I think the first filly is just stunning, but like Native said, I'm really worried about her expression. She looks almost nervous and scared.
I like the look of the second filly and for $500, I would consider her as a broodmare for a sporthorse cross, especially if her career and pedigree are good. Hey and if she turns out sound it would be an added bonus. But I would only consider her as a broodmare and now that I think about it - only if she is an easy keeper.
But the first one is really nice - scary - but really nice. Notice they describe her as "energetic" - (runaway? comes to mind) Although, I would not buy her for that price.

And what does "BELIEVED SOUND" mean? She is or she isn't.

I like them both, but if it came down to having to choose, I would choose the first horse, providing she didn't have any other problems to speak of. Bows can be healed, but if you had a choice to choose between to comparable horses, one with clean legs and one with a bow, I'd be choosing the one with clean legs for sure. I also want to comment on the look in the dark horses eye. She looks like she's got some fire! That draws me to her more so over the other one as well. Love a horse that has some spunk and pizzazz!

Have you ever looked into Morgans for eventing? If you find a sport bred one, they are usually great for endurance and athleticism. A girl at my barn has a TB/paint that she events with and has problems with him getting tired out. She was given a Morgan filly for X-mas and she'll never have a problem wih her pooping out. I'm not too sure what bloodlines to look for, but I know Lippitt mandate is one of them. Searching for "sport morgans" usually brings up the breeders of those type. They aren't typically "typy" Morgans, but they retain the endurance that almost all Morgans have, and usually pretty good sized. If you look at www.morganmarketplace.com and click on sport prospects, it can give you an idea of pedigrees and looks and such. I'm currently drooling over these two, but I'm sure they'll be sold off before I can afford one: http://www.morganmarketplace.com/Geldings/Celebrity-by-Gordels.htm, http://www.morganmarketplace.com/Mares/Spring-Hollow-Jocasta.htm

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http://www.morganmarketplace.com/Mares/Spring-Hollow-Jocasta.htm

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I love the look of that mare - Jocasta.

To begin with I love TB's, I would like to get into buying ones off the track. I am looking for horses that show potential for upper-level talent. That said, I really liked what I could see of Morning Lover, maybe a little light in the pasterns, but she looks to have a level top-line, her neck comes out of her shoulder at a very nice angle, the depth of her hip is hard to judge when she is so obviously still in 'track shape'. But I would definitly want to see more of her. The other one I am not as wild about. She looks to be built 'down hill' and her neck comes out of her shoulder at a low angle. Depending on what someone wanted to do with her she could be really hard to keep off her forehand.

The first horse looks like it has a weak loin, long pasturns and is herring gutted. It is hard to keep the saddle from slipping back on a horse like this.

I like the second one better but the leg bandages don't show the bowed tendon.

Well, the first one is a nice dark color, but the second is built better IMO, but a bowed tendon is somthing i wouldn't want to work with. It's always weaker after and could bow again anytime.
The first horse looks funny to me, just so long and skinny. But at least is sound?????

To all:

Thanks for the comments everyone! I haven't been on over the weekend so sorry if I haven't replied.

I'm the same way! I like a little fire! **a controlable fire**

No, I haven't looked into Morgans, but I'll keep them in mind. I'm really open to any breed as long as they are fit and built for the sport I'm participating in. Was your friend's TB an off-track horse? I wouldn't think that OTTB's would tire out as easily. Those Morgans you posted ARE stunning. I didn't see a price for the first one though.

thanks for the critique. I'd definitely look further into Morning Lover if I were in the position to be a serious buyer right now. Too bad... it seems there are a lot of good qualities in her.

What does herring gutted mean? How can you tell she has a weak loin?

She's straight off the track... she'd need a bit of fattening up and she might look more "normal." She does look a little long and skinny in the shape she's in now.

Don't you just? That's my ideal type of Morgan. <wipes drool off mouth> I'm eager to see what the mare I lease and her owner's stallion will produce, he's got size and oodles of show presence and she's a hunter through and through. If a good sized baby with hunter gait pops out, she/he's mine! Look at me, planning on a horse that doesn't even exist yet...

Nah, he's not OT, he was a $500 auction purchase. Definitely more TB in him than paint. Nice horse otherwise. Very calm and very honest jumper. I'm not too familiar with how many OTTB's become eventers around here, but I do know of the eventers are TB sporthorses, out of racehorses. Perch/TB's are pretty popular. Not sure if the draft blood in them gives them more endurance or not?