http://www.canterusa.org/illinois/sale/trainerphotos/MorningLover.jpg

FILLY - 4 years old. 16 hands. Dark Bay with a star. "Morning Lover" is an energetic and elegant youngster that would make a great prospect for any discipline. Believed sound, just not fast enough. Stabled at Hawthorne Racetrack. $2500/obo.

From canterusa.org. I'm not REALLY looking right now (can't afford owning) but an ex-racehorse might be something I'd be interested in in the future. Probably not as a first horse, as organizations like these wont usually allow first-time horse owners adopt, but I'm just curious. I kind of liked her, what do you guys think?
Any horse I buy will do eventing. Do you see anything that might indicate leg problems? That's the only thing I'm worried about in considering a racehorse. Training issues are not a problem.


Or what about this one?

http://www.canterusa.org/illinois/sale/trainerphotos/ArcillaTheHun22MAR06.jpg

946-12 FILLY, Foaled 2002. 16.2 hands. Chestnut with star. "Arcilla the Hun" has a beautiful head and nice uphill build. She bowed a tendon in October, but is now believed sound at all gaits. The tendon looks fabulous and with only a couple more months of R & R she will be ready for retraining! She would make a great dressage prospect and/or would be an asset to any sport horse breeding program. Stabled in Wilmington, IL. Asking $800.

I'm worried about the ad though. It says she has a bowed tendon. Is it REALLY that easy to heal a bowed tendon? I don't know anything about it. I'd probably want to skip her because of it though wouldnt I? If so, thats too bad because she's beautiful and looks to have a really nice build. Anyway, what do YOU guys think?

Hi,

The first filly (dark bay) is rather striking, and looks very athletic. You can easily see that she looks almost like she's "sitting down", because her hocks are under her. But to many people in the sports world, this is not necessarily a fault, but rather an advantage, especially when there is demand for sharp sprints and turns. She doesn't look like she has grown into her form yet. She's holds her head proud, and has a very intelligent look in her. Just look at those eyes! She's very intimidating!

The second filly (Chestnut) is a no no, even though at first her legs appear to be conformationally correct. Just remember, a bowed tendon is just about impossible to heal, if the necessary attention has not been given. Bowed tendons will not seriously affect the horse's performance, but it will always be worrisome in the back of any sport horseman's mind. Other than that, she does not have a pretty head, and her eyes are rather dull.

Trust your instincts. Not mine. Expect the unexpected and good luck!


Native

Sorry, but your statement about bows being nearly impossible to heal bothered me. Ive known MANY horses with bowed tendons- including an ex foxhunter with 2! most of these horses had had stall rest, hosings, and then turn out for a few months to recoop. All were fine, most were able to jump and all. Where did you find your information that bows are nearly impossible to heal? There will always be the remanents of the bow, the bump in the tendon, if thats what you are talking about... but when a bow sets, is hard and cold, the horse is usually 100% sound for most things...

Thanks! I really like the first filly, too. She caught my attention immediately. The second filly really would worry me with that bowed tendon. I don't know anything about bowed tendons, but I would imagine they're kind of like dislocating a knee or something... it may heal, but you always run the risk of it dislocating again at any moment. I could be completly wrong though.... I think I'll go look up some info on bowed tendons now! haha! Thanks for your opinions! Unfortunately, I can't afford to own right now, but its never too early to start looking for what you want, right? haha. Thanks again!

Bows can usually be healed so that the horse is back up to 100% sound with LOTS of rest and care, depending on the severity. However, I do believe once a tendon is bowed it has a much bigger chance of being bowed again - so for an eventer, I would pass on a horse with a bowed tendon. They can be great horses but in the long run it's usually better for them to be pleasure horses. Of course, this does vary case by case.

LOL i agree- they do tend to heal 100%, once cold and set most of the time the horse can do pretty much anything, aside from race again... the big ole TB ex-foxhunter we had, i believe he raced, then was a foxhunter for like 17years- got 1 bow, it healed up perfect, went back to foxhunting, got another (diff leg) healed up and started foxhunting again but he just was too old- 22years by the time my barn owner got him- he was an awesome guy- true gentle giant- 17h, sway back, old old guy- just a sweetie! I was the only one who could canter him b/c he still had tons of life in him and would try to throw inexperienced riders- or attempt to take off with them but anyway, he was just that type of horse that you could put anyone on and if they were gonna fall, hed step under them so they didnt. But hes one of many horses i've seen/ridden with Bows that went on to lead normal, active lives It also depends on how bad the bow was- I'd be curious to see this filly without wraps to see how bad it is- if its not too bad, I think she'd be fine doing dressage or hunters or anything really aside from racing...

Holy moly, that first one is big! She is very flashy looking. I really don't know anything about buying ex-racehorses, but she is very pretty.

lol, the second one she posted is actually bigger, and they are both average height. But the person taking the photograph was crouching down, making them look bigger.

I don't know about either of these horses but one thing struck me as odd

Quote:

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She bowed a tendon in October, but is now believed sound at all gaits

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Have they checked her with a vet or does she just look good when she's being riden/lunged?? Maybe it's just their choice of words but who knows

I thought that was odd, too! They say, 'believed to be sound' in both ads. Why would that be?

I missed it in the first ad lol It's enough to make me keep looking

Perhaps they have had problems with people angry over a lame horse that was 'sound' in their ad?? I can see that happening a lot with OTTB's - seemingly sound until they are adopted and enter into hard work - and owners thinking they were purposefully decieved (or upset their prospect is worthless).

Who knows!

Hard to say. I'm not overly worried about it. I don't plan on ever buying a TB so I'm not terribly worried about how they are advertised

Quote:

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I thought that was odd, too! They say, 'believed to be sound' in both ads. Why would that be?

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Being a regular on an OTStb board with lots of track owners visiting, there are alot of people buying OT horses with unrealistic views of the horses' physical condition, training etc and alot of them have been blasted for being deceptive about why a horse is being retired. If I were selling a horse OT for a different discipline I think I'd qualify my representations too... sort of like selling an old car and saying you've disclosed "all known mechanical defects"....

That's what I figured....thanks for clarifying that.