Buying a horse with a splint

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hallarider

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Hi

Have been to view a horse today. Hes perfect in every way apart from he has a splint which is the size of a ten pence piece but raised. I am buying him as a heavyweight hunter. Hes already qualified for hoys this year and has won at the county shows. Should I be concerned about it? I will get a five stage vetting.

Many thanks
 
My horse has a splint and she is pretty heavy work, the only thing I would be concerned about is if judges penalize (sp?) him in the show ring - if that's what you plan on doing.
 
I agree with above comments, if it is finished forming and he is obviously doing very well with his showing career i wouldnt be concern me it at all.
 
thanks guys, Just one more question. Should I be following up these wins? If a horse qualifies for HOYS is there anyway of checking!!
 
Wildpoppywild; This link explains what splints are
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splints
 
Agree that if it has finished forming and is not causeing trouble then it won't cause any trouble in the future and I would buy without a problem. However, if you are looking at it to show (which I am assuming you are) then I would definitley seriousley consider leaving it. Although it has been well placed this season and qualified it is possible that he did that before it had formed/fully formed. I would have thought it would affect his placings in the ring although admittely less in a hunter class than in some others. Maybe see if you can speak to a producer or judge to see what there opinion is. Honestly, if there are two horses equally good in a class then 1st is always going to go to the horse without the splint sounds obviouse but...
 
I wouldn't be concerned about a splint although I'm surprised he's qualified for HOYS as a Hunter with a splint?
I'm sure there's a way you can check if he's qualified but I don't know where - sorry
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i bought my horse with a splint on each foreleg, when i had him vetted my vet asked me what i was going to use the horse for as if it was for showing she would have had to have failed him as he wouldnt be suitable for the purpose i wanted him for however as i have no intention of showing him he passed, the splints have not caused him any trouble in the 18 months i have had him
 
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I judge at workers/hunters at county level and am sorry to say he would not have qualified under me with a splint

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And that sums up why I hardly EVER show! IF the horse is the best horse in the class - conformation, manners, ride - then why the HELL should a splint put him down??

Fair enough, if you have two at the top of the line you can't separate, then take a splint into account .... but otherwise, it SHOULD be irrelevent!

This is on a par with a judge (of a large mixed youngstock class) who told me (in all seriousness!!) "Ah - it was very sunny out there so I just put all the sillhouettes (lean ones) in the back row." (And a couple of the placed horses were SO gross they could barely waddle - as yearlings!!!) That's not sour grapes on my part as one of my yearlings was placed - she was nicely covered but not FAT! The other - who was lean by comparison - ended up in the back row.

On a more cheerful note, I heard of a judge the other day - judging coloureds - who put all the obese ones in the BACK row!!
 
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