Critique of 4yo 16.2 OTTB

I really like this horse a LOT. He is slipper footed behind... and I expect you will have issues with his feet and keeping shoes on him.. but as he is properly shod and his toes shorten and he builds heels, he will do better.

Often people see a roach back as a bad thing. It is not.. it is a strong conformation and preferable to a weak back that will sway with age. His back may make him a bit stiff, but he will be OK. It is a very short back and that is a good thing, tho he may forge at the trot, especially with those long toes. If he does you will need to see if doing rocker toes in front will help.

That throatlatch, in a Thoroughbred is DESIRABLE. It is wide and allows for better air flow.. and less chance of laryingeal collapse and roaring. It is not a fatty throatlatch at all.. just clean and wide. Just what you want.

His hocks could be a bit lower and he could have more muscle in his gaskins but he is in racing form and he will change with a difference in the work he must do and in the change in diet.

Give this boy a shot at letting down and then put a really solid foundation on him. Take your time because this is one that is worth it. This is a really really nice horse. If you don't like him, send him to me.

Elana, very interesting point about the neck and thank you for sharing as I noticed looking threw racing TB's allot of them do seem to have the thicker throat latch which didn't deter me at all.

I will be taking it slow, I want to give him time to settle in and then will start from the very beginning as if he were a baby on the ground and go from there :)

My goal is also to eventually have him barefoot. They are pulling the back shoes and will have him reshod in front before shipping. I already spoke with my farrier(who is AMAZING) and we are going to work toward having him barefoot. It's fine with me if it takes time for his feet to adjust and we do not live in a rocky environment here so I am hoping for the best.

There is a woman moving to the Plantation I work at that does classical dressage and in hand work. I am hoping to start him off that way after some adjustment period.

This is a very athletic looking horse. I would be all over the dressage.. and you may find enough to work with to Event. Be careful of barefoot. Thoroughbreds usually need shoes in front and he may need them behind as well. The biggest weakness with the breed is thin hoof walls and if you have not have a TB before, you will find this out. Their soles bruise easily and foot conformation (flat soles) can be an issue with stone bruises.

IF his feet handle it and IF he learns his flat work, this horse might look good over fences. If you do go that route you may find you will need to shoe with pads in front as jumping can sting those fronts on landing.

Like I said, I like your horse. His pedigree is not bad tho I am not familiar with the close up animals. He looks to be solid as you go back and he did win $49k. The pedigree is all race horse. You got a good one if you can get him to settle and he is not too hot for you.

Keep us posted on his progress.

This will be my 4th TB and 3rd OTTB so I am not unfamiliar with the foot struggles ;) Honestly, my first two boys had better feet then Aidan(currently with me and never raced). My old boy Chili and I jumped upwards of 2'6 on a regular basis till I retired him in his late teens, he was barefoot that entire time. Knock on wood, with correct trimming so will this guy. But we'll see. He wont be going over any fences any time soon so that will give me a good amount of time to figure out his specific needs!