Buying a horse - 2 stage & x rays vs 5 stage

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char.lotte

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Hiya, I have just put a deposit subject to vetting on a lovely 7yo 14hh cob. I want at a very minimum strangles, heart, eyes cleared and would like to know he’s sound as in one of the videos he wasn’t quite tracking up (he was sound as anything when we viewed and in all of the other videos, think it’s just because he was being a bit of a knob).
I was set to get a 5 stage vetting however I’ve been advised to get a 2 stage vetting (with bloods taken, strangles test) and leg x-rays, stifles hocks and fetlock’s or whatever the vet thinks.
This was recommended because most horses won’t pass/will have notes which will lead to insurance exclusions, whereas the 2 stage and x-rays will not.
He is going to be a low level all rounder so mainly hacking with low level jumping, his paces are nice enough for some low level dressage etc but no competitive aspirations.

Obviously I will be calling the vet today but what’s everyone’s opinions on this?
 
It all depends on price of horse and who you insure with. I insure with NFU, and they wanted a copy of the five stage vetting because the horses were over £5k to buy. The 5 stage looks at suitability of the horse to perform what you intend to do…so one was pony club/riding club was 16 yrs old had sway back and dubious conformation…but passed. Another was for riding club stuff, allrounder type and passed with no comments…ditto a 3 year old just backed mare. I’m not sure it makes sense to have a limited stage 2 with X-rays ..but the insurance world keeps changing so I could be right out of the loop.
 
Who was it that recommended you get a 2 stage over a 5 stage? The difference between the two is that a 5 stage they pull the horse out again after a period of rest and do the whole work up again. The idea being that it an underlying issue will show up having been exacerbated with work. If the seller has recommended this to you, I would be suspicious they know the horse has an issue that will rear its head following exercise.

I would argue that X rays are more likely to show something that is there but not actually causing the horse any issues. Depending on the value of the horse you may have to go for 5 stage in order to insure.
 
dapple_grey said:
Who was it that recommended you get a 2 stage over a 5 stage? The difference between the two is that a 5 stage they pull the horse out again after a period of rest and do the whole work up again. The idea being that it an underlying issue will show up having been exacerbated with work. If the seller has recommended this to you, I would be suspicious they know the horse has an issue that will rear its head following exercise.

I would argue that X rays are more likely to show something that is there but not actually causing the horse any issues. Depending on the value of the horse you may have to go for 5 stage in order to insure.
Click to expand...
This.

Things may have changed but it always used to be 5 stage for horse who was working, the 2 stage was for youngsters.
Would your prospective insurers ask why a 2stage for a riding horse, they may do if you have a claim.......
 
Sounds like you want a 5 stage before you want X-rays. There can be plenty of exclusions from x-rays too! My last general slightly cobby sub 5 figures one I had a 2 stage on.
 
I did this for my new one but only because a) there was a known condition that I wanted to check the current state of, so I had her hocks x-rayed and b) she was only to be used for low level hacking. I'm not sure I would go for Xrays just on spec.
 
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