Buy a horse with sarcoids??

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Snow steps

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Viewed horse with sarcoids. There is one on elbow. Does not cause any difficulty riding. Owner says has not changed/ grown So hopefully won't become a problem. Horse is discounted because of this. Do I go ahead with purchase?
 
I would and I would get it on turmeric - take a look at the success with sarcoids on the Turmeric user group on facebook. My rising 5 yr old had a fibroblastic sarcoid on her elbow and I have used a herbal sarcoid supplement and now using turmeric - there has been no reappearance of it and not a scar.
 
If its not going to be rubbed by any tack or rugs then yes go ahead and buy. Depending on what sort/size sarcoid it is you may be able to get your vet to band it and it will drop off then. Or using nettle and garlic in your feed will help with your horses blood/immune system. I have used this with great success.
 
I wouldn't automatically rule out a horse with sarcoids. But it would depend on the type and location and also what my intention was for the horse (if a definite keeper then less of an issue but if a potential seller then probably not). I'd have a vet check them and I would also accept they would be excluded from insurance.
 
No, I wouldn't go ahead and make the purchase. I would get the horse vetted by a vet I trusted first, then go from there. See if your vet thinks the sarcoid is easily treatable with Liverpool Cream, and bear in mind sarcoids will be excluded from your insurance policy so treatment *could* become very expensive in future if the horse gets any more.

I wouldn't rule out the horse though if it ticked every other box, and TBH I know from experience that you can buy a horse without any sarcoids which then develops them later on.
 
I bought a 7 year old who had a sarcoid that was currently being treated. It dropped off and (fingers crossed, touch wood, inshallah) another hasn't reappeared. Vet at vetting said that there were no guarantees either way - you could buy a sarcoid free horse and a year down the line have dozens of them crop up. I did some research and decided to take a gamble as the horse wasn't a very young. If price is right and horse is perfect in all other ways and you can afford the treatment if more appear, then don't discount purely because of sarcoids - but as amymay said, get advice from a vet before making the final decision!
 
amymay said:
You need advice from your vet on this one.
Click to expand...

Yes you do .
You must understand exactly what the worse case senario is and what the likely costs will be .
You must understand and embrace that the research is clear there is a risk to other horses if the sarcoid would become raw and you must be prepared to manage that .
I have two horses with sarcoids .
One had nodular sarcoids and we treat him about every year on average by lasering he's a good horse who does a good job but the costs are around £1000 or so each time .
The other is more complicated and has a different sort I don't know how much his first lot of treatment cost yet .
These are things to be taken on lightly they can be catastrophic for the horse and if you are unlucky enough to have appear near the eye the costs of treatment can be jaw dropping .
It's easy to say I would not do that but when it's your horse that looking down the barrel of a gun how would feel could you find £3000 that's why you need a vet preferably one with a special interest in sarcoids to advise you about the type of sarcoid your horse has and what the best and worse case senarios are.
 
If the horse ticked all the right boxes and I had enough money to cover future treatments, I would have it vetted and go from there.

I have had horses with sarcoids, one I had frozen off, and the others I treated topically.
 
Get a vet to have a good look preferably an equine specialist who will know what kind of sarcoid it is and whether it can be treated. Treatment can be very pricey!
 
I had a huge one between front legs frozen off. Horse was quite sore for a week or so, now you cant even see the scar. It wasn't expensive at all (don't recall the exact price, if it was expensive I would have remembered exactly! I don't insure any of my horses for veterinary treatments anyway, I just pay as issues crop up)

If the horse was exactly what you wanted in every other way then I don't think a sarcoid should write him off.
 
I would only consider a horse with sarcoids if it was giving to be absolutely stunning at whatever it's job was going to be (performance horse, confidence giver for a novice or whatever) and I was sure that I would not be able to get that level of quality elsewhere.

This would have to be other than it just being cheaper alone as it might well cost a lot in vet bills.

Yes there is risk in any horse (don't I know it!), but it seems a greater risk if the animal is already presenting with a problem.

Time for a consultation with a well trusted vet too.
 
It's worth remembering that the sarcoid the horse has now may not be the only one he ever has and they can crop up all over the place. What he has now may not cause a problem with tack but if more develop they could be in a totally different site.
My mare began with one above her eye (which dropped off on its own) then she had one on her poll which meant no bridle or headcollar for a lengthy time. She's also had them on her chest and between her hind legs. They have been messy but manageable, however it has meant that she has spent a lot of time out of work and I had to accept that we couldn't do all the things I'd planned when I bought her. I love her to bits and luckily she is the sort who can have time off work then return to it with no silliness! I just had to decide if I wanted to forget competition and just make the most of riding her when I could, or replacing her (love her too much for that to be an option).
It's a tricky situation as sarcoids are so unpredictable. I don't regret buying Piper because she's an angel but I wouldn't buy another with sarcoids.
Best wishes with whatever you decide.
 
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