buying a horse that already has a vetting cert?

[Blizzard]

If a horse you were going to buy had passed a 5 star vetting plus xrays 6 months ago, would you have it vetted again yourself or would this be enough for you that it passed then?

Horse has been out of work since due to no rider, so is unfit and out of condition.

a potential purchaser had him vetted, then found another horse cheaper.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

Up to you I might be tempted if you can verify the certificate. However if you want to insure the horse the certificate must be less than a month old.

 

[Happy Horse]

I'd always have it done regardless of when it was vetted previously if you are planning on insuring for vets fees - it saves a lot of hassle in the long term.

 

[JLav]

I would always have it re-vetted. Alot can happen to a horse in 6 months!!

 

[ihatework]

I would re-vet but not re-xray

 

[Tierra]

Two sides to this. Firstly, if you want to insure the horse over a particular value, you will need a 5 star vetting to have been completed within 30 days. I think with NFU it's 5k and over that they want 5 star.. under that they start asking for 2 stage and again, it needs to have been completed within 30 days.

I was in your situation when I bought my horse. He'd had a full 5 stage vetting with x rays 3 months before we bought him.

We decided not to have him revetted as we knew the horse's full history and were happy with him.

HOWEVER - we didnt choose to insure him straight away. As it happens - we're now considering insuring him and of course, I need a 5 stage vetting if I want to do so.

It really comes down to whether you're wanting to insure him for a decent value or not. You have the option of insuring him for a nominal value but still getting full vet fees cover - in which case you may be able to get around this (Im sure someone will correct me here if Im wrong)... but basically, if you're wanting to insure, I think you'll need the vetting.

 

[Blizzard]

thanks everyone.

When I bought my last mare I didnt get her vetted, she is insured for £2500 with NFU and I didnt need a vetting cert.
I think its just over 5k that you need them with them.

Really I only want to insure the value quite low, I only want insurance for vets and public liability really. The YO where the horse is stabled has an excellent rep and has known the horse since he was 4, the kind who wont sell a horse to you if you cant ride it etc.

 

[icemaiden113]

I never have anything vetted so it would be a bonus!! And you don't need a vet cert for over 5k horses there are ways round it!

 

[spaniel]

Your vetting cert is only valid for 30 days from issue.

I bought my young chap in september, one week after he had passed a full 5 stage for another purchaser and I had him vetted again for my own peace of mind.

Theres no way Id accept that a horse was ok after 6 months!!!

 

[Tierra]

Out of curiosity... what are the ways round it?

 

[icemaiden113]

You just need the previous owners to sign a health cert (from the insurance company) they must have owned the horse for at least 2 months and give vets details! It is so much easier! worked no probs for my boy (insured for 6k)

 

[Tierra]

Really? Never heard of that at all. I must admit, the thought of having my own horse vetted doesnt appeal to me that much

That would be handy for me since I know the old owner and Im pretty sure she'd happily sign any certificates. Then again, I have had said horse for a year now so not so sure it would be an option for me

 

[icemaiden113]

I was surprised when i heard about it! Only found out cos i don't have horses vetted but wanted this particular boy insuring!

Don't think it matters how long you have had him, but really not sure on that!!

 

[Tierra]

Do you mind me asking who you're insured with?

I may have to make some enquiries about this!

 

[GatefieldHorses]

In the eyes of the law a vetting cert is valid for the day of vetting only.
So i dont really see the point in vettings. It could pass a 5 stage vet then it could go out and break its leg.
Waste of a £200+ vetting if you ask me

 

[Tierra]

See i agree with you there :/ Which is precisely why we didnt have my horse revetted. 3 months had passed... he hadnt done an awful lot in those 3 months... Yes, something could have developed but equally, the same could happy a week after the vetting but it does now effect my ability to insure him somewhat.

