Absolutely devastated !

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beccachick91

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So I'm selling my mare and found her the perfect owner, she was vet checked today.....and failed! I'm gutted because I have never had a single problem with her! I was only selling as I am struggling for time with uni commitments.
So first of all she passed all heart, lungs, eye tests and then went on to do flexion tests which she passed, however the vet told my potential buyer that when she was being lunged she was lame on her rear right (I couldn't tell), he said this was early signs of arthritis. Then after she was prodded with a pen it was determined she had a really bad back. I'm really upset as she has shown no signs of any of these problems, and if I did I would never have let someone pay all that money for a vet check.
My vet is coming in the morning to help me figure out what's really wrong, the vet who checked her today didn't even tell me she had failed and I had to be told by the potential buyer!
Very upset and just needed to get it off my chest
Thanks to anyone who spends the time to read this!
 
Ah the vet with the pen to diagnose back-issues ... don't you just love them! Actually I thought those sorts had all died off long ago :rolleyes:.

I'm really sorry about this vets pre-purchase exam going belly up. I wonder if it would be worth having your vet do a quick run down; not a full vetting but going over the issues the other vet suggested. I'm not really sure how the PPE vet could categorically state that your horse has the beginning of arthritis without xrays though to see if there are actual changes going on. Wait till tomorrow and speak to your vet and hopefully there will be a rational explanation for it all.
 
I hope you are right spring feather! It's driving me mad! I will try and get all answers off my own vet tomorrow (hopefully she won't have another pen scraped down her back!)
 
Even though you're getting your own vet out, I would suggest that you get the examining vet's details and a copy of his report.

I would explain to the (now ex)buyers that you need information to ascertain what exactly was said and how this conclusion was made, so that you can help your horse.
It will also allow your vet to examine the exact points that the vetting "failed" on thus saving both your time and costs instead of starting from scratch.

Also, if your vet determines that actually there is nothing wrong he can disagree with the previous diagnosis that was made. Not as to enter into an argument with the ex-buyer over your mare's soundness, but simply to put your mind at rest.

Its also worth bearing in mind, that although there may be a problem, it may not not be as serious as initially assumed, but just enough to put this particular buyer off.

Chin up
x
 
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sounds like you got a potentially numpty vet there. Does he have x-ray eyes then that he can see arthritic changes without taking x-rays?!

My friend had a vet tell her once that due to a horse having flat feet it would definitely get navicular.

How are these people still practising?!

Hopefully your own vet will be able to give a proper explanation tomorrow and won't turn up anything nasty.
 
I agree with Spring Feather. Not sure you can insist on seeing the original vetting though as it is not your property.

It could just be that the potential purchaser has got cold feet and was using a 'failed' vetting as a way to get out of the purchase but if they still like your horse it would be worth speaking to them. Was their vet a specialist horse vet? Definitely speak to your vet and see what they recommend.

It might be worth suggesting you go 50/50 with having your horse x-rayed if they are still interested.
 
oh no! I though back problems needed more than a poke with a pen! Back issues are usually more difficult to pinpoint I thought?

I hope this is resolved. What has the buyer said- are they walking away from the sale or waiting until your vet has had a look?
 
The potential buyer was totally in love with my mare, she was crying when she told me she had failed :( its very sad because like you all say how can this vet diagnose arthritis and a bad back with his methods!
+ the vet is a specialist horse vet but didn't look old enough to me!
 
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jendie said:
I suspect he was covering his back.

I don't know how any professional could diagnose a back problem with the use of a pen!!
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MY vet has a metal tool shaped a bit like a rounded spatula which he runs along the back to test for discomfort. He is then able to do chiro & acupuncture. It is possible that your horse has a mild muscle problem which is causing her to be slightly unlevel - try not to worry too much.

A newly qualified vet told us last year that our retired mare had a bad heart. We were seriously not intending to take her through this winter but had senior vet check her over thoroughly in August.
He said that he could find nothing AT ALL wrong with her. She is still with us fortunately.
 
Sorry to hear she failed, but the vet was correct not to discuss the result with you as he is employed by the purchaser & so should only discuss any findings with them. Good luck tomorrow, maybe the purchaser may still have her after your vet has had a look?
 
jendie said:
I suspect he was covering his back.

I don't know how any professional could diagnose a back problem with the use of a pen!!
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Does it really matter what the guy used ? I reckon that I could diagnose a possible arthritic joint with my fingers and here - we are supposedly dealing with clinical lameness - i.e. pronounced.

You must bear in mind that this vet is working for the potential buyer and will err on that side of the contract while eyeing their proffessional indemnity insurance - you need a good few five star vettings to cover a decent claim!
 
1stclassalan said:
Does it really matter what the guy used ? I reckon that I could diagnose a possible arthritic joint with my fingers and here - we are supposedly dealing with clinical lameness - i.e. pronounced.

You must bear in mind that this vet is working for the potential buyer and will err on that side of the contract while eyeing their proffessional indemnity insurance - you need a good few five star vettings to cover a decent claim!
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Yup - whatever object someone ran down my poor back - bony finger or a cotton bud - there would be points where I would jump six foot in the air! :mad: :D

OP - I wasn't suggesting for a minute that you INSIST on the buyers vet discussing all and sundry with you - but its worth asking the buyers at least for more info first hand(ish). Perhaps they could contact the vet for a print out of his comments and let you have a look.
If they say no, they say no, but if you don't try you don't get. And it really is no skin off their nose for them to help you help your horse.
(Also, they paid for the vetting, so if it turns out there is a wrong diagnosis made, then they may want their money back!)
 
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beccachick91 said:
The potential buyer was totally in love with my mare, she was crying when she told me she had failed :( its very sad because like you all say how can this vet diagnose arthritis and a bad back with his methods!
+ the vet is a specialist horse vet but didn't look old enough to me!
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Arthritic changes can, as i understand it, be felt in a joint as it causes a "grating" feeling when the joint is manipulated. Pens were alway used to help diagnose potential issues in horses backs and along with the other poster my acupunture vet uses the same method to find any "hot spots" before treating my horses.

Sorry to hear about your mare and i hope it turns out well in the end :)
 
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