AmyMay
Situation normal
Since when is suggesting that a vet look at the horse not advice? Even if you don't like the advice.
5* Vetting missed major problem, where do I stand?
- Thread starter KatieLluvia
- Start date
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
I am sure that a vetting is only a snap shot on the day, not on getting on for a year later.
KatieLluvia
Active Member
I was meaning advice in legal terms, farrier has decided on treatment. We were asking where we stand in terms of vetting, not a judging of how we care for our horses. We appreciate all advice, just knowing what we know about the horse, and after repeatedly being told to call a vet, which is not what we wanted to know, there is only so much i can do with that!
angelish
Well-Known Member
From our point of view, if that was a problem the horse has sustained as a youngster, shouldn't the original vetting have picked that up? Surely that's not our fault as it would have changed our buying opinion? We're just looking for advice, not criticism!
well yes the vet should have noticed it BUT the point people are trying to make is that if as soon as your farrier spotted it you had done something about it ie rang the vet that vetted the horse and complained then
you might have had a case against the vet but because you have waited till 9 months later there is nothing you can do now
how would any vet know that the horse hasn't injured itself while in your care , you say it has been pulling shoes off so it has been striking into itself in some form and possibly could have done more damage sine buying it
ImmyS
Well-Known Member
From our point of view, if that was a problem the horse has sustained as a youngster, shouldn't the original vetting have picked that up? Surely that's not our fault as it would have changed our buying opinion? We're just looking for advice, not criticism!
Yes, maybe it should have been picked up on at the vetting, but that has been made irrelevant by the fact that you have left it 9 months to complain about it. You should have brought it up with the vet that did the vetting as soon as it was mentioned by farrier- end of. You have no leg to stand on and as you haven't had the vet out to the lame horse, no proof that that issue is even causing the lameness.
Baggybreeches
Well-Known Member
I was meaning advice in legal terms, farrier has decided on treatment. We were asking where we stand in terms of vetting, not a judging of how we care for our horses. We appreciate all advice, just knowing what we know about the horse, and after repeatedly being told to call a vet, which is not what we wanted to know, there is only so much i can do with that!
You asked for free advice on an internet forum from people who don't know your horse, in my opinion a vet looking at the horse is best placed to offer you advice on whether the particular injury should have been picked up on the vetting (just as an aside £250 isn't a very exensive vetting (oh and they are 5 stage, not 5 star vettings).
KatieLluvia
Active Member
risky business
Well-Known Member
I very much doubt you have any legal come back.
You found an issue straight after purchase and said nothing. You can't decide now that suddenly after 9 months your not happy with this. You knew which means you took the choice and risk to carry on treating/ riding this horse with out complaint.
Doesn't matter if it should of been found you didn't say anything straight away.
You found an issue straight after purchase and said nothing. You can't decide now that suddenly after 9 months your not happy with this. You knew which means you took the choice and risk to carry on treating/ riding this horse with out complaint.
Doesn't matter if it should of been found you didn't say anything straight away.
Baggybreeches
Well-Known Member
I am assuming by that statement you are looking for monetary recompense? Good luck if you think you want to waste money, I doubt you would find a solicitor to represent you. Vets have very good professional indeminity insurance and it isn't as easy as you would want to believe to actually sue somebody.
only_me
Well-Known Member
From our point of view, if that was a problem the horse has sustained as a youngster, shouldn't the original vetting have picked that up? Surely that's not our fault as it would have changed our buying opinion? We're just looking for advice, not criticism!
Not necessarily, if it wasnt causing a problem and was deemed to be insignificant it wouldnt affect a vetting.
It isnt your fault either, it is one of those things that happen with horses!
It depends on how deformed the deformity is - for peace of mind you could get an xray done, to check extend of damage, or MRI if it is soft tissue damage. If it is near a joint i would be getting it xrayed anyway - then at least you know a bit more about long term prognosis, and how long it may have been there - for all you know horse could have picked up injury while with you.
You say the farrier said it was a deformity caused by over-reaching - could it simply be the result of excessive over-reaching and maybe you just need to manage it, eg. Boots in field and riding (sausage boot or over reach) and adjust back shoes so have a rolled toe and toe in front of shoe?
KatieLluvia
Active Member
We totally understand that, thanks for the advice. Just to say we didn't say anything because it wasn't a problem at the time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
HaffiesRock
Well-Known Member
From our point of view, if that was a problem the horse has sustained as a youngster, shouldn't the original vetting have picked that up? Surely that's not our fault as it would have changed our buying opinion? We're just looking for advice, not criticism!
This is the point I am trying to make. If the deformity would have changed your decision, you should have gone back to the vet the second your farrier noticed it. Assuming this was not long after you purchased the horse, you may have been able to send it back.
el_Snowflakes
Well-Known Member
Is this a young horse OP? (Sorry if you've already mentioned somewhere) could it be possible that the problem was not present at time of vetting?
AandK
Well-Known Member
If it was that obvious then why did you not notice it before you bought the horse?
