Buy retired race horses?
 

So my wife wants to go look at some retired race horses to turn into pleasure type/dressage, etc horses. Is this a bad move?

What should I be looking out for? Are these likely to be horses with health issues down the road? We keep the horses for long periods of time.

I think it's great that you're looking into this. Check with the numerous OTTB organizations who evaluate horses and prepare them for second career disciplines, groups like CANTER, New Vocations, and ReRun. They do a good job placing horses with physical and mental attributes compatible with the new owner's ambitions. Let us know how it goes.

One friend told me the slower race horses usually have less injuries so don't look for a stakes winner. get his name and look him up on equibase. But they should disclose any and all injury info to you.

good luck.

You're in CA, right? There are some very good organizations that can match you with the right horse. I would also make sure that you board, or train with, someone who has reschooled a lot of thoroughbreds. Someone can be a very good dressage trainer, but my experience has been that you really need someone who understands the OTTB.

The Retired Racehorse Project is a great way to research/learn about OTTBs and to connect with very experienced people:

https://www.retiredracehorseproject.org/