5 Stage Vetting Results - Advice appreciated!

[_April_]

I had a potential horse vetted today - 5 stage!

It passed but vet has 2 main areas of concern:

1. 2 x melanomas on it's head. Vet described them as 'reasonably big' and they are underneath the bridle.
It wouldn't be insured for them if they got worse.
It also has tiny melanomas on the anus and base of tail - I am not so concerned about them as both my old greys had this.

2. She said that the horse seemed a bit stiff and didn't track up amazingly. Flexions were slightly prolonged too but not enought to fail.
She said on the other hand the horse is jumping well and doing the job fine, just that it doesn't score well in dressage.

Would this put you off?? I am in such a dilemma. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[KatB]

What do you want it for? Personally the melanomas and stiffness would put me off, but I would be buying to be a half decent eventer, and have had bad experiences with melanomas.

 

[ladyt25]

Persoanlly I wouldn't knowingly buy a horse with melanomas no. Depends what you want it for though i guess but I think there's plenty of horses out there without them.

 

[AmyMay]

I would walk away because of the melanomas.

 

[_April_]

I just want a fun all rounder.

Want to SJ up to about 3ft3 some x country etc maybe Intro level. It has a great BSJA record and I really liked it

 

[Booboos]

This is a tough one! How do you feel about the horse? Did it give you an amazing feeling or was it just OK to ride? Is it a brilliant competition horse, or a one-in-a-million temperament? I am asking because it looks like you will need to take a risk with the melanomas and the stiffness and you can't decide unless you can weigh up the advantages.

As for the melanomas in general they can grow and cause problems or they can remain inactive but I don't think anyone can predict what they will do. I bought a horse with melanomas, had six wonderful years riding him, retired him for other reasons for 4 years and eventually had to put him to sleep because of the melanomas. I don't regret it as I had him for a good long time, he was happy, he taught me a lot and if a horse has to be PTS after 10 years that's not bad going.

As for the stiffness, could you get a physio to have a look or is it not worth the bother?

 

[Flame_]

Personally I'd walk away fast, but then I wanted a four year old without a clinical flaw. This does sound like its on the slippery slope to health problems already though.

 

[Booboos]

Sorry just read your reply, I would suggest that if you really like the horse you make the owner an offer for what you think is a reasonable price to reflect the risk of the melanomas and go for it.

 

[_April_]

I was really keen on the horse and it felt like we clicked very well when I rode it. It is a SJ/XC legend and so laid back to handle.

I am going to call our family vet and get some advice too.

Ack why is nothing ever simple!

 

[zoeshiloh]

This thread caught my attention as I recently sold my pony, and the owners had her 5-stage vetted. The vet picked up on two tiny tiny little lumps between her front legs, that he described as sarcoids. When you looked at them, one was just a cut that was healing, and the other turned out to be a flake of mud!!

Are the lumps on this horse definately melanomas, and not something more innocent? Not suggesting they are flakes of mud like ours was, but could they be old scars/rub marks etc?

I spent a week working with a vet, in which time we did about 30 vettings, and all but one horse failed. Most of those failed on flexion tests or lungeing on a circle etc. Each time the vet said he didn't think it would be a problem, but he had to mention it for fear of being sued.

I would agree with Booboos and say that if you really like the horse, and it is only these things the vetting picked up on that is putting you off, make the owner an offer. She is more likely to accept it, than go through the trouble of re-advertising, entertaining viewers, and further vettings.

 

[Weezy]

Melanomas are tricky blighters. Personally, because they are on the head, under where the bridle needs to go (and you cannot change where you place a bridle), I would say if you 100% want the horse then you make an offer. The stiffness wouldn't bother me overly, so long as the vet was happy that it was not due to a possible underlying problem. The one I had vetted that had right rein issues, I made an offer WAY under the asking price, and they had to accept as they realised this issue would be around for every vetting.

 

[Rachel_M]

Tricky one. You can tell how much you liked the horse, and you two have seemed to click really well, so you would have weigh up whether you felt the horse was worth taking the risk with.

I am not going to say yeah or ney, because that is a decision only you can make, but I do agree that if this horse suits you and you feel this horse is right, then go for it.