KatieLluvia
Active Member
She was six at the time of purchase, farrier said it would have been there from a foal, but can't be certain
Nugget La Poneh
Well-Known Member
If the deformity is such that is is causing the shoe to be pulled, then I would suggest that yes, in theory it should've been obvious at the initial vetting. However, because of the time lapsed I would be very surprised that a solicitor or your insurers would want to pursue it and it is now effectively heresay. They will probably also suggest the farrier should be able to accommodate the deformity in his shoeing approach.
Could there actually be another underlying issue going on, especially with the time of year etc. and one of the first noticeable 'symptoms' is shoes constantly coming off...
Could there actually be another underlying issue going on, especially with the time of year etc. and one of the first noticeable 'symptoms' is shoes constantly coming off...
Gingerwitch
Well-Known Member
Well it would be an interesting debate - you did not notice it, the vet did not pick it up or make note of it at the vetting, the farrier notices it but says let us see how it goes, it may or may not be an issue, it is left for 9 months, the issue developes and horse goes lame. Seeing it takes approx 12 months for a hoof to grow from top to bottom..... after 9 months quite a bit of change can occur and how do you know that a vet will not tell you that the farrier is shoeing your horse inappropriatley for his/her confirmation or needs.
angelish
Well-Known Member
what they said ^
from a vets pov you would have to prove the injury was there at the time of the vetting and from the sounds of it there is no way you could do that
you've just left it too late to grumble about it
KatieLluvia
Active Member
Having an oesteo to her next week to check nothing back/leg causing a problem with shoes coming off in how she is walking. Thanks for advice
AmyMay
Situation normal
Yep, that had occurred to me too.
AmyMay
Situation normal
So oesteo, but no vet.
Just don't get it. You have money for one, but not the other.
Just don't get it. You have money for one, but not the other.
Gingerwitch
Well-Known Member
Yes but it is the cheaper option.
KatieLluvia
Active Member
Just interested to know what you actually think a vet would be able to do about it? apart from tell our farrier to put heartbars on her?
Gingerwitch
Well-Known Member
Well before your farrier can put heartbars on the horse it will need x rays, but your farrier sounds like a right know it all so will probably do this without - which is an extreamly dangerous thing to do to the poor animal.
KatieLluvia
Active Member
Vets work with our farrier as a practice. We trust our farrier with our horses lives, so perhaps you need to be looking for a farrier like ours, rather than being judgmental.
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
If you think the vet will suggest heartbars, why dont you go ahead and just get your farrier to do this? Surely he can do offer some sort of help with this, if its concussion he could probably do some sort of padding and as for the over-reaching, can you not put very padded over-reach boots on her at all times (sounds too simple I know, there's probably more to it!). As others have said, I totally believe you have absolutely no chance whatsoever in sueing the vet that did the vetting, it was 9 months ago. Vets just give their opinion, you have to take what they say with a pinch of salt anyway (speaking as someone who had a vetting on a horse I was selling that failed its flexion tests on all 4 legs and the vet told the client he wouldn't even be good for hacking let alone all the BSJA he had been doing, I was so horrified I called my own vet out same day who passed him with flying colours... the horse was sold to the next person and has remained perfectly sound...).
If it were me OP, I would just be focusing on what can be done to try and make the horse sound and not trying to get revenge.
Gingerwitch - I have never heard of needing x-rays prior to a farrier putting on heartbars?? I had heartbars on one of mine last year on his (the farriers) recommendation. I believe in a lot of cases the farrier is often better at hooves than a vet!
If it were me OP, I would just be focusing on what can be done to try and make the horse sound and not trying to get revenge.
Gingerwitch - I have never heard of needing x-rays prior to a farrier putting on heartbars?? I had heartbars on one of mine last year on his (the farriers) recommendation. I believe in a lot of cases the farrier is often better at hooves than a vet!
Gingerwitch
Well-Known Member
Well he will know then that he has to get x rays before he can fit hearbars and if he works so well with them, then its a pity that they did not get together about 9 months ago.
And judgemental - yes for sure I am, you have had a horse for 9 months, its now broken and you want to sue the vet that vetted it.
Suggest your the one that needs to look at what the farrier is actually doing as i certainly would be questioning how a horse has developed a foot problem on "his watch".
KatieLluvia
Active Member
^^^ This ^^^ and exactly why we haven't called a vet for her. He wants to carry out some form of remedial shoeing on her, but because her hooves are so weak from the deformity, she pulls them off straight away, despite being booted up 24/7, and he reckons this will cause more damage if she had heartbars/wide shoes/heel supports
Gingerwitch
Well-Known Member
Heart bars need to be fitted to x rays, they can cause a serious amount of damage to the horse if not correctly positioned.
AmyMay
Situation normal
As Gingerwitch has said, the vet may want to x ray the foot considering the recent history, the 'deformity' and concerns of the farrier originally. Yes the end result may be that the vet suggests a different shoeing route initially to see if there's any improvement. However until you have the horse examined you won't know.
It's reassuring that the farrier and vet work so closely together. This is very much how mine work too. And when my horse developed a significant problem in his foot it was the two of them working together that got the horse through that significant problem.
Your farrier can work with what he sees. The vet can help him work with what he can't see.
It's reassuring that the farrier and vet work so closely together. This is very much how mine work too. And when my horse developed a significant problem in his foot it was the two of them working together that got the horse through that significant problem.
Your farrier can work with what he sees. The vet can help him work with what he can't see.