Of course, now I actually own the horse, Im just bitter and dont particularly want to shell out the cash to have him vetted

 

[icemaiden113]

[ QUOTE ]
In the eyes of the law a vetting cert is valid for the day of vetting only.
So i dont really see the point in vettings. It could pass a 5 stage vet then it could go out and break its leg.
Waste of a £200+ vetting if you ask me

[/ QUOTE ]

Finally someone else!! Tought i was the only one that didn't bother vetting!!

 

[Blizzard]

LOL!

Thanks everyone, yes see he hasnt been ridden since July,the vetting was done in July, I was the first one to ride him on Sunday just gone, and he was sound, just looking ribby and out of condition, a lot of lost muscle.

Normally I dont bother with vettings, I think Im feeling a bit nervy with this one because to be honest he looks crap at the mo because he is unfit, and im spending a bit more than I normally would!

Im only planning on insuring him for £3k as thats the minimum Im prepared to have back if he dies.

 

[CBFan]

By the sounds of it, you're paying quite a bit for this horse and on this basis I'd probably have him vetted again (even if just a basic vetting). A lot can happen in 6 months - even with a horse that hasn't been ridden. e.g. a friends horse did a tendon in the field. My mare developed bone spavin - something that wasn't apparent untill she was bought back into work etc etc.

For your peace of mind it might be best to spend out that extra £ 100 - £200 on a vetting.

 

[Tempi]

Archie had been vetted and xrayed 7months prior to me getting him. I still had him 5-staged but didt bother to re xray

 

[Doublethyme]

No I would have him vetted again, mainly because 6 months is a long time in the health of a horse, secondly the story sounds a bit "off" to me. Is this coming from the sellers? Horse is vetted, passes, but buyer just happens to go get another horse instead and original horse is turned away for 6 months - very very fishy! I would want to talk to the people who decided not to buy him if I was going to take this the risk of no vetting.

Having said all that, I did buy my mare without a vetting on the basis that she had been 5 star vetted the week before by my own vets (strange coincidence as she was out of my area). Seller told me she had passed the vetting, except a query was raised against a small fly bite lump on her back leg. Vet at time said it was probably not a sarcoid but couldn't guarantee and buyer dithered a bit and decided to pull out. I managed to get her details from my vets and rang her up (bit cheeky I know!

) and she actually gave me a glowing report on the mare, saying she wished she hadn't pulled out now (but had fallen out with seller because of it) and she kindly sent me the vetting certificate in the post at no charge (although I sent her a cheque for £40 as a gesture of goodwill). Turned out well for me, as the mare has been my perfect partner for the last 7 years.

End of the day its a risk anyway, even with a 5 star vetting, but I would be a bit suss with the story on this one.

 

[Puppy]

Might be worth pointing out, if someone else has paid for the vet then you have no legal come back to the vet if their vetting is negligent. So for example, cases where the seller offers to pay for the vetting, if the vet failed to pick up on something that meant the horse ought not to have passed, then you would have no come back as you were not the one who hired the vet. I often see ads offering to do this...

 

[Bossanova]

Have you seen the certificate and x-rays?
That'd be my first port of call

 

[Baggybreeches]

6 months is a long time is horse terms, I would have it vetted again, and like someone else said the vetting needs to be a certain time scale for insurance.

 

[Baggybreeches]

I dont bother for myself personally, but always advise others to do it if they want to do a bit more than happy hacking. I only had my mare vetted for her grading. My sisters pony was bought after she failed a vetting on a flexion test and went on to be the soundest and one of the best 13hh WHP in the country!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I would always have the vetting done again, as people have said alot can happen in a few months since last vetting. I think that 'looking for ways around things' is potentially very dangerous & expensive. At some point a claim will be challenged, & the liklihood will be hat you will be ruled against as 'not being within the spirit of the cover'. You'll end up with having to pay the bills yourself & losing the premium you've paid. If they want a vetting for over £5000 cover then get the vetting.

 

[amandaco2]

i would vet again