What do you think of this one?

[jpalisades]

Sorry another 'how about this horse for eventing", but this 2003, 16.3h, mare model is over 7 hours from us. I am drooling over her, but at the same time feeling desperate to get back on my own horse. My horse has not been doing well this year, found out he has Lyme. Treatment is not going well for him, so I am looking for another prospect (again):(

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2586729460103309036FWZntg

She is still racing, last race just the other weekend 4th at a 1 1/2 mile, going again this coming weekend.

To be completely sound, no past issues. Owner says I can come this weekend after her race. So I am thinking about calling a vet and having her vetted before we make the trip, with trailer of course:winkgrin:

Ultimate goal: prelim (maybe higher depending on horse and personal life at that time;))
Thanks for any input, good and bad. I know you are all *straight forward* in here.

[echodecker]

I think she's lovely! Disclaimer: I'm a SUCKER for big dark mares :D She's a little long in the back, but her legs look clean. Rear toes are definitely long as well. I'd like to see a video of her walking, but what you can see of the walk looks nice. She looks to have a good attitude, interested but not crazy. For a 7 hour drive it would be nice to get a walking video of her so you can see better how she uses herself.

[jpalisades]

Actually, though not very good, there are two short video clips of her walking/trotting on that link. There are three photos then the clips, just have to scroll through them, located to the right of the main photo.

Looks like handler is not letting the mare really trot out.

Thanks! She does seems a tad long, but is supposed to be every bit of 16.3

[NeverTime]

Isn't that one of JessiP's horses? She's a poster on these BB's and I believe there have been other threads about this horse. (At least, I remember seeing her picture before. She's lovely.)

[Catalina]

Ah, I knew her name sounded familar; she was listed on CANTER at the same time as Loveable Lo (the chestnut with all the chrome), I think she is with someone JessiP knows. Nice mare and worth a look.

[Maya01]

For an UL prospect, you may encounter some problems as her back and legs are quite lengthy and she has long, upright pasterns. However, nice shoulder and butt, very proportionate and looks like she has a really pretty eye in a nice looking head. I looked at the video of her trotting...she is definitely not a great mover, in fact that is a real turn off in my mind (dressage is so important, you need everything going for you in order to get a good mark to get good standing). She doesn't have much knee or hock action which could be a precursor towards her jumping ability, but I have seen the worst movers jump better than any horse I've seen :lol:

Overall she is nice, nothing I would fall head over heels for, but she would make a decent event horse. :yes:

[Toadie's mom]

Yes, those are JessiP's pictures, but not sure if that is her horse. PM her and I'm sure she'll be give you as much info. as she can, even if that isn't her own horse.

[Carol Ames]

There is something funny about her hind end, I question how well she will be able to engage it; do a little testing from the ground.e., , pelvic tilt; this is a question of bone structure, not training I am less than thrilled :no:that her rear cannons are not straight; she seems to be losing a lot of "power :eek:which, she will need It's great that she was able to get a mile and a half her overall appearance is not that of a distance horse.:no:

[Merle]

She's pretty in the pictures but the videos are a big turn off for me. I agree that dressage is such a huge factor that a nice mover is needed to be in the game. There are always more out there - even big dark bay mares. I'd personally pass on her for a Prelim prospect.

[lstevenson]

I'm not too worried about her poor trot in the videos. She moves like the typical TB that is currently racing. And the guy holding her head up and making her go slow is not helping. When you go look at her, make sure she has a big, reaching, athletic walk. You might have to tell the handler to let go of her face to see it though. See if you can watch her workout so you can see her canter. I look for a light, balanced, athletic canter with easy lead changes. The walk and the canter are telling. The trot will often be poor on OTTBs, but can be changed dramatically with training.

That said, she does look a bit unlevel behind in the jog, so make sure you thoroughly check out her hind end.

And remember that the brain is the most important part of a prospect. I like to test any prospects with a simple bravery/try test of laying down some black plastic garbage bags, and having them led over them. Being scared of them initially is not a big deal, but they should be able to get over their fear and step over. If they have a meltdown or shut down completely then they are a no for me.

[Mach Two]

I kind of like her "spidery" look. The trot can be improved, but make sure she's sound, even if she's FREE. I see a bit of a ring on one of her front hooves...wonder if she has foundered...or had a dramatic injury that caused stress and heat to that hoof.

Her hind end does not bother me, because it seems to fit the rest of her. She seems deep in the girth. Like her neck set...like her expression...check that hoof, and check for soundness.
She seems sore in the hind end...maybe up high, but could be lower...sort of stilted. I agree that she trots like a horse in race training...if she walks like a panther, and is sound, buy her!
Linden Wiesman's Anderoo had a downwright goofy looking trot til he got to Intermediate. (I say this with great affection: I was his groom for several years.
They can race if they are uneven....but need to be even to do good dressage.

[jpalisades]

Thanks everyone! Some of you must have super eye sight. I am still looking for the ring around one of the hooves as one poster pointed out;)

Here is her ped.: http://www.pedigreequery.com/timber+gal

Yes the video is a turn off at first. But then I have to take into consideration the handler, tight chain around nose and chin, she seems worried jogging with him, and the fact that she is not able to actually move forward. Plus the mare keeps putting her haunches off to the side to attempt to actually trot with any kind of energy at all. Not to mention she is not an OTTB with any let down time, SHE IS RACING NOW at over a mile.