If you have any severe doubts as to whether taking the horse would be the right thing then perhaps it is best that you walk away.


So sorry it is like this.

 

[Silverspring]

If it hadn't been for the melanomas I would have said go for it but I lost a horse to melanomas and find it quite terrifying how off hand some people can be about them.

On the surface they cause few problems but if they have them on the outside they can also have them on the inside. My pony was PTS in 2004 for melanoma clusters on his spinal column, he gradually got lamer over the course of 6 months and was on 3 butes a day to keep him 'comfortable' in his last week

 

[CracklinRosie]

I don't understand how he could pass the horse and then say there were two problems!!!!

 

[Maisy]

It really would depend, for me, on how old it is and how much you are paying! If it is 6 and stiff i would say walk away, to be 15 and a little stiff would be expected, I would have said.

Same for the melanomas....if it has them as a young horse I would be more worried than if it were older.

 

[_April_]

it's 10 Maisy

I think I am going to make an offer and see what happens. At least then the decision is up to them.

I do 100% want the horse but I want to protect my interests too.

Vet was more hesitant about the melanoma than the stiffness.

Thanks you everyone for the advice

 

[madhector]

B****r!

For what you want the stiffness wouldnt worry me too much. As for the melomonas (sp) I would talk to your vet about them. If you do decide to proceed, make a silly offer as they really wont have any choice.....


Kimmy is perfect though....

(sorry couldnt resist

)

 

[kirstyhen]

Oh poo! Bl00dy horses

I have to say it would really put me off, but it's easy to say that when my hearts not set on him! I think it's a good plan to ask your vet for their opinion.

Hope it works out!

 

[Law]

Personally, I would stay away myself

Having lost my old boy to melanomas I wouldn't

 

[Louby]

My friend has a grey with melanomas, she had to retire him as they were either side of his ears (big) and also in his mouth but that was years ago, he is now 28 and going strong. Its a difficult one as they could stay the same for years but to be honest I would walk away, theres so many horses to choose from without buying one with potential problems as I have done in the past. Its the heartache that goes with it.
Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[hairycob]

We had this dilemma earlier this year. Found the perfect horse after seeing loads of others & he failed on a cataract in one eye. 99% of people & my head said walk away. 1% said make an offer you can afford to write off. If it's meant to be the owners will accept, if they don't walk away. We made a seriously low offer (I can't afford to write off much!). At first they said no, but a few days later phoned back & asked if we were still interested. I felt bad for them as they had no idea there was a problem. Horse has been great, there are minor issues with the eye - he goes into jumps with his head slightly to one side, tight right turn to jumps can be an issue, but we don't regret buying him. Have a detailed chat with the vet who saw him about the melanomas as well as your vet - he has the advantage of having seen the actual problem.

 

[Puppy]

QR - Having known/seen a horse consumed with melanomas to the point of being PTS, I would say walk away before you set your self up for more heartache....

If you can see some form his anus, then there's bound to be a load taking over his insides...

Gutted for you though

H xxx

 

[dieseldog]

I would worry about the stiffness. It is only 10. There are planty of horses that have been slightly stiff and it has turned out to be pretty bad.

I wouldn't buy it.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
If you can see some form his anus, then there's bound to be a load taking over his insides

[/ QUOTE ]
I absolutely agree Puppy, this was my concern.

However, as someone else pointed out (Weezy) it's not going to pass the vet for anyone. So perhaps an offer of several hundred pounds would be sufficient to ultimately take it off their hands - if they OP was willing to take the risk and see how it goes.

 

[CBAnglo]

I think this horse passed the 5 stage vetting - it was just things "noted".

I wouldnt take it on personally. There are plenty of healthy horses out there - yes, it is frustrating finding the right one but they do come up. With so many things that can go wrong after the purchase, why start with problems?

Also, as the vet "noted" these items your insurance company will probably seek to exclude everything connected so ultimately not only would you be writing off the cost of the horse, you might also have the bonus of huge vet bills.

It is easier said than done though - I bought a stiff ex-sj from a field because I felt sorry for it. He has just been one vet bill after another and after years of beglect he is the grumpiest thing in the world. Good job he is pretty!

 

[AmyMay]

Yes, of course you are right.

Back to my original walk away then.