As a buyer - are you present for the vetting?

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I See Clover

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Just curious as to whether or not you would rather be present when the vetting takes place, if you do attend, or if you don't mind either way?

I'm getting a five stage vetting done tomorrow morning and, for the first time, will be present whilst it is carried out. Never really had the opportunity to do so before as I was only a teenager when I got my last horse and so my mum dealt with the vetting. Now that I'm in my twenties and arranging it myself, I would rather be present for the vetting so I can see what is happening (and what is not as the case may be) rather than being called afterward.

With all that being said, I seem to be even more nervous - and no doubt I will be awake all night worrying!! :rolleyes:
 
I wasn't present no (2 stage) but in hindsight I wish I could have been. I had a long chat with the vet afterwards though he was very helpful :)
 
if its close,( like less than 1 hr)then i would go ,.. just to see if everything is smooth.. but then.. lots of horses are farr.. so... depends if you were really keen!! - or had another reason why you wanted to go :D
 
I was and would always rather be there for my own piece of mind. My Mare was near Manchester, I'm in Leicestershire, but we travelled up for her vetting. We took the trailer in the hope she would pass and brought her back the same day.
I was sick with nerves, had my fingers crossed the whole time! :D
 
Yes, present for 5* vetting - together with the owner - vet carried out vetting then spoke to me - very in depth discussion afterward. It enabled me to be present when the vet asked the owner a couple of questions. As the purchase was subject to the vetting I was able to tell the owner then and there and hand over the money. The vet then vaccinated and wormed the horse to my requirements (it saved on another call out fee) and I arranged to collect the horse 48 hours later.

A very pleasing experience, probably because the horse passed the vetting with flying colours. I would point out that it was my vet, not the owners vet (never a good idea IMHO).
 
If possible, yes. I find it interesting, and you can discuss whether things are important or not there and then. If not, I try and get my own vet to reccommend a practice that they know/approve of nearby.
 
My pony was the first one I'd bought and never witnessed a vetting before so out of interest I asked the owner if I could be there which she was absolutely fine about. Just good too if they mention something you don't understand (ie, mine was found to have peripapillary chorioretinopathy in one eye!) to be able to ask questions of the vet at the time. Just from chance I got one of the most experienced vets in the area doing the vetting I learnt afterwards so I knew the horse would have been given a very thorough going over though I could tell that at the time.
 
Yes we went down with a trailer an picked him up then. It was he first vetting I had ever seen but I did a bit of research beforehand so I knew what was going to happen. In hindsight it was a bit quicker than the ones I had read about but that may have been because he didn't find anything and he was unfit so it didn't take long to get his heart rate up.
 
Having worked at a big yard that did a small amount of buying and selling, potential owners just get in the way at a vetting and annoyed the vets who where trying to get on with their job.
 
We were there for Lou's vetting and my sister was there for both her gelding's. To be fair, we were buying fairly local each time, but I think I would always make the effort to be there because it's much easier if the vet can explain their findings as they go along.
 
stroppy said:
Having worked at a big yard that did a small amount of buying and selling, potential owners just get in the way at a vetting and annoyed the vets who where trying to get on with their job.
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I disagree actually - as it can be valuable for the purchaser and the vet if present. It enables immediate discussion about the horse if there is anything of concern that is raised. I would certainly always be present - with my vet very happy for me to be so. And I also can't see what possible objection the seller would have either.
 
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i've never had any of my horses vetted (bought very cheap) but if i was to get one vetted then i would do all i can to be there at the time, as others have said it gives you the chance to speak directly to the vet, you get to see how the seller reacts if the vet picks up something and also you can see how the horse reacts to vets, some have a big disliking to vets.
 
I just sold my horse and my friend bought him and she was the only one there for the vetting - I was at work!
If I was to ever buy another horse I would def want to be there for it so I could question anything I felt necessary.
 
You should make the effort and watch it all carefully. I bought a horse that passed the vetting although my vet did say the Mare was obviously very quirky. How I wish I had backed away at that point... The mare did not like her head being handled by the vet and was very difficult at one point. I should have taken note and walked away, but instead I concentrated on the fact that physically she was fine.

