I love off the track thoroughbreds (OTTBs). There are always so many retiring from the track around the states with plenty of potential to go into any new career. How you do you find the right one for YOU!? Here are three things to think about in finding the right OTTB for you (or any horse really):
What are your performance goals?
Are you looking to jump 3'3s? Introduction to barrel racing? Endurance race? Pleasure ride out on the trails under the sunset? Different horses are better equipped for different disciplines both physically and mentally. You don't need a horse with perfect x-rays and flawless conformation to achieve your performance goals.
Even better question, WHY are they your performance goals? Truth is, most of us are just amateur's looking to live our childhood dreams of having a horse we trust, enjoy, and have fun with. Hopefully the goals you set come from a desire for adventure, challenge but most of all FUN. It they don't sound fun, you should probably change them. We need to be careful when we set prestigious goals for the benefit of our peers, our egos, or to "prove ourselves".
We can get ourselves and our horses into a lot of trouble with unnecessary pressure with these types of goals.
What are your Partnership Goals?
Your partnership goals are what horse temperament/personality do you connect best with. Do you enjoy the expressive, outgoing, goofy, tad lazy horse? Sensitive, perceptive, loyal to one person horse?
Truth is there are infinite types of personalities for humans and for horses. Different combinations get along better than others. Some horses are very expressive and some are more reserved. Think about what personality type you feel safest with, enjoy the connection with, and brings out the best in you.
Like any relationship, connection and trust take time, but it comes a lot faster when you find a personality that you mesh well with versus buttheads with.
What is your Budget Goal?
The purchase price of a horse is usually the least of your problems. Depending on the horses location, you need to factor in pre-purchase exams, shipping, first months board, ulcer treatment, bodywork, farrier appointment, vaccination/dental work, cost of new tack/equipment... and that's just the on-boarding costs. There are certainly ways to make some of these items budget friendly and cost effective but worth planning for nonetheless.
The last thing you want is for something so rewarding as buying a new horse to feel stressed and pressed for cash to take care of said horse now that they're yours.
I love horse shopping. I love shopping for clients and weighing the pros and cons of any horse. There is one thing I find myself saying to every client though: if it's a true partnership, we must be flexible to allow for the horse to share with us they're preferences. We strive to find an equine partner that aligns with our goals but how we achieve those goals will be dictated by the trust and connection we develop along the way.
