Absolute Nightmare selling pony

Poor potential buyers. They are novice owners so do the correct thing and get the pony vetted. Pony "fails" the vetting, they have to take their vets word on this, and so quite rightly are warey. What is the point of them getting it vetted to then ignore the findings? If you are concerned about the pony, take it back for the weeks rest and get it revetted from there.

It is not a question about whether the pony should have failed or not, the point is the vet said it DID fail, and so this is what they have to work with.

Re insurance I have recently bought a new horse. Insurance company asked if he had been vetted, he hadnt, I said that and they were quite happy to insure him. If he had been vetted I would have had to send them the vetting cert, and if, for example, he had "failed" on a flexion test they would then exclude that leg.
 
They sound like very novice and nervous - so would want to listen to the vet... Its a shame. I really think it depends on what they want to do with the pony, and the price they are paying. If its only for hacking and novice classes at shows it shouldn't matter, but as someone said, if its for higher level competitions then it matters. If the pony is over £3k I would expect it to pass a flexion. I've known several horses over the years that didn't pass the flexion part, and were fine. These purchasers don't sound like they have the experience to make up their own minds, and are taking the advice of a pedantic type vet.... Could you suggest they try a different vet if they're going to have it vetted again... They obviously want the pony or they wouldn't bother.

Give them a couple of days to think? Summer is ticking, and you are better off selling now really...
 
i don't think they're being over cautious at all! i wouldn't buy it if i was in their shoes.
the pony failed the vetting, why would anyone bother getting a horse vetted if they're just going to over rule the person who actually has the qualification?!!

they've said they don't want the pony now, so have it back. i don't really understand why they would want to pay to have it on box rest and work it for 10 days then pay for another vetting when there's a good chance it will just fail again :confused:
 
I once attended a vetting for my friend who was buying the horse. John Gilliver was vetting him (writes for a lot of horse mags, judges at county shows..) and the horse failed on the flexion test. "Oh well, what a shame, I said" "Well," he replied, "you have to look at the big picture, and this horse will not pass a flex test, but it will do perfectly well at local level. It would be a shame to write him off for that..." My friend bought the horse and had years of fun at local level, jumping and going hunting without any problems... I admired that vet. He had years of experience, and it showed. I initially joined his practice because of him, but a lot of the vets at his place were very young and very over cautious, and you only really got the main vet for serious problems, so I ended up changing. However I always remember what he said regarding vettings.

The last horse I bought (3yrs ago) was vetted and it came back with a few notes on the sheet- possible sarcoids, swelling on knee etc - but passed overall. None of the things brought up have ever reared their head - but are excluded on the insurance! So I always hear what they say, take it onboard, then make my own mind up. However I can understand why a novice would only hear the vet's advice. At the end of the day, its the buyer's choice!
 
My vet would give 5 strides of unlevelness after flexion to any older horse. A youngster should be fine pretty much straight away, but if flexs the same on both legs and has a pair wouldn't be worried. I hope you have learned the lesson NEVER to let them vet at their own yard, we insist on all ours being vetted before they leave, even if going on trial. That way if they don't pass the trial period and come back lame you can say they weren't when they left and refuse to refund any money.
 
Do you need to sell him asap?

When we bought our gelding, we went and tried him twice, agreed to buy him and had him vetted. He failed with a condition in his knees that will make him increasingly arthritic (he was 8 at this point). The owner said we could have him on trial for a month to decide whether he was worth it and have our own vet vet him - and of course I completely fell in love with the chap and agreed to buy him at a discounted price. I don't think we would have bought him if it wasn't for the long trial - when it came to decision day, I just couldn't let him go!

As it is, he is now 12 (when he allegedly would be unable to continue being ridden) and is completely sound!
 
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