At what price do you not have a horse vetted?

[MoonRiver]

I didn't get my recent purchase vetted, but he is a £400 m&m youngster that has done nothing, so just went on gut instinct. Had my own vet give him a quick check over with his vaccs

I think if I was paying much more than £1000 and it was a horse I wanted for riding I would get a 2 stage done, just to check it wasn't about to drop dead which is what I did with previous 2 horses.

For me it would be a case of what I would be prepared to lose if it was a duffer, and being a cheapskate that would be £1000 ish upwards

 

[Mrs B]

Would always have (and have always) vetted no matter what the price.

Buying them and vetting them's the cheap bit. Potential later vet/bills and treatment plus the worry and heartache for something that might've been picked up first isn't worth it IMO.

 

[Crackerz]

I've never had anything vetted, ever.

On the flip side, i was selling a very fit healthy pony once for a fair wedge, failed vetting due to lameness in the riding in a circle part.... Never felt lame to me. They called vetting off there & then! I called my own vet out on an emergency appointment, did exactly the same vetting and nothing, they couldn't find a thing. Went for a lameness work up at the vet clinic a week later, nothing. totally 150% sound.

No idea what the person's vet was on that day, but they missed out on an amazing fit healthy pony! Still chat to the new owner now & he's never had a days lameness!

 

[Rebels]

I've not had an £800 and a £1750 vetted, wish I'd had the second done. The others all were and I've also withdrawn from a horse that passed a vet but vet advised against purchase as although fit for purpose on that day vet felt the horse had a nerve issue affecting his largnx and would require a tie back before being fit to event. Another horse failed the tight lunge circle but passed the rest. Vet advised fit for rc but would not stand the work for me to produce and turn round. He said I would definitely encounter problems at some point. Third was a horse for my mum, felt fine but had an extremely unusual heart defect and later dropped dead in the field trotting whilst the owner tried to persuade us it was fit and well!

 

[Passtheshampoo]

I've had numerous ponies and horses over the past 37years, never had one vetted. Fortunately I've never had anything that I've regretted not having it vetted. I've sold the same ponies/horses over the years and only ever had one 2 of those vetted. Both passed although the vet did miss a large bony lump on a horse I sold 20 odd years ago. I mentioned it to him at the end of the vetting as it was an old injury and didn't cause a problem but should have been picked up.
I feel experienced enough to pick up most things myself but obviously I'm no vet and it's a risk as with anything. The only downside of vetting, apart from the cost is that exclusions will go onto your insurance for what the vet picks up so if you are intending to insure it's actually better not to have a vetting. What I would say is go with your gut feeling. If you are at all worried about anything then get it vetted.

 

[1Lucie]

Think it depends on ur own experience. But I would always vet a horse 5 stage.

 

[*Maddy&Occhi*]

Unfortunately, it didn't. Am a bit gutted. How hard is it to tell owners? Don't answer, it's a rhetorical question. I feel like I kicked her in the teeth.

Never mind. The search resumes.

Oh no sorry to hear that. As gutting as it is, I hope you can find some relief in knowing that it obviously wasn't meant to be, and that your perfect partner will find you x

 

[HeresHoping]

Thank you. It will. There's no rush. It does absolutely highlight the importance of a vet check. For me, having gone through the heartache of trying to rehab a horse found to have KS and an SI joint injury beyond repair, it was imperative that the vet was thorough in examining both the back and the SI joints in so far as possible without x-rays. I didn't want to go through that again.

The vet was superb - she 'phoned before the ridden stage and pointed out the issues. I asked her, beyond her remit, what she would do, and she gave me her honest answer. She saved me spending the full 5 stage fees.

The hardest part is telling the owners when they so desperately want you to have their much loved horse.