Am I mad? Or rather, would you buy...

Sooty

Sooty

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...a 15 year old horse with stiff back legs (possibly arthritis but hasn't been diagnosed by a vet), which weaves and has not been vaccinated? His intended use would be companion/light hack. He used to be a driving horse, and before he lost condition was a decent looking sort. He is being virtually given away. I know my sanity is a matter of record, so let's concentrate on the horse...
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No I would not buy it. Free or seriously cheap stiff horses rarely end up being that - they are usually the biggest "buck-burners" around!
 
well...I bought a 21yr old with slight arthritis as my first horse. He'd been in a field for 18 months doing nothing and was quite stiff (and wasn't vaccinated either, and was very overweight). I bought him as a plod to hack, which he was to start with. He came back into work, became a lot less stiff and over the course of 6 months actually became too much for me because he had too much energy, my experienced friend took him galloping
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!! I sold him in the end and he went off to do lots of hacking with his new owner.

Obviously you need to bear in mind you might struggle to ensure him for vets fees, but 15 is no age really, how much work is he currently doing? The stiffness may improve with light work?

I don't think you're mad - if you are then I'm absolutely bonkers (erm...
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*back to reality with a bump* That is what OH said. I feel sorry for him as his owners are dumping him at the end of October, he will just be left in a field and not looked after at all. I feel he deserves better, but perhaps I should just recommend a charity takes him. How big an issue is a horse not being vaccinated? Would it be worth getting a vet to look it over?
 
you are a softy.

If you are aware that:

A) you may well not be able to ride it at all.
B) That not all horses make good companions, particularly a stressy weaver
C)that in addition to vaccinations, you may well be talking large/ongoing vets bills to keep it pain free if not sound.
D)that you'll probably not get much help from the insurance
E) it could live for another 10 years

Oh and the fact that it's in poor condition prob means it'll cost a fortune to feed, or there is something else underlying (like pain)

Then you are going in with your eyes open what ever decision you make.

Much as I would love to give every waif stray and cripple a lovely home it's just not possible.
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Well your horses won't be at risk as they have been vaccinated. If you did buy him then you would just start the vaccinations from the beginning; bit more spendy but not much in the grand scheme of things.

Are you friendly with your vet? If so, perhaps you could ask him to pop in when he is passing (with the owners consent and your/owners attendance) to give him a quick once over? My vet wouldn't charge me for something like this, but I guess it depends on your relationship with your vet. Alternatively, you could have a quick vetting done - probably cost about a hundred pounds or a little bit more.
 
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Personally no, sounds like a huge vet's bill waiting to happen!

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I agree. And know from personal experience the heartbreak it could bring you....
 
Just read your other post.

Offer to give him a good home - and ask them to sign him over to you for a minimal amount.

I couldn't leave him to a life like that either........
 
I think the driving bit would concern me with a horse with stiff back legs - their hocks are usually the first to go. Supplements etc to keep him supple might get expensive.

Re vaccinations: you have to restart them and I wouldnt like to bring an unvaccinated horse to my yard - my YO checks that all new horses have been properly vaccinated before they move in. A couple of years ago I paid about £35 x3 to restart one of mine (was 1 week late on the booster).
 
Thank you everyone. I did worry that if he got fit again he might be a bit more of a handful! He is being sold on behalf of the owner, and apparently he doesn't like to eat hay.
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I asked about his teeth, which were done in May. I would have to pay for a vetting as he is quite a way from here, as is the vet we use - but in opposite directions LOL! He is on Horsemart twice, with slightly different photos. The latest one is ref:HM837N1G6, and older one is HM835OE2C. You are allowed to tell me not to let sentimentality get the better of me! I know a bad horse costs as much to keep as a good one and I probably need to get a grip. I keep thinking about him though...
 
Oooo Sooty, I would put money on this horse being over 20 years old. And his back end looks awful.

I don't know what to say - can you afford to pay £800 odd pounds for a horse that potentially you will never ride???

Do you know the person selling him? Or have you just come across the advert.
 
It was his back end that struck me - it looks dreadful. He is £600 including tack and rugs, but that doesn't necessarily mean much. I don't know the person, it was on Horsemart. I suppose until we see him in the flesh we can't tell, but I said the same about his age! He has no recorded age, the 15 years is an estimate. The photo of him being driven looks ancient!
 
Well we bought a 14 year old unvaccinated pony with stiff back legs, so I'm suppose I would be a bit of a hypocrite to advise you against it! However, we knew the pony very well - so the fact that it was sensible and 100% bombproof on the roads countered the risk that the back end might get worse. Four years on, she is still active and has now gone on loan to another young rider.

However, ponies are generally tougher and cheaper to keep, so I would be unlikely to take the risk with a horse, and definitely not with one I didn't know!

(PS: Didn't see the lack of vaccination as a problem - just allowed for the fact that we would have to pay for her jabs to be done.)
 
Have you contacted your local hunt? Subscribers often have hunters looking to retire to a quieter life - and they can have a full and useful life as a happy hacker???
 
that horse is not 15!!! can't be.... not with that sway back and backend.

Harsh as it sounds but walk away from this one ( even though they are turning the emotional thumbscrews) there is something more suited for the task you want it for
 
Thank you again everyone. There are some good points here which I hadn't thought of, and I have to say when Troggy first saw the pics she said there was no way he was 15! Maybe they could sign him over to a charity. Wish I didn't keep thinking of Black Beauty... I am sure an old hunter would hear the horn one morning and develop a new lease of life LOL! Ah well, watch this space, as they say...
 
Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but I am a sucker for a hard luck story and if my husband would let me i would have a field of old neddy's which no-on else wants so I can really see where you are coming from.
 
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Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but I am a sucker for a hard luck story and if my husband would let me i would have a field of old neddy's which no-on else wants so I can really see where you are coming from.

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Me too! I was just pondering whether to reply to this as I thought I'd be a bad influence lol
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I've already got one field ornament/rescue case though and as I pay for livery I can't really take on any more
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If I had my own place I'd have hundreds of horses - I'd want to rescue them all
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Have to say, he looks lovely, but if you haven't got money to spend on him vet-wise and want to be able to ride then I don't think you're looking at the right horse.
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Poor chap....
 
Tbh!

If you like him and aren't bothered about problems you may have then go get him!

All i have ever brought is horses over 20 someone has to!!! I'd rescue any horse over 15 i see the add earlier and wanted him i have a mare who looks 25 + similar to how his back end looks shes ever so short behind on concrete that she looks unsound quite badly she has muscle damage but the vet said to just carry on riding it just makes her strides shorter so there could be no reason why you couldn't ride him if you see my mare or most people who have horses would notice how awful she walks but she certainly loves going out and when you get in a field you have to hold on for dear life because she loves going fast as much as im trying to teach her its not a good idea i also have another old man who i retired but rescued also so i would just go get him but thats me i never have horses that are good to anyone else! but someone has to buy the chucks out.
 
Sadly I probably would, but that is why I have 4 crocks and no entirely fit, healthy, sound horse to ride.

I think you've got to consider what you want and what you can be happy with.

And as I said, bad influence... I would.
 
Thanks. I wish the owner would just have him pts really, rather than just dump him in a field.
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The seller is selling on behalf of the owner. She is not a dealer as such, but the Horsemart rules classify her as a trader due to the number of horses she is now selling. Wicked how some horses end their lives.
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I wonder if this is one Bank End Rescue would be interested in? He's been on my mind most of the evening, and he probably deserves to be retired gracefull with a secure future.

Can't afford to pay the whole wack, but happy to make a contribution........
 
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