“Before and After”…How Will Your OTTB Look Once They’ve Transitioned?

It’s a difficult thing for many prospective owners to see a racing-fit horse and imagine how that horse might look after letting down from the track–putting on a bit of weight and re-muscling.

We just got these wonderful pictures of a cute mare; we’ll use these photos to illustrate some ways in which your horse’s shape may change once they are away from the track.

Do keep in mind: racing Thoroughbreds were bred for speed, and the functional demands of the sport have shaped the breed over the centuries. Not all of the qualities of a good racehorse necessarily equate to the “ideal” proportions and physical makeup desired for other disciplines, though the oft-cited appeal of Thoroughbreds centers, in part, on their versatility.

That said, keep in mind the job for which you are selecting the horse and pay close attention to the physical attributes of the prospect that you are evaluating as compared to the demands of the discipline.

What Does the “Ideal” Horse Look Like?

So you are at the track, or on the farm evaluating a fresh-off-the-track OTTB and you wonder how this racing-fit, lean machine will look after some time on the farm? It’s often a difficult leap, especially if you are not accustomed to seeing Thoroughbreds in training.

This article is aimed at helping you focus in on key areas of the horse’s conformation meriting special attention when evaluating an OTTB.

A Rule of Thumb

First, look at the proportions of the horse: a good rule of thumb is to imagine the horse being divided into thirds. Shoulder/neck/head…body…hip/flanks. They should be roughly equal.

Ideally, the horse is built “uphill”, with the wither higher than the croup. And the horse should have a well-sprung ribcage, good width to the pelvis and feet that are proportional to the size and build of the horse.

When evaluating the skeletal construction and conformational strengths/weaknesses of the prospect here are a few key areas to consider:

1. Length of neck
   For certain disciplines, a longer neck is a significant asset–it allows the jumper to adjust his weight by raising or lowering his head, and gives a dressage horse a visually elongated topline and the ability to shift his weight backward, for example. It may be less important for a trail rider.  Thoroughbreds usually have sufficient length of neck, though you may find it the case that their neck is “inverted”–with disproportionate muscling on the underside relative to the topline.  This can be easily fixed with time and proper training, though correct work cannot fix a truly “ewe-necked” horse.
2. Neck set (high, medium, low)
   Thoroughbreds often have a lower neck set than do warmbloods; if you are seeking a lower-level hunter, a lower neck set may not pose too much of a problem. On the other hand, dressage riders may appreciate (and require) a higher neck set, as it can help the horse shift weight back onto the hind end.Keep in mind that if the horse that you are evaluating at the track has an “inverted” neck it may appear to be set lower than it actually is.
3. Depth and angle of shoulder
   While a deep shoulder is not a guarantee that a horse will be an elegant, long-strided mover, a free-moving shoulder is desirable. Look and see if the horse “matches” front and back–a shallow shoulder coupled with a big hip can make the horse look very unbalanced.

   A deep, well-angled shoulder should also allow the horse to “snap” his front legs up, making him better able to tuck his front legs and clear obstacles when jumping. Keep in mind that Thoroughbreds are not fully developed at the age of 3 or 4 — so if you see a younger prospect at the track who is built a bit “downhill” it may be that his front end has to catch-up to his hind end.  We often hear that young horses grow 1-2″ in the year after they transition to their new homes.

4. Length of back
   Longer-backed horses can be smoother to ride, but a long back can pose certain problems–especially if they are weak over the loins. Weakness in this part of the back can result in chronic problems.  On the other hand, a horse with an overly short back may not have the ability to dissipate concussive shocks over the vertebrae and may be prone to spine, or disc damage.  Keep in mind the ideal: 1/3 neck/shoulder, 1/3 body, 1/3 hip/flanks in mind when considering length of back.While track horses can be body sore due to demanding training schedules and a deep track, it is not uncommon to see “kissing spine” in OTTBs. If the prospect that you are evaluating seems very back sore, be sure to have the vet evaluate the problem carefully during the PPE. A vet can discern the difference between body soreness and actual skeletal issues.
5. Proportions of the leg (length of forearm, cannon bone, pastern)
   Racehorses are bred for rapid acceleration and efficiency of stride. Their legs must also absorb tremendous force–as much as 4,000 PSI at full racing speed. So even minor deviations from the ideal can lead to significant injury on the track.

   Horses that race for a number of years and come off clean-legged are generally wonderfully constructed animals.  OTTBs that have suffered minor or manageable injuries under the stress of racing may still be quite serviceable for many disciplines: you are unlikely to push a horse as hard unless you are eventing at the intermediate or advanced level, doing grand prix jumping events or participating in endurance rides.

