Lauren Nethery: “Why Does My OTTB (insert weird quirk here)?” Volume V

 

From Lauren:

“Why Does My OTTB (insert weird quirk here)?” Volume V

The Quirky OTTB Hunting Edition

Are you tired of watching all of your friends clean up at Events always making time and jumping around in style with their freshly minted OTTB’s while your old plug of a cold blood is just barely eeking out qualifying scores?  Do you peruse CANTER most often than you check your email…or do work at the office?  Well have no fear, friends!  I am here to answer a few of the many questions that I hear week in and week out from friends and clients that are all searching for that elusive OTTB diamond in the rough. Enjoy!

 

I have finally found my dream mount at (insert seedy racetrack here).  I have set up an appointment with the trainer to evaluate said horse and plan to show up decked out in breeches with an English saddle on my arm. 

Whoa back! (racetrack slang for “hold on just a second”)  If you plan to evaluate horses seen on CANTER or other similar websites in person that are still at the track and in the care of their trainer, do not, under any circumstances, plan to ride this creature.  Occasionally advertisements will feature one-liners detailing the location of a horse to be on a farm and perhaps that horse has even been started under saddle as a riding horse.  However, this is not par for the course.  There are numerous liability issues that arise when prospective buyers demand to actually ride a horse at the track and it simply is not a good idea for any of the parties involved.  If you wish to see a racehorse go under saddle, politely ask the trainer what his or her training hours are and if they would mind you coming to watch that horse train one morning.  Also, it is best to observe from the rail of the track and be on your way instead of haunting the barn like a spirit not ready to move on.  Things move very quickly each morning in racing barns and respect must be paid to this way of life.  Also, only wear breeches if you want to stand out like a sore thumb and risk molestation by the local skeezy male contingent (or at the very least, cat calls and whistles).

 

The listing for my dream horse says he is a 100% sound and just too slow to race.  Therefore, I really don’t need to vet him, right?

WRONG!  First off, very, very few horses are just “too slow” to race. This is a common excuse by trainers to mask the fact that there is some kind of underlying soundness or behavioral issue preventing this horse from making its first start.  While there are exceptions to every rule, do not assume that your dream horse is one of them.  Vet them to within an inch of their lives if you are truly on the hunt for a lifetime partner or even a big money sale project.  I routinely spend $500 to vet a $500 OTTB and often end up saving a lot of time, money, and frustration in the long run.  Flex them, radiograph them, ultrasound them, scope them, and be as thorough as your resources, veterinary help, and the trainer allow.  If the trainer will not allow the horse to be vetted, there is a reason.  If he or she recommends a vet or insists that there is only good vet in the area, probably get another one.  I hate to sound like such a skeptic, but it is far better to be skeptical than to be had.

 

The local adoption agency has the perfect resale project for me!  I’m picking him up tomorrow after seeing his picture on Facebook!

Programs like New Vocations, The Secretariat Center, Finger Lakes Finest, and even CANTER are absolutely indispensable to the Thoroughbred industry.  Without these organizations, horses at every racetrack in the country would face bleak outlooks at the end of unsuccessful racing careers.  However, all of these organizations typically require that lengthy adoption contracts be signed upon the purchase of a horse that they represent.  While these contracts are necessary to protect the well-being of their charges, be advised that these contracts often include stipulations that limit or prohibit reselling of the adopted horse or require the next buyer to agree to the terms and conditions of the original adoption contract.  While this shouldn’t deter resellers from searching adoption agencies for their next stars, it is something to keep in mind.

 

I have always lusted after the elusive OTTB but I live far away from any racetracks.  What is a girl to do?

Many people are discouraged from buying an OTTB simply because they do not live near a track.  Do not despair!  Most trainers are highly motivated to sell their horses and fill those empty stalls with horses that will bring home checks from the track. Because of this, they will often be willing to video the horse jogging in hand and sometimes even at liberty in the round pen for evaluation by buyers.  If you are in search of your first OTTB and have expert assistance from your trainer who has purchased many OTTB’s in the past, there are no major drawbacks to purchasing OTTB’s sight unseen.  If you can watch the horse move, evaluate its conformation, and vet it extensively, the only litmus test that is can’t pass from a distance is a temperament evaluation and most OTTB’s, while on the track, will exhibit a much different temperament than they will once they are allowed to  live like normal horses anyway.  Tread with caution but forge on ahead!

 

Sssssh!  I have found a horse with beautiful conformation, four white socks, and a blaze to die for.  I pulled his pedigree up online though and don’t recognized a single name on it.  Is this a problem?

No!  Good breeding does not a world beater make.  Plenty of G1 willing mares and stallions have been bred to each other and their progeny have been absolutely abysmal on the track.  There are, however, numerous sire and dam lines that are known to produce jumping ability (just as there are similar lines known to produce unsoundness) and it is my suggestion that prospective OTTB buyers seek the help of knowledgeable parties in their lives, on the internet, or at their local Thoroughbred organizations to enable them to better understand the lineage that their prospective dream horse possesses.  This knowledge is just another tool in the toolbox towards building a capable competitor but should not be viewed as a make or break in any OTTB buying decision.

 

I do hope that some of my answers to the questions above have demystified some of the OTTB hunting process and I encourage you to send any further questions regarding OTTB hunting or OTTB quirks to me via email ( [email protected]) for more in-depth and on-point answers.  Dearest EN readers, keep those questions coming and please don’t be discouraged if I don’t answer immediately, I will get back to you I promise! Go Eventing and go gallop a (former) racehorse!

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