A vetting can reveal a lot about a horse, not just it's physical condition, but also its behaviour. Try to be objective and do not be afraid to walk away. There will always be another horse to buy.

A few years ago a different vet tried to warn me off a horse that passed physically but that he felt was behaviourally on the edge.
 
Agree with Big Red, vetting can often reveal more than the phyical! My vet always prefers the potential owner to be there as its easier to discuss things as you go along or have an overview at the end. I've learnt a lot being at the vettings for the boys and for the one that failed! :)
 
Whenever possible I would be at a vetting.

The only 3 I haven't been was a sell-on that I bought unseen from Scotland, an 18 month old having a 2*, and a horse where the YO attended on my behalf as I was away at Uni.
 
I am always present, unless my usual vet is able to travel to do the vetting -- they'll have me on the phone several times during the vetting to confirm what I want to do with horse, etc, then later give me an informal opinion as well as the formal report.
 
Given the choice, then I would much prefer to be present at the vetting.

In reality, I haven't been present for either of mine - the first one I was working and couldn't get out of it, and the second was 300 miles away so a little impractical.

Definitely is better to be there though, you get a lot more feedback as the vetting goes on, and I think you can take it in better than on the phone.
 
I would def always choose to be present.

I went nearly 5 hrs away (with the lorry in the hope she passed!) when I bought my mare.

It isn't just a pass fail thing, so with each step the vet did we had a good chat about what he had found, the implications of this and wether it was v common and something that is nice to know and can pretty much be ignored, or if it was something that I might want to consider getting treatment for, or if it is a non-treatable prob.

Also gave me the opportunity to see my mare again being handled by the vet, lunged etc and see how she reacted to that.

Basically although you can have a chat on the phone with the vet after, there is so much information to soak up by being there that I would def make the effort to be present for the vetting.
 
I do think it is best if you can be there - very interesting and you can take the animal immediately.

I did not for my mare's 2 stage though she was a good 5 hour round trip away. Wish I had been though...
 
Yes i always try to be present at vettings even if far away.

I had my new boy 2 weeks ago, i first had him vetted with a local vet to the seller & i wasnt present. This vets practise could do a vetting the same day i called at anytime:rolleyes:. Alarm bells should of rung at this point!

The vet phoned me after & was awful on the phone, he said things that i totally didnt agree with at all & im not one to really disagree with vets but his comments where rediculous & i said that.
The horse had been shod that morning & the vet said he was 1/10th lame. I had seen & rode the horse the day before & could comfirm he wasnt lame.

I spoke to the seller at length & we both agreed to fully re-vet with a totally different vet, this time i used an Equine only practise. I was present & he flew through. The vet was very good & spoke to me all the time about what she was looking for. After passing i brought him home.

On speaking to the Seller about the first vetting she said the vet hadnt once mentioned that the horse was slightly lame to her, which he damm well should of if thats what he really thought:eek:. She also said that he was very nervy around the horse:eek::eek:. It's strange as the 1st vet offered to go back & repeat the 2nd half of the vetting for £150. I can only explain it as a money making scam.

I knew on the phone something wasnt right with this first vet by the comments he was making, I really feel totally ripped off by the first vets & had i been present i would of probably just bought the horse anyway & got him vetted by my vets.

So my only advice is really research who you get to Vet the horse.
 
Sent my OH, who is not massively experienced with horses but very perceptive and never reluctant to ask questions!
It was a good plan as it was a for a two year old that had been handled but nothing else, so they couldn't really do the 'lungs' check. Also he's an American Quarter Horse and some vets find their physique very confusing -we were very lucky that the vet happened to be from the USA!
OH was able to ask lots of questions and also witnessed our baby being prodded and poked by both the vet and his student - which he completely took in his stride!
So it told us more about his temperament than you can get at a viewing, and gave us the necessary vet's certificate for peace of mind.
 
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