Another failed vetting - success stories please!

[HeresHoping]

One year. 5 failed vettings: sore back, atrial fibrilation (and she was beautiful just failed the vet at the first hurdle), wonky pelvis and something suspect in the eyes, lame on a circle, not fit for purpose.

The one in my photo passed with flying colours, and broke 3 months later. I suspect he was a bit broken on arrival, there was some suspect behaviour and unnecessary tail swishing that the vet didn't pick up on. But he really broke when he sat down in the field, crushing his lumbosacral joint.

My second horse of a lifetime failed the vetting with melanoma, but she nevertheless gave me 5 years and taught my children to ride. She had been a broodmare, and her hocks went towards the end. It was an abscess and laminitis that got her in the end.

I haven't had one since.

 

[Katie92]

One year. 5 failed vettings: sore back, atrial fibrilation (and she was beautiful just failed the vet at the first hurdle), wonky pelvis and something suspect in the eyes, lame on a circle, not fit for purpose.

The one in my photo passed with flying colours, and broke 3 months later. I suspect he was a bit broken on arrival, there was some suspect behaviour and unnecessary tail swishing that the vet didn't pick up on. But he really broke when he sat down in the field, crushing his lumbosacral joint.

My second horse of a lifetime failed the vetting with melanoma, but she nevertheless gave me 5 years and taught my children to ride. She had been a broodmare, and her hocks went towards the end. It was an abscess and laminitis that got her in the end.

I haven't had one since.

So sorry you’ve had such a rough time of it. Horses really know how to break our hearts, don’t they.

 

[Red-1]

Sorry - you asked for success stories.
I put a very specific "wanted" ad. in HHO.
So specific that I only got 2 replies & one of those was someone chancing their arm with one that wasn't suitable.
I viewed the second & bought there and then. Didn't want to get off ("can I just try her a bit more!")

These are the ones I buy - the ones where you don't want to get off and you won't leave the yard without putting a deposit down.

That feeling gets you through the initial bumps when you take a new one on.

 

[irishdraft]

It is a nightmare buying a horse, I had a failed vetting, a failed purchase which was returned & now have a horse that I've had for 10 months that I'm still not sure will do the job. It took me 8 months to find the current horse but that was last year when things were manic but also I was looking for a pacific type of horse. I have seen a cob type build cremello for sale which from the ad would suit your requirements. He's in West Sussex .

 

[blodwyn1]

I viewed a pony I loved yesterday and they won't sell to me because I am too disabled and old very depressed now! They are probably right.

 

[Jambarissa]

Do you have a discussion with the vet on what it's failing on and whether it's still suitable for your purpose?

I have mainly bought horses who were 'broken' in some way or other and have never had a single issue that stopped me from using them the way I had intended.

I am planning to start looking at end of summer and hope to have one within a few weeks.

I wonder whether loaning might be better if you can find something suitable. Lots of loans are actually available to buy after a while.

 

[starbucker]

Only at the start of my tentative search, looking more seriously in the new year and its an absolute minefield. Turn up to view undisclosed sarcoids, hopping in the trot, horrendously ill fitting tack which Im expected to test ride them in .. give me strength. Havent got to the point of wanting to even vet one yet.. Nothing wrong with being picky in my opinion! (any advice on how to politely reject and quickly leave a pointless viewing welcome)

 

[mustardsmum]

You will find the one. It took me two years but I did start looking at the start of covid which really scuppered me for about a year as I wouldn’t buy unseen so couldn't view in lockdowns. Reckon I would still have taken a year though. I had three vettings fail but honestly if they'd not been vetted all three would have been problems - one breathing, one heart and one headshaker and lameness. So although they cost me money, they could have cost me a whole lot more! My vet is very good and stops if something comes up, so two of these did not get past stage 2. The third showed up as lame after rest so I walked. My new horse flew the vetting and is wonderful. It is a big investment to make, both emotionally and financially so take your time and dont compromise. And ignore anyone who says your being fussy, your money, your decision! Good luck!

 

[Goldie's mum]

It is a big investment to make, both emotionally and financially so take your time and dont compromise. And ignore anyone who says your being fussy, your money, your decision! Good luck!

