Buying a horse with sarcoids?

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emily.connie

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Went to view a lovely 6 year old ex racer.
Was my dream horse. Everything I was looking for in my budget.
He had a lump on his hind leg which the owner said a vet had a look at and didn't confirm it was a sarcoid but a lump still. The owner said its been there since she bought him (3 years ago) and hasn't changed size or shape or appeared anywhere else.

She has reduced the price as I was concerned about it.
Im new to this and just want people's opinions. I will be devastated if I couldn't buy him as said he was my dream horse and the lump didn't effect his performance.
 
I would get my own vet's opinion.
Asking anywhere about a bump or lump will produce many different replies, more so as no photos. However, this would need experienced vet opinion.

To answer your opening title: buying a horse with sarcoids, my answer based on previous experience would be an emphatic no.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I would want to see his vet records and have an independent vet look at him now before making a decision.
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If he is everything you want get him vetted, that the owner has reduced the price so quickly may be that they think you are offering a super home or may be that they think you are inexperienced and will not check things out fully, buyer beware should be at the front of your mind especially if money is tight, it can cost far more in vets bills than the purchase price if there is something wrong.
 
I think it's because we will provide a good home.
I wouldn't of noticed the lump of the owner didn't point it out to me as it is in such discreet place.
So I know the owner is trying to con me as such
 
If it has not changed in 3 years, it is unlikely to be too much of a worry. As people have said, get your vet to look at. But if it is also not in a place the saddle, bridle or boots cover it won't be a problem.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I would get my own vet's opinion.
Asking anywhere about a bump or lump will produce many different replies, more so as no photos. However, this would need experienced vet opinion.

To answer your opening title: buying a horse with sarcoids, my answer based on previous experience would be an emphatic no.
Click to expand...

This. TFF speaks sense.

P
 
Had I been asked this question 3 years ago I would have said yes, I'd have bought a horse with a sarcoid. My mare had them at 3 years old, we treated them with Liverpool cream once and they never came back.

However her son also got them at 3, and now aged 6 they are a nightmare. He must have at least 30. Not only is the cost of treatment eye-watering (£2000 to date this year, £1500 last year), I wonder how many years I can keep on burning holes in him.

There is a chance a sarcoid which hasn't changed in 3 years will remain dormant, but there is also a chance it won't. There is also a chance that one sarcoid is easily treated, but one can become two or more, and not be easily treated.

I think if the horse is your dream in all other respects, the price is right, and you are prepared for potential cost and heartache if the sarcoid does change and grow, then perhaps it is worth considering, but I would, as other posters have said, check with your own vet first.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.
 
I wonder why British horses seem statistically so much more susceptible. Does anyone have theories about this? My 9yo mare has one that she had when I got her nearly 2 years ago; it's become a bit bigger, and we will investigate what/if to do (anything) later this year. So far, well, she's my little dream horse in all other ways. It's a risk I took, and we shall see how it plays out.
 
Spookypony do British horses get more of them or do we just fuss about them more?

In answer to the buyer's question, you can't take any seller's word for it that it has not changed for 3 years unless you know them personally and often, not even then.

I would buy a horse with one, if the price was right. Having bought one with multiples last year, who produces new ones whenever he is stressed (like moving home when I bought him, and taking him away on a three day course) I would never buy another.
 
my vet and Liverpool said they were caused by fly bites from cows that had been bitten by the same fly so maybe that is why there are more in Britain, there seem to be more in wet years though. Having had two with sarcoids , one treated with sarc X as too close to the nerves for any treatment, it caused bad headshaking as it was on the trimegial nerve, Sarc X worked they dropped off after about six months . The other had lump ones ( nodular) inside his stifle and no option but to use Liverpool cream as they grew to the size of duck eggs and he couldn't move his leg properly and they were still growing, again it worked but was very painful for him and cost a lot. £1500 in total as we then had to treat secondaries that appeared. No I wouldn't buy if it is a sarcoid.
 
emily.connie said:
Went to view a lovely 6 year old ex racer.
Was my dream horse. Everything I was looking for in my budget.
He had a lump on his hind leg which the owner said a vet had a look at and didn't confirm it was a sarcoid but a lump still. The owner said its been there since she bought him (3 years ago) and hasn't changed size or shape or appeared anywhere else.

She has reduced the price as I was concerned about it.
Im new to this and just want people's opinions. I will be devastated if I couldn't buy him as said he was my dream horse and the lump didn't effect his performance.
Click to expand...
I did and she was my mare of a life time - vet band the sacoids and they never returned - no regrets for 1 milly second
 
I had one horse who developed a few in later life but never needed them treating as they only grew to the size of a fingernail and weren't in the way of anything. Current horse has a small one on his sheath that was there when I bought him. It looks more obvious in summer than in winter but it's only about 5mm or so in size and doesn't bother him so I don't bother it
 
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