Thank-you for not being offended by my comment.
Not all racehorses retire with bone chips...some do and many do not.
A horse with chips according to some is predisposed for failure and more issues no matter the breed.
OTTB though are prone as they are worked at such speed combined with the daily pounding not many other horses truly take to their joints/body, and add in such a young age for that wear & tear to begin...
There is also comments made if you read articles that it is conformational issues which can lead to catastrophic failure.
Not all bone chips are classified the same.
If you've done research you know there are several types of chips...some far worse than others and some near never a problem.
The fact you now say the horse had a extensive racing career, is a ton of stress to the joints...
To me extensive puts the horse retiring at more than 8+ years of age.. it isn't just the fetlock that takes a beating.
I asked a few friends who are LVT and work with equine vets, my friend who has a R&R barn for Thoroughbreds of all kinds of injuries what they thought about purchasing a prospect with a chip in either coffin bone or fetlock...
The comments were not favorable about a sound horse lasting as a competitive show jumping career.
I gathered a article that was suggested by one of those friends for you to read to better understand exactly what you are looking at, the risks and the positives of going ahead with a purchase of such a animal.
https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Guidelines/TransitioningGuidelines2011.pdf
You are looking specifically for a hunter style and moving horse...
They
are expensive to buy a made animal...one with a record of proof behind it.
Even though you've taken the horse "off-property"...was it a busy show grounds?
Being taken to another barn for hack, clinic and lessons may not set the animal off but put up the loudspeaker, the horses pounding on/off the transport trucks, whinnying, the hustle and bustle of any show grounds...forget the loose horse may indeed make your quiet disposition animal a totally different horse in reaction...or it may not and the animal be a rock steady soul of calm.
I just know from my years working the H/J world, sound OTTB are out there...
However, the top-level ones are also much harder to find and if being sold for good $$, often will "fail" a PPE because of the wear & tear, the fact they can't do without injections, without some serious maintenance expenses...they are in actuality not sound.
Special shoes, injections, special magnetic blankets, special therapies done...and a host of other goodies not even mentioning...they took the pounding and are now falling apart.
Excellent animals for getting the job done but can't pass/clear a vetting so they get leased not bought...
I can absolutely tell you there are horses available in your area that fit your want, your need and are a long way south of touching that bank roll you quoted...
They're green, need some mileage and training put on them...but they are in the $3,000 - $5,000 range not $20,000.
Sorry, someone
is playing you.
You play in the big leagues you pay those prices because it is presented to you.
You though have enough skill, knowledge to look for yourself and not have to be presented prospects but can go look for yourself...take the time to look.
Now is the buyers market because its winter and no one wants to feed another mouth all winter long with few riders, shows and exposure done...prices reflect a season too.
I know where I worked it was not uncommon for students searching to search for months and have presented and brought in many horses who had their cost inflated because the selling trainer, the buying trainer and a few others all got their very expensive cut added to the cost of that animal.
Remove those commissions and suddenly the price just went half or less...fact.
I saw it, I know how the system spins and know you are being taken.
They know your budget and are playing for every penny they can take from your pocket. :|
If that horse is really what you say, there should be ads you can find listing all his/her accomplishments as the animal should be being campaigned for a sale...
Real trainers may like a animal, but it is a paycheck...a means to a end.
They don't sit on paychecks when they could stuff money in the pocket..
And they look at you as a ongoing bankroll for lessons, showing fees, and this horse needs to be in training board...
Yea, been around that block and watched how it spins...
Just don't be gullible and swallow all of what these people throw at you so easily...that is all I'm saying.
I offer you the very best in finding the right horse for you...
Take your time, expand your search area and
you do much of the leg work also keeps prices at a different tier when you know the facts of the animal too.
There is no law saying a student can't look, a accomplished rider
can look, find then pay the trainer a set fee to come see and evaluate...far cheaper to pay a set fee than pay percentages of sale prices...hundreds versus thousands are easily kept in your pocket. :|In case you want to explore finding a horse yourself...a article with some information that would be useful to know about...
Q&A ? EQUINE RACERS
Again, the best of luck to you in your search. :smile:
When you do find "the one" we would love pictures shown...so we can ooh and aah.
:runninghorse2:...