 

[Ambers Echo]

Kid on my yard is selling her first pony. Fell x . 13.3, safe as houses, nicely schooled, more woah than go, fine competing up to 70. Done all PC camps , comps, beach rides. Family would love her to go to an adult though, so she’s not sold on again and again. 10. Pm if interested.

Sorry if I’m derailing and you don’t want suggestions. For good luck stories - most horses I’ve bought have passed. I do tell my own very trusted vet to be practical not picky. I ask them to think: ‘would I (the vet) be happy to buy this horse’ not ‘could anything at all on this come back to bite me’! No idea if that helped swing the balance on a couple x

 

[KatWuh]

Sorry to hear you haven't found your perfect match yet! If it helps, I can let you know my success story - I have just bought my first horse at the age of 36, after riding as a kid, having a big break, taking lessons again at a riding school for 18 months and then loaning a pony for a year.

I started properly looking for my own in May time this year, the first one I viewed I would have bought but he went on trial and sold. I then viewed a couple of others who weren't quite for me (one lovely temperament but too wide for me - the photos were deceptive! The other older than I was told he was). I then went to see the horse I bought on a Friday. Asked my friend to come down to help at a second viewing on the Sunday, put a deposit down on him that day, he was vetted the following Friday and passed with flying colours and was with me in his new home on Sunday. He is absolutely perfect for me and I think I've been very lucky, but they are out there! Even if he was stretching the top end of my budget(!) He'll be with me for life though, so completely worth it.

Good luck OP - I'm sure yours is out there too.

 

[Annagain]

It took me 14 months and countless viewings to find Charlie (albeit with Covid thrown in so 6 months of not looking) with much the same story as you - with 2 trips to A&E thrown in, one very naughty horse and one very silly fall off a lovely horse that was my fault (got striding wrong to a fence, thought he was going to stop, he jumped, bless him) a pretty nothing fall really but I banged my head and was acting a bit weird afterwards. I decided I wouldn't get over that start, then changed my mind but it was too late. It took me another 10 months to find Charlie.

I then had 6 great months with him followed by 18 months of lack of confidence, minor issues with the odd buck that really affected me, sure he wasn't right but couldn't find a problem. Eventually found it (mild KS), treated it, gave him time off and realised I really didn't want to get back on him. Sent him away to rehab then sales livery, sold him, broke my heart (I loved him even though I didn't like riding him) made a big loss but got him the right home (who keep in touch, he's thriving, he did his first event a few weeks ago and came 6th, finishing on his dressage score), was dreading looking again.

My second search lasted a week and 1 viewing. I saw him on the Monday, put a deposit down, he was vetted on the Thursday (his jabs were due a couple of weeks later so I asked them to jab him if he passed. I got the bill for jabbing him before speaking to the vet to know he'd passed!) and picked him up on the Saturday. It could not have been more different. On paper, the search hadn't really changed and the only difference really between Charlie and Wiggy was Wiggy was 14 and Charlie was 6 (but I was looking in that age range both times.) Both times, the main thing I wanted was to feel safe. With Charlie I felt it would come, with Wiggy it was instant. He was only an hour away from home too and had never been advertised, I just spoke to the right person at the right time. I'll have had him a year on Sunday. I've barely ridden the last 6 months due to a (non-horsey) back injury but I can't wait to get back on him.

The right horse will find you.

 

[Katie92]

Only at the start of my tentative search, looking more seriously in the new year and its an absolute minefield. Turn up to view undisclosed sarcoids, hopping in the trot, horrendously ill fitting tack which Im expected to test ride them in .. give me strength. Havent got to the point of wanting to even vet one yet.. Nothing wrong with being picky in my opinion! (any advice on how to politely reject and quickly leave a pointless viewing welcome)

Argh yes the poorly fitting tack! I dismissed two I’ve been to view because of substantial bit rubs/a split mouth. I’m (obviously?!) not buying a horse where I haven’t even been able to touch their mouths to test the contact beforehand, poor things.
No advice to share though, I’m far too awkward/shy and so generally make up a excuse about the horse being beyond my capabilities or confidence level in order to leave (seller’s can’t really argue with that one)!!