Buying an older hunt horse - advice please

The last time i had both coffin joints injected and both hocks at the same time with arthramid (4 syringes) it was approximately £1300 inc vat.
It does seem to last around the 18 month mark.
Steroid will be alot less but could only last 6 months, if you are lucky it will last a bit longer.
Its alot of expense. How often is he being injected currently and do you know what with? Does he respond well to injections or does he still need very careful riding especially hard ground etc
 
Tiddlypom said:
It does depend on the country he’s hunted in.

I was told herabouts (by an equine professional who rides with them) that hunters last an average of three seasons in my local pack with big hedges before they are too b0ggered to continue 😬.
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I think there are a lot of varying factors. If it's a big pack they might be hunting 2-3 times a week during the season, smaller packs might only be out once a week or every couple of weeks. Some hunts are known for being across big country, others less so. Plus ground conditions of the area they have hunted in etc.. Some of them get the whole off-season to rest, others are team-chased and have other 'jobs'. And of course it comes down to the individual horse and how they stand up to it. Mine did a few seasons over big hedges, but he was retired from hunting at 11 due to the owner selling up and he was dispersed to a dealer so I think he had age on his side. I know he will have residual wear & tear but no more so than I'd expect a horse of his age who'd been showjumped or evented to a decent level. He flew through a 5 stage vetting when I bought him.

I think with the particular horse in question here the age is what would put me off, if they are still hunting well into their teens I think you can assume they've had a fairly busy life and that takes its toll.
 
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