|
|
 Expert
Posts: 1302
 
Location: California | Is 56 starts, retired at age 7, last race was in November 2014 going to be quite a project? I have worked with many OTT horses but none quite that old with that many races under their belt. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with that? He is sound according to the owner. It would be a project and not a high dollar one. |
|
| |
|
 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
   
Location: Kansas | I would definitely make sure you are putting him on a joint supplement (IMO), that many starts at his age in his career.....he's bound to have some inflammation |
|
| |
|
  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I have a brother that loves them. Plan on alot of time in the saddle and some patience. But they can be the best horses you will ever sit on if you put in the time. Almost all of them keep some of the quirkiness. Lots of them can still get real hot in the wrong sittuations, but for a using horse they can be great. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | Whiteboy - 2015-01-13 7:43 AM I have a brother that loves them. Plan on alot of time in the saddle and some patience. But they can be the best horses you will ever sit on if you put in the time. Almost all of them keep some of the quirkiness. Lots of them can still get real hot in the wrong sittuations, but for a using horse they can be great.
I've delt with a few QH's and a few TB's... none were older than 5 though and had many less races under their belt. I've had both good and bad experiences but really wanting a project to mess with. |
|
| |
|
That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| little_bug - 2015-01-13 11:18 AM Whiteboy - 2015-01-13 7:43 AM I have a brother that loves them. Plan on alot of time in the saddle and some patience. But they can be the best horses you will ever sit on if you put in the time. Almost all of them keep some of the quirkiness. Lots of them can still get real hot in the wrong sittuations, but for a using horse they can be great. I've delt with a few QH's and a few TB's... none were older than 5 though and had many less races under their belt. I've had both good and bad experiences but really wanting a project to mess with.
Would be a fun project especially if the price were right. |
|
| |
|
 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | My sister rode Bluffin Rail around the house after she had ran many years on the track and she did fantastic......until the night my sister decided to take her to the arena. I think the lights of the arena reminded her of racing and all she wanted to do was run. Every noise was the starting gate lol. I really enjoyed watching from the tailgate with my Miller Light. That was an awesome night lol.
Edited by LRQHS 2015-01-13 11:46 AM
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | Whiteboy - 2015-01-13 8:37 AM little_bug - 2015-01-13 11:18 AM Whiteboy - 2015-01-13 7:43 AM I have a brother that loves them. Plan on alot of time in the saddle and some patience. But they can be the best horses you will ever sit on if you put in the time. Almost all of them keep some of the quirkiness. Lots of them can still get real hot in the wrong sittuations, but for a using horse they can be great. I've delt with a few QH's and a few TB's... none were older than 5 though and had many less races under their belt. I've had both good and bad experiences but really wanting a project to mess with.
It's definitely right. =) |
|
| |
|
Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | The outside of the arena sort of resembles a track. I can guarantee that she beat everyone on the outside that night lol....more than once. |
|
| |
|
Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | We've always owned OTTB's. I love them. However, "sound according to the owner" isn't worth spit. You'd want to have the horse vetted. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | What about getting one that the trainer cuts before their racing career gets going because they don't feel like they would make it at the track? |
|
| |
|
Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I agree. What the owner says wouldn't mean anything to me. |
|
| |
|
That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I agree, but most of the time they are dumping the TB's for very little money. The vet check usually costs more than the horse. I'd probably roll the dice. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | Here's my exprience with OTTB. Bought one at a very very low price. He was 9, had 35 starts, last raced in 2010 and was turned out after that. He had about 60 days of training with a cutter when I bought him. With an OTTB and that many starts I expected to have some issues, so I went into that knowing I would need some maintenance. He does have a little stiffness issues from time to time (mainly during the cold weather) but warms up out of it, he gets pentosan treatments every 6 months (series of 4 shots once a week), double dose of MSM 28000 mg's, some cool calories to help maintain weight and so far so good. Like I said, I know he was used hard on the track but if you are realistic about that and find ways to help keep them comfortable and going they can be an awesome horse to ride. He has been by far the quickest horse to learn that I have ever ridden. He learned quick and did not appreciate alot of over training. He absolutely adores praise and is willing to please. He is being patterned on the barrels and I have learned that he often thinks he already knows it all so we have adjusted to stepping up the speed and then bringing it back down when he gets over stimulated. Nothing at the races bothered him from day one. He has been ridden on the trail, numerous arenas and has been completely solid. He is one that I would allow just about anyone to ride, even my 9 year old niece who doesn't ride much. I love him and have gained alot of knowledge and experience from him. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | Whiteboy - 2015-01-13 12:26 PM
I agree, but most of the time they are dumping the TB's for very little money. The vet check usually costs more than the horse. I'd probably roll the dice.
this! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | Whiteboy - 2015-01-13 9:26 AM
I agree, but most of the time they are dumping the TB's for very little money. The vet check usually costs more than the horse. I'd probably roll the dice.
Yes. A simple lameness would be less but full X-rays would cost more than the horse. I agree owners word means nothing. I honestly just moved somewhere and have sold all my horses but one who is turned out to pasture for awhile. I need something to occupy my time as I am going stir crazy. My boyfriend has the facility to where I can keep and work horses so I'm really contemplating it. i don't necessarily care if it ends up some competition horse I just like training colts and watching them improve. Although he's not a colt he is bred well and built well and cheap enough to gamble with. I guess im answering my own question. Just wasn't sure if an 8 year old with 50+ starts is pretty stuck in his ways or retrain able. |
|
| |
|
 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | If I was bored, I'd try him. He sounds like it's worth giving him a chance (especially since he's cheap). :D |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | Thanks everyone! Debating on buying the cheap local one or shipping a younger one here from the west coast. The horse wouldn't cost me anything from there but the hauling would cost 3x what this horse costs. Younger, probably more sellable but kinda up in the air. |
|
| |
|
Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | It would have to be a pretty amazing horse for me to ship something far. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | LRQHS - 2015-01-14 6:25 AM It would have to be a pretty amazing horse for me to ship something far.
He isn't amazing but he is young, good looking, and has resale value. Since the horse would be given to me the shipping would be the only cost and that is the same I would be willing to invest in a local horse which is the only reason I am considering it. |
|
| |
|
 Queen Boobie mascot
Posts: 706
Location: Mayerthorpe Alberta | I got my horse as a 6 yr old with 44 starts. She ran on the Saturday and I picked her up on the Monday. She has been very eager, and willing to please. Very smart. I havent had any trouble with her, other than I think I took the run out of my race horse turning barrel horse :) |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| The lady before I owned my OTTB trained her after she came off the track. She was 7 and had 21 starts, so not quite as many as your guy. I picked her up about a year and a half after she'd been off the track and she was the quietest horse I ever owned. Flat foot into the arena, flat foot out and fall asleep again at the gate. All depends on the horse, but if he truly is sound and not horribly expensive, I'd take a chance on him. |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| Honestly, for the average racehorse 56 starts at age 7 is fairly average =] that's not extremely heavily raced...but you will definitely need to check him over being older and most likely never off the track. Make sure to check the feet! Most of them have weak heels and soles. A lot of them will benefit from just having a little break, or being away from the track. Have fun and keep us updated!! =] |
|
| |
|
I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | See, I'm totally the opposite. Maybe it's just because I've been around a bunch of hard knocking old claimers in my day, but 50 plus starts don't scare me if one is truly sound. I expect one to have some soreness and things that might need a little bit less demanding of a routine to allow everything to become less stiff, store aggravated. If it has clean legs and appears sound and costs nothing, I wouldn't be concerned. Actually, in the 3 Day Eventing world and when we still used TB's on the big stages of the H?J world, we prized stallions and mares who had a large number of starts and retired sound. Then again, that's when we sought to breed hardy horses who would hold up over time. |
|
| |
OTT Thoroughbred...