Colic Surgery and selling

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beckieswann

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Hi all,

I'm just putting feelers out there, would you buy a quality horse that has has colic surgery?

For example, my horse 16.3hh quality ID x TB 10 year old gelding, genuine, jumps anything, moves well, eye catching etc... has a proven record in Dressage, SJ (was looking to BE Event him, but taken the time with him rather than push) so next year will hopefully start to have a BE record. Excellent hack, alone or in company. Had colic surgery 28th November 2011, and we have found he has slight damage to his ileocecal valve, and with just a massage reopens and he's fine.

Would people be willing to buy? By the way he is NOT FOR SALE, but just getting peoples opinions etc.
 
Having owned 2 that have gone through surgery, one bought post op, it would not put me off completely but I would like to see some recent jumping form if buying to compete, the main issue for most people will be that they will not be able to insure for any colic problems in the future, both of mine suffered from mild colics without very careful management, a good routine was vital as was plenty of turnout with mine.
One was pts for general old age reasons, the other suffered a really major colic and was pts about 11 years after surgery aged 22 having lived a very active life hunting, jumping and generally being a normal horse.
 
No. I even turned down a free horse offered to me which the owner had bought for £10 k. Having lost a horse that could not stand up after colic surgery, I never want to go through it again. It is well known that horses that have had surgery are more prone to repeat colic.
 
No. I might consider a real star that would be way out of my budget normally, but only if it was dirt cheap. And only then a couple of years post surgery with a good consistent comp record since. And by out of budget, I mean a £15k plus horse going for a song.
 
Am afraid not even if it was being given away. My mare was PTs 12 months after surgery so I personally couldn't have the am waiting for it to happen again. But saying that I worked on a rs that had a pony in her late teens who had colic surgery 10 years earlier and never had another issue and was a fab pony so I guess it just depends on people's individual experances
 
I still have an old cob staying at a friends yard in England. He had colic surgery about 15 years ago. He is still fighting fit at 21 years but I never taught him to jump.
To be honest I do not think I would buy a horse knowing he had the surgery.
When my old cob went down with colic the Vet quite rightly wanted to put him down, he was in alot of pain. Because of my Black Beauty/Follyfoot upbringing and selfish attitude I insisted he booked him in for Surgery that was a 100 miles away. He was in agony, but he did survive.
I would not put any horse through that again I was totally selfish about his welfare just thinking about my own state of mind.
I have a Vet coming tomorrow to examine a Stallion what I have here what will not put weight on. I am expecting the worse.
We all must be mad to keep horses!!!!!!!
 
I did have a horse years ago who had colic surgery, made a full recovery and never looked back. I did consider a proven event horse, whose lovely owner was very open and gave full disclosure. I did check with my and other insurance companies and confirmed I would not get any cover to colic OR related issues. The owner had taken this into account but horse was not a ground floor bargain. He didn't need to be, he had a great BE record before and after the surgery. There was someone else who had been prevaricating for ever and offering very low money but strangely became more realistic when I arrived on the scene and bought him. I truly dislike anyone who tries to bear some one down when they think that person is in a tight spot and this particular owner had deserved better treatment, so glad I sort of helped! sad to lose the horse but that's life!
 
I'm not asking for comments on whether colic surgery is a good thing to put a horse through or not. If I have had more knowledge I wouldn't have done it.

But everyone, thanks for your honest opinions.. Keep them coming :)
 
You say that about surgery but if you caught it early enough and your horse made a full recovery, why not? I would not put an elderly horse through it, but a fit young horse, yes I would, and did very successfully. Mine lived for a further 16 years with no repeat of colic!
 
He's made an excellent recovery.. However post op there were some complications but he has pulled through and is doing very very well! If anything his work attitude has improved!

Modern technology, rehab and treatment has come a long way, and I am glad he's back to normal. :)

It's interesting to see the majority say no...
 
No way. I'm terrified of colic and wouldn't touch anything with a disclosed history of it. That said I will buy from dealers who probably would have no knowledge of a colic history and the horse would have a clean slate. Sad really, IYKWIM.
 
I think the majority of people would say 'no', simply because colic surgery is such a major surgery and why would someone buy a horse which could be predisposed to future problems and will certainly have colic/gut problems excluded from any insurance cover? I would also avoid as I would a horse with navicular, de-nerved and a raft of other things even if they were currently seemingly mild.
 
A year ago I would have said 'no' also but last September my home bred 6 year old was operated on for colic. Fortunately it was a simple impaction and he did not need a resection and made a very good recovery. He is now out BE90 eventing.

However the impaction was caused by something he ate (got tossed into his field ?) and the vets did say he had as much chance of getting colic again as a horse that had not had a colic episode. Of course, he is no longer insured for colic.

I think I would consider a horse that had had a colic operation as long as I was able to have a frank conversation with the vets who did the surgery.
 
I think honesty is best. And I would provide that as at the end of the day of want the home my horse was going to be as knowledgable of his background as possible. Like you say, I'm sure there are some people out there who would try their best to cover it up!

Also surely a selling price could reflect the lack of insurance, particularly if it was a quality horse?
 
I wouldn't say no. After all, that would be hypocritical of me since I bought a horse who'd been operated on :p Granted we didn't know up until a later date but....

She's been great and is happily living out her retirement with my old boy, my mums cripple and her other mentally unstable one :rolleyes:

If it's a nice horse, going cheap, I wouldn't say no :p
 
I'm not sure if i would or not.

Chico is 6 months post-op and I dont regret it for a second. He made an amazing recovery and I hope to start his jumping career next year.

If I went back and had to make the decision again I would still opt for the surgery, Chico has been an amazing thing in my life and I feel I owe him at least one chance to survive.
 
No i wouldnt

have one horse who is being pts for numerous issues - shes not insured for anything to do with her digetive system...including colic -

knowing the hell on earth ive gone through with her - shes is the best mare ive ever owned and also the worst at the same time

so no....i couldnt watch a horse potentially go through it again as i know those who have had surgery are more prone....no matter how cheap the horse is.
 
at the right price-maybe. when you say a massage do you mean surgically or what do you mean? he is probably even less attractive due to the fact that its an ongoing problema nd probably going to cause problems again.
 
It's literally just a hand massage after his ribs towards where the beginning of the large intestine sits. You can feel it when its closed. Humans have it all the time and certain food causes it. It's early days with learning about the ileocecal valve for us but we have help and its very controllable! The majority of horses who suffer with impact and gas colic suffer with the ileocecal valve being shut.. I wish the vets would look into it more.. Particularly with horses that have had worm problems!

His surgery was down to a twisted gut. I've never gone through anything so heart wrenching and painful in my life, but I know he deserves another chance because he is such a fantastic horse. I'm lucky to have him.
 
It would depend on the price, how honest I thought the owner was, and the circumstances of the colic, also everything seems to go out the window if I already know the horse, so word of mouth would probably be the best way to sell!
 
Wagtail said:
No. I even turned down a free horse offered to me which the owner had bought for £10 k. Having lost a horse that could not stand up after colic surgery, I never want to go through it again. It is well known that horses that have had surgery are more prone to repeat colic.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what my vet told me tonight. He says he never recommends colic surgery because he believes it is only prolonging the pain and heartache.
 
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