partial as I own the one that had 79 starts 
I would think that one of the Transworld mares in Colorado would be a wonderful fit with either of those stallions. Someone here will know how to contact the people who rescued that herd. They may not be warhorses, but with those genetics, the soundness probability would be very great.
I have a mare who was purchased through Canter Ohio who has primarily Darby Dan breeding for many generations. She raced (very badly) for 69 races and five or six years and retired “with the legs of an unraced 5 yo” after her PPE at 9. She’s 16 now and does have a bit of a stifle issue that is very easily controlled. I know mares like her can still be found, but it’s important to take all the time you need to find the right ones.
If you are on Twitter, @Notcloudyallday follows warhorse mares and geldings.
Wish you were on the East coast – a couple I have been watching in PA–
L P’s Tiger (141 starts! But hasn’t run since July)
Rare Match
For anyone who might be interested in Ten Purses:
She’s currently standing in a kill pen in Kansas. I don’t know the details.
If you would like more info, send me a PM and I will put you in touch with a contact there.
Might I ask in what capacity you know them?
Know who? The Rushtons? I worked with them to list and place horses when I ran the track program for CANTER CO at Arapahoe Park. The family runs there all summer.
[QUOTE=Simkie;8966103]
For anyone who might be interested in Ten Purses:
She’s currently standing in a kill pen in Kansas. I don’t know the details.
If you would like more info, send me a PM and I will put you in touch with a contact there.[/QUOTE]
Did you see this on FB/is there an effort to retrieve her? I will send a dribble to anyone on COTH who can save/get her. It won’t be much but maybe we can have two Christmas COTH horses this year…
Why would they dump her in a kill pen? horrible. 
[QUOTE=beowulf;8966123]
Did you see this on FB/is there an effort to retrieve her? I will send a dribble to anyone on COTH who can save/get her. It won’t be much but maybe we can have two Christmas COTH horses this year…[/QUOTE]
I will add a dribble too. Just let me know who gets her. It’s funny how something about a horse just gets you. This one has very similar damlines as one of my mares, family 8h with Private Account on top. I’ll bet she’s big and beautiful and has a great floaty trot.
[QUOTE=Simkie;8966103]
For anyone who might be interested in Ten Purses:
She’s currently standing in a kill pen in Kansas. I don’t know the details.
If you would like more info, send me a PM and I will put you in touch with a contact there.[/QUOTE]
What’s the going price per pound now, still 80cents? If someone will take her, I can maybe pay most of her cost. PM me or email me. Everyone can dribble for shipping and I’ll try to pay for the purchase price if it’s per pound.
I am not on FB.
[QUOTE=snaffle1987;8966129]
Why would they dump her in a kill pen? horrible. :([/QUOTE]
Lots of horses of all breeds end up in kill pens. We just don’t read about them.
Working on sussing out price and timeline. By all accounts, nothing wrong with her. Papers may be available. Will keep everyone updated here as we know more. 
