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| Honestly? Most horses are THAT thin for a reason and the reason is not that nobody fed them. The thinner a horse gets, the less and less and less energy it has. Pack on a couple hundred pounds and you stand to get a free trip to the moon. I disagree. Yes, Cinny, by all means be ready for him to be a real project under saddle but by no means do all (or even most) horses become thin because THEY were the problem. I like the looks of him. Its good that your looking into a vet check, he does appear to stand funny in the pictures but my gut says that's poor pictures taken of a horse who's walking around... not standing. That and thin horses always look goofy. Also, I do not see why it would take six months to be able to ride him again and certainly not $5,000-$10,000 to get him there (if we're only talking a foot trim, de-worming, a quick float and then the feed of course) This Thoroughbred gelding was being neglected by a boarding stable simply because he required more feed than the owners Arabs and the rest of the boarders horses who were Quarter Horses.  A few extra cups of beet pulp doesn't do a whole lot in the Thoroughbred world  The barn owner swore up and down the horse had a problem so the owner gave me her lovely gelding and eight weeks later I had him looking like this, at which time he was re-started under saddle. Similar story for the many horses I've taken after him. I would say a good weight gaining diet for a OTTB costs $150 a month for me. (Pasture, free choice second cut Timothy/Alfalfa hay, grain, beet pulp, corn oil, flax) Now, with you boarding I have no idea what that will run you. I think he is lovely and would go for him, personally. BTW nice of you to consider him either way and good luck! Only you know if you are up to a project under saddle and the finances of a second mouth. |
It's funny people keep talking about him being a "project under saddle" as if this is a bad thing, or something new for me. No,not saying this out of being offended, I just think it's funny. Every horse I have EVER owned was a project for one reason or another. Michael was an arab with trust issues because his previous owner literally beat him to unconsciousness with a 2X4. Jacky was an OTQH that someone tried to make a jumper no knowing she had incorrectly healed fractures in her shoulders from a track accident....she was a NASTY piece of work... but we got through it in a few years and she turned wonderful. Bear was an appendix quarter with navicular...his owners had him de-nerved and instead of following vets orders and walking him EVERY DAY, they locked him up in a 10X10 box stall for a year. When I found him the vet said he should be put down... 2 years later he was a happy babysitter/lesson horse. Beau was an obese arab that had been left to sit for a year. Pepper was a 5 year old Morgan who's previous only was a girl that did nothing but gallop him everywhere.... yeah, he was fun for the first 6 months ha ha. And then...there is my beloved Cinny... the 7 year old pasture ornament with a bad "30 day training" experience. I don't think I have EVER ridden a horse that wasn't a project for some reason except for lesson horses, to be honest. I guess I don't know what a non-problem horse is like.
This experience has taught me a few things though. Most importantly HORSES CHANGE.. or at least have the ability to change... their physique, their manners, and the way they view the humans in their world. THEY are not responsible for what they become, WE are.
The way I see this guy is that we have a LOT of time to concentrate on manners and then graduate to ground work before even thinking of getting on him. This is what I did with Cin when I got him too...I don't think I got on him until 2 months after I got him... just manners, ground work, establishing a relationship. I think If I do the same with Dice, it will go a long way and carry over to riding later.
