Possible buy

[morgieporgie]

Alright. You may remember my last post, about the Morgan/TB filly for $8500. Should have done more research before posting about her. Anyway, turns out I suck when it comes to finding horses. Every horse I have looked at either has soundness issues, or one of their parents does. But burnlikestars heard of two horses out by me that the kid wanted to get rid

Comments

[k7point5]

If you were looking to get a horse as a pony-ride mount or for an occasional walk trot lesson, I'd say go for it. She looks like a sweetheart and is very pretty. However, your horse needs to be just as sound to be able to hold up for long trail rides over tricky and unforgiving terrain as it does to jump a little course. I don't see this mare holding up well for many years with that kind of an injury. It looks like she can't even straighten her knee properly. If you proceed with the vet check, make sure you are clear about what you expect to do with this horse and ask the vet point blank, will this horse be able to hold up

[morgieporgie]

I've found that around here it is extremely hard to find a sound and sane OTTB mare that is young enough to eventually breed. All the mares my BM told me about today had at least some small issue with them that made them somewhat unsound.

I really like the vet I'm getting to do the PPE. She's one of those no-bullshit people. She told me that if she thinks the horse is not worth it, she's going to say so, and why. I'm really anxious for her to see the mare.

I don't think she can straighten it 100% - just to what it looks like there. My idea of a trail ride is down a nice, flat, overgrown dirt road and back... about 30 min at most. It's actually less strenuous than what she has been doing lol! But I want to get a set of x-rays done before I proceed with anything. The BM said that it looks like she might have a bone chip based on how her knee is shaped, and my friend thinks she has a tendon or ligament problem contributing to the range of motion. So we will see. Thanks for your input!

[k7point5]

have you looked into CANTER? I don't know where you are but you can get horses shipped out of there. Granted they are going to be very green but they will probably be in better shape physically than this mare.

http://www.canterusa.org/

Whatever you decide, good luck! :)

[morgieporgie]

I have been kinda monitoring CANTER, but nothing on there has really struck my fancy (or it's been redickulously out of my price range!). I've been toying with the idea of just driving over the the training track in Middleburg (I'm in Northern VA). My problem is that I don't have a truck or a trailer, and although my barn manager would love to go out there, her husband would kill us both, since she'd most likely come home with yet another broodmare. So I dunno. I'm going to keep an eye on the web, but I think I am still going to go ahead with the PPE, just to see what the vet has to say about her. Thanks for the good luck... I'm sure I'll need it!

[belle7067]

Personally, I wouldn't touch this one as a riding horse. She's probably got a lovely personality and would make a fabulous pasture pet/companion, but her injuries, probable health issues from years of neglect, and utter lack of training make it seem like a bad idea.

Agreed with everything the above poster mentioned. I can buy a sound, healthy, well-cared for horse with some training for a miniscule amount.

[morgieporgie]

See, I can't find a horse this age that is quiet and sane, with relatively good breeding, for an inexpensive amount around here. I really want to know what the vet has to say about her. She's just such a sweetheart, and I think she really deserves a good home. I don't do a ton of riding, and what I do is not hard. The vet knows what I'm thinking though, but I will definitely ask her about how the lack of care and the knee will affect her as she ages. The training doesn't bother me one bit, I was actually looking for something younger and greener. The only major issue she has in that department is steering, but that is to be expected.
Thanks!

[significance_0]

She's good for a brood mare at best. I wouldn't pay money for her.

[morgieporgie]

What makes you say that? They want $500 for her, but based on the care she's been given and the amount of effort going into selling her, I bet they'd give her away.

[significance_0]

I say this because of her conformation. Regardless of her care she's poorly built. She MAAAAY throw decent babies, but even that's a toss up. I give her at best a year of soundness and then she'll probably go lame. When you were listing all her faults I was thinking to myself why anyone would pay money for her... All of those things lead to hefty vet/farrier bills and almost a guarantee of lameness in the near future.

I don't doubt that she'll be all she can be if you take great care of her, but I honestly don't see her lasting long. As an above poster said, even to ride along on a trail they have to at least be kinda sorta sound. The money you'll pay in the bills to fix her would be in the multiple hundreds and possibly even thousands.

If someone was giving her away I may take her for when my gelding retires for real (he keeps going lame then taking it back when he gets bored), but I don't honestly think she's worth the money in upkeep.

[morgieporgie]

Thanks for your input. Personally I disagree that her confo is that much of an issue (though it definitely is an issue), but I am really interested in what the vet has to say. If all else fails I know I can either take the time to get her healthy and rehome her as a companion, or keep her as a companion for my gelding (who is 100% retired and sitting in a field staying fat and happy).

[tabascokat]

they want how much for her?
this is totally irrelevant in terms of confo...but she just looks so unhappy. Tired. If you get her, treat her well. She'll prob give you all she can.

[morgieporgie]

Sorry, forgot to add that! They want $500 for her, but I'm willing to bet that if the gelding goes for that much, then they will just give her away.

That's what gets to me the most... she's so sad. It's so obvious she just needs a person. She's so sweet and totally in your pocket. My 12 year old niece loves coming out and torturing grooming my gelding, and I think something like that would be perfect for this girl.

[tabascokat]

under those circumstances, I'd take her for $500

[chiquita522]

As far as a confro thought, she looks over at the knee. I'm not keen on her front legs and there's something I don't like about her hind legs (but I can't firm it down, just an odd feeling on my part). She's very flat where the neck ties into the shoulder, so not the best for a sport horse broodmare prospect. I'm also concerned about the bump on her back. It may be an old injury and it looks like it could be an issure if you have a larger/longer saddle for trails

[vtladyhawke]

To me, she looks bench-kneed and sickle-hocked. I'd like to see more angle through her shoulder, and her loin looks...weird. Kind of concave...almost the opposite of a "hunter's bump"

Do keep us posted on the PPE and results! :)

[morgieporgie]

Thanks, I will let you know what the vet says! She is very sickle hocked. I don't think she is bench kneed, but her knee does kinda throw you off. I don't know what's up with her back, but that is definitely something we will be looking at!

[morgieporgie]

I'm not a huge fan of her hind end either, but I want to know how much of it is confo and how much is lack of muscling, feet, and back issues (if she has them). See, I like her tie in and her shoulder. I didn't notice the bump on her back until you mentioned it, but that's definitely something I'll have the vet check out.

Breeding is not necessarily something I am actually going to do with her. Even considering it is like 2 years off. I was actually talking to my barn manager the other day and she mentioned that she would be happy to lease me a mare on a broodmare lease if I'm that interested in a baby. So it's looking like this mare will be more of a "tool around the barn yard for 20 min twice a week" type horse.

I think her belly is worse in person, but we're going to get a fecal done just because.