So torn.

I went to see the ten year old Thoroughbred mare today, and I was really fond of her. She was so sweet, and really responsive.. even though she's only been back in work for two months.

She is definitely a cribber, but it's stopped by the collar.. as I witnessed when she tried cribbing in her stall and eventually gave up and walked over for some loving.

She tacked up easily, and even stood quietly off the cross ties while the seller went and got some stuff. She went walk/trot/canter in frame, while Amanda (the seller) was riding her.. and was very responsive and really animated in her movement. (animated being positive)

When I got on her, I admit I was a bit nervous as she's a much different horse than Major. It took very little leg, and very little hand to get her going in a nice frame. The bugs were pretty bad so there were a few times when she shook her head and held it a bit high.

She does need more work on balancing, but my trainer has a pessoa lunging system that she swears by for getting horses more balanced. Plus, I could likely get my trainer to help me with getting her moved along. Honey is also starting jumping this week, so hopefully that goes well.

Someone else was previously interested in her and everything checked out well aside from the soreness in her right front fetlock, which is treated with some supplements. I've had her critiqued on her and she was said to have very nice conformation for jumping/dressage.. plus she has a pretty face and she has a very kind eye.

It's also really to see that she's very athletic, even though she needs some groceries (which was an issue we talked about with Amanda). She also fit me really well, at 16hh.

I also got to learn some of her track history. She was sold as a yearling for $25 000 and had earnings of $82 000. She does have some scarring on her front legs, but it doesn't affect her soundness. Even though she was at the track until the age of seven (I think she said so anyways), I don't think you could tell.. as she is very calm and definitely not your typical "hot" Thoroughbred.

At the end of our ride, which was when I was really starting to get the hang of her, we took her back into the barn and untacked her before hosing her down. She stood pretty still even though she did get tempted by the grass. Unlike with Major, she was easily backed up and didn't resist at all. We brought her back in and put her in her stall before we talked some more.

After she attempted cribbing, which she stopped once Amanda called her over, she stood there for probably five straight minutes with her head rested on Amanda's arm while getting her face rubbed.. and basically fell asleep.

My dad took pictures and a video on his phone so once he e-mails them to me, I'll post them.

I'm just so torn.. I know that a lot of people say to not fall in love with the first horse you see, but I just found her so sweet and willing.

Sometimes the first horse you see is the right horse for you.

If you like her go try her again ! I would also advise getting a PPE on an ottb

I'd be a bit cautious.

A ten year old who has done nothing and isn't particularly well trained, combined with low weight, cribs and leg scars. Well that's not something many people would be interested in. There are plenty of sweet horses out there, make sure you think things through.

Saskia, there were valid reasons for all of those.

She isn't too well-trained because she was originally a race horse until Amanda had bought her and used her as a broodmare up until this year, when she started working with her. The cribbing was likely a habit formed during her track days, but it is fairly easily managed with diet and the collar. She has the leg scars from her track days as well. The low weight (which isn't too bad although she could use groceries) is because the seller had sent her to a friend's house where she wasn't getting quite as much grain but she's been steadily gaining it all back.

All her relatively high maintenance issues aside, I think she's a really sweet horse who is full of potential. I do appreciate the concern though. :) We're not taking this decision lightly at all.

You mention you have an instructor - have you considered having that person take a look at the horse giving an opinion? You/your parents have an emotional investment in the situation (you, because you are thinking of having a horse and your parents because they want you to be happy), and that uninvolved set of eyes may have a better evaluation of the situation, the horse and your suitability for each other.
Regardless of what the seller is telling you, it is vital that you have your own PPE done, especially as there is the mention of the soreness that "cleared up with supplements". Don't take the seller's word for it that everything checked out previously. The weight issue may or may not be a matter of feeding - this is another thing that can be addressed with thorough vetting.
How would she be kept if you did purchase her? Asking because it may play into whether or not the cribbing is a serious issue for you or not (even though it appears to be managed with the collar).

We definitely plan on bringing my instructor up if we decide to further consider the mare.. I was just a bit hesitant this time around because she's been pushing for me to buy my lease horse and I don't think she'd take the fact that I'm looking around too well.

If we did purchase her, she'd be out in the pasture 24/7 except when coming in for feed and for being ridden/taken care of. Although when the weather is bad, the horses all get brought in. There's a couple other horses at my barn who crib but it doesn't seem to be an issue in the stalls as there isn't anything to really grab onto.. although I'm sure she'd find something if she really tried.

I prettty much go along with the concerns/comments of the other posters. I would certainly get your own vet check on the horse and think about the possible problems very carefully before commiting.

That said, there is no law saying you can't get the first horse you look at.

I sort of hesitate to admit how I found my mare, except it is a lesson on exactly how NOT to do it!! . After 40 years with no horses, a few months ago I started looking for a horse. I used to train show jumpers and had helped many people find horses, so I knew what to do. Even though I knew not to go by color alone, I decided I might as well look for the colors I wanted, and one would eventually come along. I was in no hurry. Yeah, right.

I started looking on craigslist and all of the horse sights for a palomino or buckskin from 5 -10 years old, who was pretty much trail broke, and in my price range. My husband, who had broken and raised many young horses, was after me to get a young horse so we could train it. I wasn't convinced - the ground looks a lot harder at 59 than it did at 20.

After perusing the ads continually for about a week without finding anything exciting, I finally found a palomino filly for sale. She was very close to where I lived, so I decided, what the heck - I'll go look at her - what can it hurt? I certainly wasn't going to buy the first one that came along!!! .

Long story short - we showed up, watched the filly lunge and bought her. No vet check and didn't ride her and didn't even saddle her up. There was just something about her that both my husband and I fell for. We knew within 30 seconds that she ws 'THE ONE".

From the time we looked at her to the time she was delivered, the whole process took an hour and a half. SHe stepped out of the trailer at my daughter's house, looked around, nuzzled me and started to graze. She never acted spooky or upset and from the beginnnig would run to meet us when she saw us.

As she is only 2, I have only ridden her at a walk on short trail rides about 30 times, and she has been absolutely perfect. Doesn't spook at ANYTHING, calm and will go anywhere you point her. She ties to perfection, and will pony anything and remain calm. SHe 's a dream and I really give the person we purchased her from credit for how he trained her.

The only time she actually got upset was when my daughter's stupid dog jumped on her back for a ledge above us. We BOTH jumped, buut she calmed down faster than I did! LOL.

We will see what the future holds- I know it won't be all smooth sailing, but she is definitely my heart horse (We have gotten a vet check on her since - she's perfectly healthy and has beautiful strong hooves). Anyway, that is DEFINITELY how NOT to do it, but we were very, VERY lucky. Sometimes, I think, your heart can guide you, as long as you use your head, too. (Which we definitely didn't do!) Good luck to you in finding your perfect horseo!

Oh I'm not saying there aren't valid reasons for all of that, I didn't doubt that at all. But that's not the point I meant. I bought an OTTB once, an 11 year old and he was actually very affordable. He would have raced until he was about 6 or 7, not sure, but when I bought him he was competitively jumping 120cm+ and training elementary dressage. He had no scars and such, but he was still rather cheap because there are so many OTTBs around with some decent training and potential.

My point was regardless why and how sweet she is, she's still a 10 year old OTTB with faults who hasn't done much, and I've known people who couldn't give away horses like that.

If you really like her, feel she is perfect for you etc then by all means try her out again, buy her but just make sure you judge her on her merits.

I've never seen or met the horse so I'm just going off what you said..

Sometimes though, the most unsuspecting horse turns out to be perfect for you. It'd be great to see some pics!