I live outside of Houston and purchased a Drummond Red Maple, because I was told they did better in my area and were relatively fast growers. When the planting crew finished I realized I had received an oddly shaped tree but didn't think anything of it. Now, a little over a year and a few storms later, I'm a little concerned that it may be too tall for how skinny it is. Anytime we have wind blow through it seems to bend a lot. After a particularly strong storm came through our area the other week it broke one of the wood stakes which I replaced, but while I was replacing it I saw a bunch of cracks in the bark. It could just be that I've never looked that close before and that they are natural that I wanted to ask the forum and see if anyone could take a look and tell me for sure.

If it is too tall for how skinny it is, what would be the best way to trim it? Thanks in advance!

Those plant nurseries always seem to prune awkwardly.

Personally, I'd avoid cutting the top out of the tree...

I'm unhappy about the forks... But, when I pruned a silver maple back to a single leader, a couple years ago, the keeper [leader] died... Now? It's a mess... the others? I'm holding off.

Your tree? I'm only concerned about the possibility of the top flopping over when the leaves get too heavy during a rain storm. If you can avoid that occurring, you might yet get a good shade tree.

Dunno what to tell you about the forks... They are undesirable. Forks tend to split as they get some size. So...
Something to worry about down the road.

I would be concerned about the forks, not just the four possible leaders at the top, but the fork below it. I would deal with that now even with the risk Stone mentions because it is inexpensive to deal with it now compared to later. Plus you will lose time.