Absolutely gutted....

S

SKW

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After a year of searching and a previous failed vetting I thought I'd found a perfect horse for me. I was so excited. He was vetted 2 weeks ago but had knocked a leg so was a bit sore on flexions but we all thought he'd be fine at re-vetting. Plan was for vetting today and then to come home with me tonight. He was still a bit sore so the owner arranged xrays and it turns out he has a small bone chip in his fetlock which is probably fairly new. He needs surgery to remove it, and would probably be sound again 3 months down the line, but will always have an increased risk of arthritis. I'm just so so gutted. I had totally fallen for this chap, and I just feel like giving up now. It's taken me so long to find horses I like each time, only to have them fail. Someone tell me it's worth it!
 
what a shame for you and the poor horse. It is worth it, everything happens for a reason and the right one will come along. Feel for the owners too, sounds like they have been really decent about it with the xrays too, they must be upset that they thought they had found a great home for him. Keep your chin up and keep looking, the right one will happen and you will be on here posting pics of your new horse.
or.......you wait til he has the surgery and the box rest and then get him . hopefully the owners have him insured. Can you wait that long?
 
Oh no, thats rubbish :(
It's so frustrating when things like that go wrong (must be just as bad for his current owners too though) Fingers crossed you have more luck next time.
 
oh no! poor you,horse and owners! However i agree with chestnuttymare if he is so perfect is he not worth waiting for, following the surgery you will know more and likely be a reduction in price too i imagine. Dont be put off by increased chance of OA its like with people every horse will have wear and tear its just when/if it affects and just because of injury its not hugely more likely than you would be to buy a horse next week that then injures itself and has a chance of OA. Perhaps speak to owners and then vets about the op and prognosis,rehab, etc
 
So sorry to hear that! What were your intentions with the horse? Competing? hacking? Any specific discipline? As all though the horse might be worth waiting for and arthritic changes can be present in many horses yet show no lameness/problems... I'd think long and hard about waiting.
 
Muddy Wellies said:
So sorry to hear that! What were your intentions with the horse? Competing? hacking? Any specific discipline? As all though the horse might be worth waiting for and arthritic changes can be present in many horses yet show no lameness/problems... I'd think long and hard about waiting.
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I agree with this, if you think his the perfect thing and sounds like the owners have been lovely which is always a good plus point!
 
No horsey expert but if its just a chip anyone can get arthritis? Even us? Is it worth revisiting why not ask if you can have a first refusal after he has his treatment?

Good luck whatever you decide I just know its so blooming hard trying to find anything
 
Thanks everyone. The owner actually said straight away that we can negotiate the price after he's recovered if I still think I might want to buy him so I am definitely going to consider it. I want to do riding club/low level affiliated competing, so do need him to be able to cope with some strain on his legs. The vet said there has been some remodelling in the joint, so there is a high risk of arthritis causing issues. He is blooming gorgeous though, so worth thinking seriously about!
 
SKW said:
Thanks everyone. The owner actually said straight away that we can negotiate the price after he's recovered if I still think I might want to buy him so I am definitely going to consider it. I want to do riding club/low level affiliated competing, so do need him to be able to cope with some strain on his legs. The vet said there has been some remodelling in the joint, so there is a high risk of arthritis causing issues. He is blooming gorgeous though, so worth thinking seriously about!
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I would be wary about chances of arthritis. I had one and she also had a bone cyst that couldn't be operated on so had a shortened career predicted before the poor girl had even started. Ignoring the cyst though, be prepared to have to pay and treat the arthritis in order to ride/compete if it did occur! Plus be prepared for potential limitations.

Do you have a picture of him/what breed, age? If you're happy to take him on, you could also just as easily never have a days bother or any signs of arthritic changes. Lets not forget there's others out there too that pass vettings and still manage to go lame soon after for long term issues so anything is a huge risk.
 
OP - my horse had a bone chip in her fetlock which had to be removed - it was quite large -my horse now has arthritis in the joint. Please please don't take this horse on - you are setting yourself up for heartache - mine is sound after taking the shoes off,and having a HA injection into the joint. But I would not make her do any hard work and everything has to be gently gently with her and I know the soundness won't last forever - especially if I put her under any pressure. You can buy a sound horse - why buy one that already has issues?
 
the lady i work for went to look at a pony (18k) last year for her daughter it failed the first vetting but they really liked him, the daughter rode at a one day event he was great.
he failed the first vetting on a flexion test, but they really liked him so they contacted the insurance company to see if they would still be able to insure him, insurance company agreed they would cover him if he passed a vetting and had lower part of legs xrayed.
he passed the vetting but xray showed chipped bone in fetlock (vets thought it had been there a while) it was decided it would be best to leave well alone as he had never been lame before.
BUT due to the risk of arthritis his value went from 18k to 1 and half k.

buying horses is a nightmare

good luck in your search
 
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