GRW
New User
Hello! Would really appreciate some advice on this.
I am finally in a position to buy my own horse (will be my first horse but I have been loaning for years), so really excited! Im looking for a general all rounder - schooling, hacking, fun rides, local shows.
I thought I had found the perfect horse - a 6 year old Connemara. Loved him, loved his temperament and polite nature, nothing like previous naughty loan ponies! I was so excited and had organised a yard etc.
I had wanted to be present at the vetting as Im out of the country this week but the seller urged me to have it done while I was away, so I organised one.
The vetting was yesterday, I had booked a 5 stage but the vet stopped it after 2 stages. Reported his foot balance wasnt brilliant and he needs a farrier - he had some lame steps LF and RF initially but he has no shoes and it was stoney ground so continued. He was then consistently lame 1-2/10 RF on the straight and on the lunge particularly when it was on the outside. She also reported his RF foot is smaller than his LF indicating the lameness may have been going on for a little while, has been using RF less.
He was then positive to flexion on LH 2-3/10 lame the whole way up the trot up.
I was hugely disappointed but thought that having paid for the advice and being advised not to buy him, that was that.
The seller then got in contact, said she was very unhappy and didnt feel like the vet had given him a fair chance, seemed like she wanted to fail him from the offset. She reported that this particular vet practice hasnt passed a horse shes sold before. She had phoned her vet who was coming to look at the pony (a vet I also know somewhat, although officially I know she wasnt acting on my behalf).
This second vet then phoned me as she was leaving the yard to tell me that she had seen no lameness at all. The seller hadnt told her which legs had questions over them til afterwards. She repeated the flexion tests and despite being flexed an hour or so before, he was not positive to any. She deemed him sound, agreed his foot balance is not good and Id need to find a good farrier and have him shod. She said assessing on suitability for what I want to do with him, she would advise me to buy him.
Now Im really torn and looking for advice! I want this horse to be right as Ive waited a long time for my own.
1. Do you think I should ask the seller to sort his feet, get him shod and have a re-vetting? I dont want to get my hopes up but could be foot balance related as his feet arent great currently.
2. Bit concerned about the smaller RF foot and therefore potential chronic lameness, am I being biased cos I like the horse and this should be really ringing alarm bells e.g Navicular? Hes only 6!
3. Now that hes technically failed a vetting - where does this leave me with insuring him if I did go ahead? Especially as a second vet has deemed him sound only hours after the first vet deemed him lame?
Im in a right mess trying to decide what to do! Any similar experiences/thoughts/advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
I am finally in a position to buy my own horse (will be my first horse but I have been loaning for years), so really excited! Im looking for a general all rounder - schooling, hacking, fun rides, local shows.
I thought I had found the perfect horse - a 6 year old Connemara. Loved him, loved his temperament and polite nature, nothing like previous naughty loan ponies! I was so excited and had organised a yard etc.
I had wanted to be present at the vetting as Im out of the country this week but the seller urged me to have it done while I was away, so I organised one.
The vetting was yesterday, I had booked a 5 stage but the vet stopped it after 2 stages. Reported his foot balance wasnt brilliant and he needs a farrier - he had some lame steps LF and RF initially but he has no shoes and it was stoney ground so continued. He was then consistently lame 1-2/10 RF on the straight and on the lunge particularly when it was on the outside. She also reported his RF foot is smaller than his LF indicating the lameness may have been going on for a little while, has been using RF less.
He was then positive to flexion on LH 2-3/10 lame the whole way up the trot up.
I was hugely disappointed but thought that having paid for the advice and being advised not to buy him, that was that.
The seller then got in contact, said she was very unhappy and didnt feel like the vet had given him a fair chance, seemed like she wanted to fail him from the offset. She reported that this particular vet practice hasnt passed a horse shes sold before. She had phoned her vet who was coming to look at the pony (a vet I also know somewhat, although officially I know she wasnt acting on my behalf).
This second vet then phoned me as she was leaving the yard to tell me that she had seen no lameness at all. The seller hadnt told her which legs had questions over them til afterwards. She repeated the flexion tests and despite being flexed an hour or so before, he was not positive to any. She deemed him sound, agreed his foot balance is not good and Id need to find a good farrier and have him shod. She said assessing on suitability for what I want to do with him, she would advise me to buy him.
Now Im really torn and looking for advice! I want this horse to be right as Ive waited a long time for my own.
1. Do you think I should ask the seller to sort his feet, get him shod and have a re-vetting? I dont want to get my hopes up but could be foot balance related as his feet arent great currently.
2. Bit concerned about the smaller RF foot and therefore potential chronic lameness, am I being biased cos I like the horse and this should be really ringing alarm bells e.g Navicular? Hes only 6!
3. Now that hes technically failed a vetting - where does this leave me with insuring him if I did go ahead? Especially as a second vet has deemed him sound only hours after the first vet deemed him lame?
Im in a right mess trying to decide what to do! Any similar experiences/thoughts/advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!