2 or 5 stage vetting?

[Girlie1998]

Hi I'm looking to buy a new horse should I get 2 or 5 stage vetting? Its not a competition horse and would mainly be for hacking. The mare is perfect in every way the only thing is she shakes her head when ridden which makes me think it could be something more serious or she may be in pain rather than a vice. Thanks

 

[Escada2004]

Hi, my experience with vettings is that if you go for a full 5 stage, it doesnt show that much more than a 2 stage - my reason for saying this is i bought a 4yo, had her 5 stage vetted and she passed wth flying colours, 2 years later she was diagnosed with bone spavin. Now this mare had bone spavin as a 3yo as the breeders in Belgium tracked me down and told me! So a 5 stage vetting was TBH useless for any type of lameness assessment. So in future i would have a 2 stage with x-rays. Your case is slightly different as you arnt looking for a competition horse. If i were in your position, i would have a 2 stage and tell the vet your concerns about the head shaking and they can then advise you. Its totally up to you, this is just my opinion

 

[2horsesnomoney]

I would recommend the opposite and go for a 5* but with a vet you trust/ your vet recommends specialist equine obviously. A 2 stage only looks at basic conformation, eyes heart and lungs at rest and flexion and trot up at 5 stage will go into strenuous exercise, rest and reapeat trot up. But I would speak to your own vet before hand to discuss the head shaking - might just be a pollen allergy or something a nose net might help with but could be much more serious and this wont be diagnosed in the vetting just noted. Think fully and research the head shaking before you purchase to make sure you know wht you are letting your self in for.

Good luck