Advice needed RE vetting of a horse! (also in vetinary)

[floradora09]

Getting a horse vetted this friday, and just needed some advice about going for a 2 Stage or 5 Stage vetting. Ideally we would have a 5 Stage done, but the problem is the horse has only been doing about 20mins schooling per day, and not a lot more. He is quite unfit! Therefore the owner would rather we didn't have a 5 stage done. But... out other thoughts were that there may be a reason as to why she doesn't want it done, so we are tempted to go for it anyway. The other option is to have a 2 Stage done but take bloods as well. What do you think? Horse is a 15 yr old TB, to be evented up to BE100 over next four years, in his youth he did PC open stuff. Thanks! xxx

EDIT- whoops! sorry about title spelling!! xx

 

[Sprout]

My vets will only do a 2 stage on youngstock, everything else has a 5 stage.

There is very little difference in cost, and many insurance companies insist on a 5 stage, so you need to check that out.

I had an unfit horse vetted ( 5 stage ) and to get it puffing they just lunged it, and that was enough for the vet to be able to check out heart and lungs under stress.

If you want to do quite a bit with the horse, then I would go for the 5 stage, just possibly be open minded if the flexion tests throw up a problem as the horse is middle aged.

Hope it goes well.

 

[Weezy]

Do NOT let the owner sway you! If you want a 5 stage then have a 5 stage - the horse will be fit enough to canter and for wind to be checked. I will absolutely deffo have it 5 staged.

 

[floradora09]

Ok thanks, and also, do we need to be present for the vetting? It takes us nearly three hours to get there and none of us are free that day. Can we ring vet up for a report after? xx

 

[Dubsie]

Make sure you choose the vet yourself if you're not attending, maybe get a recommendation from here. Personally I would try to attend if I could that way if there are any questions you want to ask the vet at the time it is easier to do so.

Definitely get 5 stage, sounds to me the vendor is putting you off for a reason. Fit or unfit, he only needs to work up a bit of puff to check out the heart and lungs under stress - chances are he'll get to that point sooner than a fit one ergo he'd have less work to do than if he were fit! One of ours had a 5 stage when we got him, and as we had no rider we had him lunged in canter, vet did comment he'd have preferred to see him ridden, but was happy to do it by lunging.