   For high-stress disciplines, like eventing, it is especially desirable to see the same basic construction which is ideal in a race horse: short cannon bones, flat broad knees with the cannon bone inset squarely and a moderate length of pastern.The length and slope of the pastern are especially significant: a long, overly sloped pastern may predispose a horse to tendon, or ligament injuries.  An upright pastern can lead to development of osselets. It is also important to look for balance: is one pastern more upright than the other? If there is some difference in angulation, is is due to a difference in the feet (which may be correctable to a degree)?  Attention to this area is especially important if you intend to jump the horse, as this places additional stress on the front legs.

6. Length/slope of hip & croup
   The slope of the croup correlations strongly with the horse’s function: endurance horses often have a level croup, while speed horses like Thoroughbreds tend to have a slight slope to the croup.

   An overly short, steep croup is associated with straight hind, or “post legs”; a conformation which predisposes a horse to hock injury as concussive forces are not properly dissipated up the leg.  During the PPE the vet will look carefully for potential stifle and hock issues, though some hind-end problems may be difficult to diagnose with the equipment available on the backside.

7. Angulation of hocks
   The hind end of the Thoroughbred is the “motor”–sound conformation in the legs, hips and croup ensure that the horse will be able to develop sufficient impulsion to break fast and carry speed over distance, with minimal joint stress.Because OTTBs are exerting a great deal of pushing force, hock issues are a relatively common problem at the track. Pay close attention to the structure of the leg and stifle, and watch how the horse moves when being trotted out. If the horse “hikes” behind, that is they appear to pick up their hind legs too much, they may simply be sore, or it could be an indicator of underlying  joint problems.

   How should the back legs appear? Ideally, a handing string would touch the point of the buttock and run down the back of the cannon bone, landing 3-4″ behind the fetlock. When the horse is “sickle hocked”–standing with their leg angled underneath them, instead of maintaining the straight line to the ground, this places undue strain on the hind legs, particularly the plantar ligaments. Sickle hocks can lead to unsoundness called curb.  If the horse is “camped out”–standing with his legs out behind this imaginary line–they may have difficulty with collection and impulsion. A horse that is built this way may also be prone to stifle and hock injuries.  Over rotation in, or out is also problematic.
   

Pictured for sale at Suffolk Downs

Soon after leaving Suffolk Downs

So Let’s Start with the “Before” Photos…

There are a few things to note about these two pictures:

1. It’s common for horses to have “inverted” necks where the musculature along the underside of the neck is actually overdeveloped by comparison to the muscles along the topline. Horses very often gallop in an inverted frame, so it takes time working long and low to stretch out and redefine this area.
2. Racing fit horses often have a “tucked up” look, where their belly is drawn up toward the spine. As the horse begins to let down and gain weight, and they are doing more balanced under saddle work, they will develop stronger abdominal muscles for self-carriage, shedding that “greyhound” silhouette.
3. Horses working hard over a deep surface–like a racetrack–often have tightness and soreness in the gluteal muscles and hamstrings. You can see in this photo that this mare is standing with her rump a bit “curled under”; it’s possible that she had some muscle tightness behind.
4. The muscles along the back are not “filled in” behind the wither or along either side of the spine.

What Will You Have at the End of the Day?

Here’s the “after” picture. Note the changes in those areas that we mentioned.

A recent photo of this mare on the farm.

In addition to adding weight and re-muscling, this mare has grown significantly. Thoroughbreds are not considered fully mature until six years of age, so when buying a three, or four year old it is very common to see the horse get taller, and gain some girth.

Notice that the muscling along the top of her neck has filled in, including the slight dip which was visible in front of the wither.

Over her back, and just behind the wither she has fat padding and muscle. This is a key change, as you may need to get your saddle adjusted several times during the first 18 months of retraining in order to ensure a proper fit as the horse’s back changes shape.

The line of her belly extends back with muscular development of the abdomen.

Looking at her hind end you see less tightness and the “crouching” stance is gone, though she is standing with her legs a bit out behind her.

The bottom line:

- Think about form & function

- Discuss your intended use for the horse with the vet during the PPE

- Have the vet help you distinguish between things that can change (shape of neck) vs. things that are structural (overly-sloped pasterns)

Here are some additional resources on equine conformation:

• Compendium of articles on conformation
• Some pictoral evaluations of three TB mares
• Examples of ideal leg conformation
• Pastern images
• Hind leg images
• Conformation faults