Sorry, dont mean to sound in defense of this girl already. Just speaking out loud:uhoh:

I once 'bought' a complete fluk at the track. This mare would not even jog at the track, tripped over her own feet just walking around. I took her (she was free) yes she thought xc was the scariest thing in the entire world. She would always try and run back to the barn if there was even a large twig in her way:lol: After six months of let down, and slow rebuilding and working on dressage, that mare rocked!! I took her through second level dressage, scoring on average 69. (Now we are talking 14 or so years ago, so I dont know how those dressage scores would compare to todays dressage scores. Just like 40 usedto be really good at eventing, now 40 and you are lucky to even be near the placings.) I sold eventually her to a young rider who after four years of their partnership they were competing solid third level. But, again I think that mare who I owned was a complete fluk to turn around like that.

[Mach Two]

Right side photo...right about at the nail holes...it would not stop me from buying a horse by any means, but I'd want to know if she'd had a founder for some reason in that foot, does not have the same bulge on the left front.
Just being the devil's advocate...and at the same time enabler, because I do like some things about the mare. She looks like a good candidate to me.

And still saying, that running at a mile, or a mile and a half or three miles (as some 'chasers are running) she should walk and trot sound. Agreed, the handler does not do much for her. I can't really see in the photos for sure but it looks like she may be shod in "stickers" behind (and I don't know if those are still even allowed, so I could be seeing something else...just stuff to look at. They could cause her to really look stilted behind, or be sore behind) Check her race record, or past race programs to see if she's been running on bute. There will be a legend for the "notes" that will show use of bute or lasix, etc.

With these kinds of horses, it's good to find out all you can, but bottom line is, you usually have to act fast (if they are sound) to get them when they come up for sale, otherwise the go to auction or another ready buyer. Good luck, and do let us all know how it goes. I hope she turns out to be a jewel for you!

[Carol Ames]

These are all valid points; soreness from those race:eek: addles is common:yes: some acupuncture and chiro could work:yes: wonders


If she vets and you like her/ you feel a connection, go for it! ;) She'd be a nice project:yes:
Yes the video is a turn off at first. But then I have to take into consideration the handler, tight chain around nose and chin, she seems worried jogging with him, and the fact that she is not able to actually move forward. Plus the mare keeps putting her haunches off to the side to attempt to actually trot with any kind of energy at all. Not to mention she is not an OTTB with any let down time, SHE IS RACING NOW at over a mile.

[Carol Ames]

Have the vet check her soles of her front feet; I don't:( like the way she's hitting the ground:no: She is rather tentative :(the first step or two, could be the shoeing :eek:or a past founder episode or just bruised feet:sadsmile:

[Carol Ames]

Have the vet check her soles of her front feet; I don't:( like the way she's hitting the ground:no: She is rather tentative :(the first step or two, could be the shoeing :no:or a past founder:eek: episode or just bruised feet:sadsmile:

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I'll go out on the limb and say, assuming sound....she will actually be quite a nice mover after a year or two off the track. I didn't think she looked bad at all for a RACING TB not being really trotted out. The little clips of her walk looked very good....and honestly, if they have a good walk when racing....they often will have a good canter and trot in given time. You have to look past the track sorness etc. And while I agree that dressage is important in eventing now a days....they do NOT need to be outstanding movers....they need to be RIDABLE and have good brains. If they are rideable and you can do an accurate test, you will be competitive. There are many top top top eventers....winning at the **** level who I would NOT say are fancy movers. But they are correct and accurate.

I like her look...she is my type of horse. But go see her in person and I agree, the brain and soundness are the biggest things.

[visorvet]

This is a beautiful mare with an elegant, balanced, and athletic build. As seen from the side, her conformation is superior to about 90% of the horses that tend to be available at the track, in my opinion. She is exactly my type and I would not hesitate a moment to take her if she looks as good from the front and back, checks out sound, and the price is low. I am not concerned about the length of her back or legs; I think that this impression is a bit of an optical illusion resulting from her lack of quadriceps musculature and how tucked-up her abdomen is, all of which will change quickly once she begins regular under-saddle work. I do not believe that it is possible to say anything about her true way of moving at the trot based on the videos provided. It is on concrete and her handler isn't really allowing her to move out, so the best you can do is look at it from a soundness perspective. This is typical at the track - unless a horse is outrageously sensible your average groom won't see the point in letting it work up a head of steam at the trot only to drag him/her off.

[Mach Two]

Yep...I like her type too. And all the advice about the way she's handled at the track , right on the money. Those grooms don't want to take a risk of losing a horse (by one getting away from them) just to show it to someone who wants to see it trot...it's nothing personal, they are just keeping their jobs. If I were pulling an event horse out for a client, and someone wanted to videotape it trotting, I wouldn't do it either, to any effect, unless the owner were right there asking me to do so.

I sure hope it goes well, I love to see horses like this get into eventing... THIS LOOKS like a classic format horse. I'd have taken her home when I was eventing.