[CowGirlUp9448]

Hi everyone! After being on here a while and seeing how many people have OTTB I have started looking into them.. I have found two that sound pretty nice to me.

Now I'm just wanting to get some overal information on them. If you have pictures of yours post them here and tell me all about them. I am looking at an 9 year old bay gelding, he does crib and has a swollen ankle as a result of a racetrack incident. Then I am now looking at a 3 year old Grey filly who has been off the track for 2 months...Am I crazy for looking at one who has only been off the track for such a short amount of time? Did any of yall get yalls straight off the track? I'm really leaning towards her though..

Post all you know about TB's and some pictures of yours... Oh and what you use them for

 

[janxaee]

Hi! I own a 4 year old ottb mare, Annie. She was only off the track for one week before I aquired her. I took her thinking I was going to have to let her down for a while, but she was so quiet I started working her after a week. She is super quiet and anyone can ride her I'll post pictures soon. If I were you, I would take the 3 year old definately.

 

[tealamutt]

There is a huge variation in OTTB personality (as I'm sure you know) so it depends on the horse as far as how much time they've been off the track. My guy has been off forever- raced for 7 years, had little down time, was trained as a dressage horse and later as a hunter jumper. I have him now at 20 and though he is well trained, he still has his TB quirks. My pasturemate's horse was on the track for less than a year (she wouldn't run) and had almost no down time and is quiet and willing as a lamb. I'd put a kid on her (one who knows how to ride though).

I think the most important thing is to take a sound horse. The cribbing and injury would be a deal breaker for me (unless it is a superficial injury that has a good prognosis). The best advice I can give is:
1. have a pre-purchase vet check
2. give them downtime to be a horse
3. most importantly get yourself an experienced trainer.

best of luck. TB's are my favorite horses on earth, they are smart and challenging, but if you give them a chance, most will give you their hearts and be a life long partner.

 

[dantexeventer]

Before you do anything else, befriend an OTTB-experienced trainer to help you out and come look at prospects with you. OTTBs are some of the most wonderful horses, but buying one is very different from just buying any old horse. Their injuries, wear-and-tear, etc. all need to be evaluated in a different light, and there will often be things that are glaringly obvious to someone whose been in the business that a newbie just won't see.
When you find one you like, DEFINITELY get x-rays, flexions, the works. Have said trainer there for that, too. Sometimes 'jewelry' will be no big deal, sometimes it's a deal-breaker.

 

[QHDragon]

I had the same kind of TB as mentioned above. He raced for four years was taken from the track to a hunter/jumper barn, got very little downtime, and then was sold as a trail mount before he came to me. I think it kind of blew his mind. He was very well trained, but I think in his head he was still a racehorse and would have race horse moments. He was a very rewarding ride, but he wasn't a very easy ride.

Now on the other hand my trainer has an OTTB that she has no problem putting beginners on. He is a very laid back very mellow dude. I am not sure how long he raced though.

Just like with any breed they each have thier quirks, like I tell a lot of people, not all QHs are calm dead-heads, and not all TBs are raving lunatics!

 

[justsambam08]

I second dante's post. Take someone who is expereince in OTTB's with you to look at any potential prospects. They will most definitely see things that you don't.

I have an OTTB who was off the track for a year before I got him, but he was on the track for 8. I think the year of rest permanently screwed him up....although he does like to work, and has excellent ground manners, he has a horrible attitude from being left alone in a pasture with three other horses.

I had the basic flexion tests done on my guy, but he's also just going to be a trail horse. I was there for his vacc's and his teeth floating, and also I was there when he had his feet done right before coming to me. However, I know that he probably has a myriad of injuries that I will probably never know about, because the track owners didn't give us his vet records. Other than some stiffness caused by arthritis in his back legs, he's good as gold for light work/riding.

If you really plan on doing serious work/training with your horse, I would pass on the gelding with the ankle injury, unless you can see x-rays done by the other owners, and have another vet evaluate them for soundness issues that might come up (I say your vet, because the owners vet might be trying to sell you something. you never know).

Either horse you choose, plan on giving them some down time to get used to lower energy feed, as well as get them used to coming off whatever steriods they may be on. How much time depends on the horses temperament and how well they adjust.

 

[CowGirlUp9448]

Thanks everyone

 

[CowGirlUp9448]

Forgot to add the grey filly only raced once.. And after they gave her a little time off were using her as a trail horse. Said she was very calm and laid back.

How would I go about finding a good OTTB trainer? I have heard so many bad things about some trainers not feeding their horses or beating them and so much other stuff I am almost afraid to find one. How would I know I found the right one?

I am leaning more towards the filly. I am only wanting a trail horse/ companion horse for me and my other gelding.

 

[maura]

I would stay away from the 9 yo cribber. He will be much more confirmed in racehorse behavior and much harder to reclaim. Also, if he raced until 9, he was at some point successful at the track, which means he is 1.) fast and 2.) really confirmed in the race horse way of going. I say that without even considering the injury. The 3 yo will be a much easier reclaim, plus she's already had a little let down time, which means you have a better idea of what you're getting.

 

[CowGirlUp9448]

I will be getting the 3 year old She will be here this weekend. Can't wait.

Here are a couple pictures her current owner sent me..

Thanks everyone

 

[ScharmLily]

One thing I tell people is to look at the weight of the horse. I got an OTTB that was very thin when I got her. She was calm and generally willing.......that is until she got some weight on her. As she gradually started feeling better, her true personality came out. She turned into a downright nasty horse and practically regressed in her training. I eventually had to sell her because I just didn't enjoy to be around her, nevermind ride her

 

[HeroMyOttb]

aww The horse looks beautiful! I know you already got your information and is getting an OTTB but I figured i'll go ahead and tell you about my boy Hero I got him a week after his last race, I was expecting to give him some time off, but he was so calm and quiet that my experienced ottb trainer suggested i'll ride him a couple of days later which I did and he did amazing, I actually cantered him in my first official lesson and he did great, a little fast but listened very well. Hero is very willing to please and is such a quick learner, but he has had the winter off due to some hoof problems, im hoping to get back on around March Good luck with you OTTB

 

[CowGirlUp9448]

He's so cute Thank-You. I can't wait to get her home hehe. She has been trail ridden for the last two months so I think I will give her a little time of sort of a get to know eachother period. Haha