Young horse very narrow in front....thoughts please

[Debsflo1]

Please can any one share thoughts.
Looked at a young just 4 thoroughbred.
Raced once but very slow.
Weak and immature but is a nice type ie lovely chilled temperament and does a very basic but decent walk trot canter.
Hacked alone and overall looks like with time a nice all-rounder.
However he is extremely base narrow in front and plaits.
His shoes need sorting and rebalanced and I have a great remedial farrier.
I have no experience of this but want to know if this is likely to improve with time ,maturity and correct work or we should walk away as will have soundness issues.
Back end looks pretty good.
Front end very weak.
Thank you.

 

[AmyMay]

Do you have any pics? Is he just four?

How big?

 

[Debsflo1]

Yes literally just 4.
15.2.
Not sure if i can post pics. and done very little
Will try

 

[TheMule]

He should improve as he matures, but I would worry about such an immature horse having been in training and the stress that has put on weaker limbs

 

[Debsflo1]

Yes I agree.
He raced as a 2 Yr old and was last in his race.

 

[Squeak]

How many times did he race? If it's just once then that really isn't a lot.

One of my horses had it mentioned on the vetting as a 4 year old that he was close in front, when he grew up he was a chunk and not close at all in front.

 

[Debsflo1]

He raced once as a 2 Yr old and was last and felt too immature.
He is the least likely racehorse ever.
More like an older model in his brain.
If he wasn't such a nice temperament we would prob not consider but if he just needs time and correct work thats fine.
He is shod in front but are really not good and barefoot behind

 

[hobo]

I bought much the same as you though mine was a just 5 year old warmblood very narrow in front and often plaited after changing direction. He had a couple of months off this winter and has really filled out and got some width across the front he will be 6 in June. He has had a few sessions at the water mill and we are taking things slowly but the difference this year is incredible. He is finding his feet though and not quite as chilled with his new found strength but still managable. So yes they can change a lot.

 

[Annagain]

If he's narrow and straight I wouldn't worry too much. If he's narrow and wonky that would put me off. My rising 7 yr old ID has widened lots in the 7 months I've had him. We've done lots of hacking and a limited amount in the school. I'd expect a TB to mature a bit sooner but a narrow 4 yr old wouldn't put me off. There's always a risk in taking on an ex-racer that has been started so young but if he only raced once it will be a smaller risk than with others.

 

[Squeak]

I'm very biased as I have an ex-racer who is the most wonderful horse and he raced over 20 times as a 2 and 3 year old. Maybe it will catch up with him, I was very paranoid to begin with but I hear of so many other breeds/ type of horse breaking down at young ages that I'm really not convinced that the ex-racers are any worse anymore.

 

[sportsmansB]

Do you have any vet or farrier friends you could ask for an opinion from some pics or a video?
He does sound lovely

 

[Flowerofthefen]

He raced once as a 2 Yr old and was last and felt too immature.
He is the least likely racehorse ever.
More like an older model in his brain.
If he wasn't such a nice temperament we would prob not consider but if he just needs time and correct work thats fine.
He is shod in front but are really not good and barefoot behind

For me temperament would far out weigh the narrow issue. They are bred to go fast in a straight line so hopefully once matured and working correctly he will learn to use himself properly. He sounds lovely .

 

[Debsflo1]

Its so difficult.
My farrier has warned me off due to previous similar projects but haven't been able to send photos.
He is really sweet but I think having studied the photos he is narrow then in at the knee and toes turn out.
He is desperate for tlc ..not sure about the risk.
Have spoken to our vets who can't say for sure.
May improve and may worsen so still undecided.

 

[LEC]

Plaiting bothers me and I won't buy horses who do it because they tend to not last especially if you want them as a competition horse. I often find they develop other issues as effectively its a large asymmetry that you are unlikely to resolve. Sometimes its a sign that something else is already going on as effectively most horses should move straight with some small nuances like dishing.

