confo critiques needed for a coupla OTTBs, would like to use for dressage
Hey all, I'm new to this community! I'm in the "shouldn't-be-looking-for-a-horse-but-am-anyway" market, hooray! That's always the superfunnest.
Anyway. My family has an inheritance going through probate right now that's getting closer and closer to being done, and Mom has (perhaps prematurely) given me the green light to look for horses. Ha! Little does she know that soon she'll be called upon to go out and look at these fellows with me.
I'm a 25 year old rider, currently learning dressage. I rode H/J for about 15 years on and off. Have dealt with racing TBs and OTTBs, plus my trainer also has experience with both, so I'm not daunted by the task of working with one. Plus, I have no budget for a fancy, high$$ WB. Ah well. I'm looking for a horse to do lower-level dressage with, and POSSIBLY, if I get over this whole fence-fear thing, lower-level eventing, as well. Though that's quite likely a pipe dream, 'cause I doubt that'll ever happen. So for now, just dressage. Probably only through 1st or 2nd level.
I know that conformation is not everything and a couple of pictures do not make the horse, but I would like to know what general problems are associated with conformation faults, and if they would hinder movement or ability in dressage & eventing.
That having been said, here are the candidates:
First up, 12 yr old, 16hh OTTB gelding. Trainer (who has dressage experience) says he would make a nice dressage horse; has "natural self-carriage & a big, expressive trot). $2000. (I previously posted him on the equestrian and got some mixed reviews about him having a short back/long back or uphill/downhill conformation. Personally, I like the look of him. I saw him a few months ago and liked him, and lo and behold, he's still around.
Second, a guy I just found on the CANTER site today -- 2003 gelding, doesn't say how tall but I'd imagine 16+ at least. Has a suspected suspensory strain and is on stall rest. Trainer says he should be sound with a couple weeks of stall rest - is this true? I haven't had much experience with suspensory strains, so I'd definitely want to do my research before investing in him. (More so for the fact that I wouldn't want to put him back into work too early and ruin him than anything else). "Once healed, he should be able to do any kind of flat work" which rules him out for eventing, but as I said... not so much a deciding factor, just an "it wouldn't hurt" thing. He's $800 and listed as "at risk"
Third: another CANTER Ohio prospect -- a 16hh, 2001 gelding. Says he's sound for any discipline, quiet, and kind. $1000.
A CANTER Michigan lady - 5 yrs old, 16h, has had some retraining in dressage. presumed sound for all disciplines including jumping. $800 It's really hard to judge her back end from this picture because of her color & her tail... she looks awfully upright, but I can't tell 100%.
Some New Vocations goodies:
Jasper - he's probably going to stay only at Training level, though
Mag
Gold - he's actually a Standardbred, by a pacing sire out of a trotting mare, so I don't know what his canter-ability would be. I've honestly never ridden an STB, I love their trots though!
Woops, found a few more than I'd thought I would find... anyone have any opinions? Favorites? Best bang for the buck? Help?
Anyway. My family has an inheritance going through probate right now that's getting closer and closer to being done, and Mom has (perhaps prematurely) given me the green light to look for horses. Ha! Little does she know that soon she'll be called upon to go out and look at these fellows with me.
I'm a 25 year old rider, currently learning dressage. I rode H/J for about 15 years on and off. Have dealt with racing TBs and OTTBs, plus my trainer also has experience with both, so I'm not daunted by the task of working with one. Plus, I have no budget for a fancy, high$$ WB. Ah well. I'm looking for a horse to do lower-level dressage with, and POSSIBLY, if I get over this whole fence-fear thing, lower-level eventing, as well. Though that's quite likely a pipe dream, 'cause I doubt that'll ever happen. So for now, just dressage. Probably only through 1st or 2nd level.
I know that conformation is not everything and a couple of pictures do not make the horse, but I would like to know what general problems are associated with conformation faults, and if they would hinder movement or ability in dressage & eventing.
That having been said, here are the candidates:
First up, 12 yr old, 16hh OTTB gelding. Trainer (who has dressage experience) says he would make a nice dressage horse; has "natural self-carriage & a big, expressive trot). $2000. (I previously posted him on the equestrian and got some mixed reviews about him having a short back/long back or uphill/downhill conformation. Personally, I like the look of him. I saw him a few months ago and liked him, and lo and behold, he's still around.
Second, a guy I just found on the CANTER site today -- 2003 gelding, doesn't say how tall but I'd imagine 16+ at least. Has a suspected suspensory strain and is on stall rest. Trainer says he should be sound with a couple weeks of stall rest - is this true? I haven't had much experience with suspensory strains, so I'd definitely want to do my research before investing in him. (More so for the fact that I wouldn't want to put him back into work too early and ruin him than anything else). "Once healed, he should be able to do any kind of flat work" which rules him out for eventing, but as I said... not so much a deciding factor, just an "it wouldn't hurt" thing. He's $800 and listed as "at risk"
Third: another CANTER Ohio prospect -- a 16hh, 2001 gelding. Says he's sound for any discipline, quiet, and kind. $1000.
A CANTER Michigan lady - 5 yrs old, 16h, has had some retraining in dressage. presumed sound for all disciplines including jumping. $800 It's really hard to judge her back end from this picture because of her color & her tail... she looks awfully upright, but I can't tell 100%.
Some New Vocations goodies:
Jasper - he's probably going to stay only at Training level, though
Mag
Gold - he's actually a Standardbred, by a pacing sire out of a trotting mare, so I don't know what his canter-ability would be. I've honestly never ridden an STB, I love their trots though!
Woops, found a few more than I'd thought I would find... anyone have any opinions? Favorites? Best bang for the buck? Help?