FRANK SANTOS DVM UPDATED: JAN 24, 2019 ; ORIGINAL: JUN 22, 2010
With the price of finished roping horses going higher all the time, a lot of people are looking for "prospects" that will evolve into usable horses in a relatively short period of time. I would like to share some thoughts that came up recently in discussions I’ve had with trainers and fellow veterinarians.
A population of horses that have a lot to offer as prospective roping horses are from the cutting and reining programs. These horses seem to possess very trainable minds (i.e., they’re "smart") and have the basic physical attributes necessary for a roping horse. With the large purses offered in their original intended use, the 3- and 4-year-old futurities, these horses have had a lot invested in their training since their 2-year-old year.
With human athletes, there are a lot of very good college players who never make it in the pros. In this equine world, there are a lot of 3- and 4-year-olds that are nice horses but don’t have a future in the "pros" as cutters or reiners. These horses become available to buy for a fraction of the money invested in their breeding and training. They seem "mature" for their age, and adapt fairly easily to a slightly different discipline than their original...FULL ARTICLE