 

[Debsflo1]

I'm very biased as I have an ex-racer who is the most wonderful horse and he raced over 20 times as a 2 and 3 year old. Maybe it will catch up with him, I was very paranoid to begin with but I hear of so many other breeds/ type of horse breaking down at young ages that I'm really not convinced that the ex-racers are any worse anymore.

Totally agree.
I did everything correctly with my Ish and has still been a walking vet bill.

 

[Annagain]

Its so difficult.
My farrier has warned me off due to previous similar projects but haven't been able to send photos.
He is really sweet but I think having studied the photos he is narrow then in at the knee and toes turn out.
He is desperate for tlc ..not sure about the risk.
Have spoken to our vets who can't say for sure.
May improve and may worsen so still undecided.

Is he cheap enough and are you emotionally equipped to take a risk knowing it could go wrong?

 

[DabDab]

He's young enough to chunk out through the chest and for the plaiting to lessen. I've certainly known more than one TB mature out of those issues. But there is no guarantee that this one will, so it's a risk that you will have to weigh up.

FWIW I have a narrow chested horse now who was puny and dished significantly as a 4yo. Now rising 7 her chest is 70% wider than it was 17 months ago (I didn't measure before that), and even on slow Mo camera you can't really see her dishing anymore.

 

[Debsflo1]

Hes not that cheap.
Daughters money though and think the price is higher as he's so easy.
I don't want to start with an issue and appreciate its unknown.
Had equally different thoughts.
We both get attached easily so already am thinking we can sort him rather than ending up elsewhere but daughter is a nurse and wants a nice project not one with issues.....although appreciate all horses come with risks

 

[Squeak]

Hes not that cheap.
Daughters money though and think the price is higher as he's so easy.
I don't want to start with an issue and appreciate its unknown.
Had equally different thoughts.
We both get attached easily so already am thinking we can sort him rather than ending up elsewhere but daughter is a nurse and wants a nice project not one with issues.....although appreciate all horses come with risks

Is he expensive enough that you could get something with the same attitude and not the conformational issues? If so I'd probably walk away.

 

[Debsflo1]

Probably yes if we wait.....

 

[[135546]]

Could you get them to lower the price based on the plaiting? It's a pretty significant issue but may correct itself at least partially as he develops.

 

[doodle]

I bought soli at rising 5 as a failed racer. The difference in him in even a year was amazing. He matured so much and looked totally different. So no at rising 4 that wouldn’t really bother me. But I would be prepared to give him an easy year.

 

[Debsflo1]

Going to show my daughter this thread and let her make the decision and see if she can help post a pic

 

[doodle]

Baby Soli

Grown up Soli

 

[Debsflo1]

Looking good.its the narrow chest for me but his heels are underrun on hinds and fronts are out of balance.
I do hate horse shopping.
Daughter has a little rescue cob but she's not big enough really for what she wants

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

In all honestly if he isn't a few hundred quid I'd walk. Seen too many with such confo faults that don't stay sound. Mostly ligament issues. He will fill out and chunk up but whether he will straighten up is debatable.

 

[Debsflo1]

Spoken to vet and farrier and will walk away sadly I think

 

[irishdraft]

I bought a weak 4 yo Anglo Arab with a large % TB she plaited & dished as she strengthened the plaiting which was behind disappeared but dishing remained and she had unexplained lameness in front throughout her life . This was about 25 years ago but I wouldn't buy anything with these issues again.

 

[exracehorse]

Is he expensive enough that you could get something with the same attitude and not the conformational issues? If so I'd probably walk away.

agree. When I bought my ex racer the vetting said he was narrow and ,close, in front. From day one that I brought him home , he ripped off every pair of shoes. Usually same one. He’s stand on himself. So ,, I’d be very cautious when it comes to bad feet. Or leg confirmation.

 

[Debsflo1]

Not proceeding and thanks all.
Will keep looking although feel sad for him