Do I have him vetted?

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Acolyte

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Might have found a new - much cheaper - place for me to live (renting), which would mean I could afford a horse - so I might be able buy the one I love at my yard. If I DO buy him (by no means sure ATM) should I have him vetted?

He is going to be quite cheap for me (or I wouldn't buy him!) and I know he must have something a bit odd about his back end or he wouldn't have the sort of canter he has got - really, really rocking horse and not usual at all! I have known him a year and he has only been lame when he knocked himself in the field, otherwise seems fine. For what I want - a happy hack, occasional low-level dressage, maybe 6-8 Intro or PNs a year if the ground is OK - is it worth having him vetted? Part of me feels that the vet will just tell me what I already know? I am aware that if I do buy him I am waving goodbye to my money, if I ever had to sell him again then I would get total peanuts if anything for him, that doesn't bother me. Similarly if, in a couple of years time, he wasn't able to compete any more that would be OK, we would just plod around and hack, or I would find him a home as a companion if that suited him

He is shod at the front with quarter clips, but otherwise his feet seem normal and wear evenly. I'm not too concerned about that, but will get my farrier to advise before committing myself
 
I personally don't have any horses vetted no matter what the price! Just get them insured.
But if you sort of know the horse and he is what you want then go for it! Vetting is only valid for that day anyway so wouldn't make any difference in the future.

My old farrier used to shoe all horses with front quarter clips so wouldn't worry bout that either.
 
Hmm, that what the other part of me thinks! I did buy a horse a few years ago and the pretty drippy vet who vetted him passed him for me, horse was PTS with navicular 2 years later to the day. I now know other partners in the same practice would have firmly told me to walk away and leave well alone!

Then a couple of years ago I was going to buy a lovely little TB who showed exactly the same symptoms at vetting so I refused to buy him even though he passed - owner was livid, can't blame her but turned out I was right, he had navicular
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I would. Doing 6 or so PN events a season is not insignificant when you factor in the work you would need to do to get him fit - you need to know that he will stand up to the work. A vetting is no guarantee of course - but if there is something there to indicate a problem you would be better of knowing about it and making an informed decision rather than always keeping your fingers crossed and wondering...
 
I agree - spend your money on insurance rather than vetting, although I wouldn't class 6 - 8 intro / pn events a year as 'happy hacking'!
 
I agree - although he has done 2 seasons eventing at novice level 2005 and 2006, which is something I guess. Mind you 6 PN's a year might be optimistic, depends on finances of course
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I agree with icestationzebra about the keeping fingers crossed bit, I didnt get my last mare vetted and although she was totally fine, had her checked out later myself, until that point I was always thinking at the back of my mind, could there be something wrong with her.

If you know he may already have problems then even if you dont mind if he cant be ridden in a few years, its not just that you need to consider, its the potential expensive vets bills and heartache if something was really wrong and he had to be PTS .

I know Im thinking worse case scenario but it sounds like there are already some issues there, a horse could be free but if it has a lot of problems you could end up paying more on vets fees than you would have on a top eventer.

If he is very cheap perhaps a 2 stage vetting would be enough for you if you just want a general health check.
 
I always say vertting. Becasue for all you know he could have blindness etc etc.... Maybe only stage two or five without blood as you know hes not drugged. That will take price down. I know people who have found horrid thing out on vetting, its saved heart break.
 
Having had horses for over 35 years now I would always have a horse vetted.

Be it a cheap or expensive horse the vet bills will always be the same.

The owner may be quite honourabble but still not be aware of a medical condition that the horse they are selling may have.

Remember all insurance companies have an upper limit on the pay out for a condition.
 
No I wouldnt vet SO LONG AS you are competent (sp!) or know someone who is competent enough to carry out the basic checks (if you want to event then wind IS important) - however, for a horse I had known for a year, I would say anything that hadnt presented itself already is prob going to be missed by a vet anyway, but I WOULD do a wind (as in heart/lungs) check
 
If you know him and he has remained sound and healthy for a year then that's virtually as good as a vetting. Any lameness would have showed up, you would hopefully notice anything amiss with his breathing etc, and a horse who has done Novice is likely to have some wear and tear on it's joints. If the vet diagnoses something wrong with his back, what can you do about it? The only thing I would get done is listen to his heart, otherwise the vet can only take rays etc which will cost a bomb.. doing flexion tests in my opinion is a total waste of space, you an make anything lame if you give it long enough in that position!
It depends too on his price. If they want the market price perhaps you will need a vetting for insurance anyway, but if he is cheap, I would take the chance.
We rarely get horses vetted prefering to go on their history and our own eyes, but anything over £3000 perhaps would benefit from a basic vetting if you have never seen it before. You do however know this horse and that makes a big difference.
 
Ask your self this. If he failed the vet would you still buy him. Would you go and buy something else at a much higher price that you didnt know yet passed the vet. If it were me I would buy the horse at the low price and have fun whilst you can. You know the horse and you like him... At the end of the day its up to you!!
 
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