Advice needed on horse!

[Littlemissmoneypenny]

Hi,

I've just started looking for a new horse, and found one I really like. I've ridden him twice and did some jumping. I put down a deposit subject to vetting and had him vetted on Friday. However the vet said he was lame when he trotted him up and his leg was warm. This was odd as I rode him the night before and he was fine. The vet said he was no worse after the flexion test and tested him for a abscess and said he doesn't have one. Vet said he could have knocked himself over night, and maybe to leave it for a week or so and try it again. So the vetting couldn't be completed after this, but his eyes, heart, lungs etc are fine.

Anyway I spoke to the seller the next day and he is sound again and is going to be shod early this week. Now I'm not sure what to do as I really like him and he felt right but don't equally want to do something stupid! I still want the full vetting to be complete of course but interested to find out why he was lame.

Any advice appreciated! Thanks

 

[sare_bear]

I think you need to organise for the same vet to come back and re-vet. It may have only been a knock, but a vet will be able to detect if the horse is still lame or not. If you are going to insure you will need a vet cert so please get it before you purchase.

 

[DanaHart]

If you really like him, then get him re-vetted by the same vet.......

Years ago I had a 6yo gelding for sale, woman came to look at him, reallly liked him, and had him vetted....... on day of vetting she told me that she was running late by about an hour, so I turned him out in the small starvation paddock for a little leg stretch - something spooked him, he went mental and the ground was really hard and rutty...... when vet turned up and vetted him, he showed 2/10ths lame ..... vet recommended re-vetting in a couple of days, and he passed with flying colours....

It could be that he has just tweaked something.......

 

[missyme10]

Dont make any decision until the vet has been back and checked again.

It could just be a knock or a kick in which case they should be fine on the retest.

If the horse fails again, it could be for numerous reasons which the vet will advise you on.
The chances are if the horse fails again, the vet wont be able to tell you exactly what the problem is without further tests, they will only be able to tell you the possibilities.
You can then make an informed decision.

On the insurance side of things, you can get insurance on a horse with a failed vetting but it will exclude the leg the horse failed on. Thats a hell of a gamble to take, one that I'd personally not take x

 

[Luci07]

its a long time since I had a 5* vetting done - last time I had one done I had to request bloods, but worth checking to make sure its part and parcel of a standard vetting and if not, request it. Agree with everyone else, get horse revetted by the same vet. Different insurance companies have different vet certificate requests but most require one for a horse insured over £2000/£2500K. Without any disrepect to the vendor or casting any aspersions - you can't take his/her word for it and need to ensure you are properly covered as well.

 

[Littlemissmoneypenny]

Thanks for all your advice! I will organise for the same vet to go back hopefully this week. If I do get him I will want him insured.

I don't want to miss out on potentially the right horse for me but the same time don't want to make a mistake! Just find it very helpful with advice from other people. I will let you know of any updates! Thanks