Elvis Vetting update - WWYD?

[FestiveFuzz]

So I've just finished up with the vet, technically he's passed in the sense he could go out and do what I want him to do today, however he's exhibiting signs of stringhalt in his R hind which will obviously impact what he's capable of further down the line as well as resale value of I were to look at selling at a later date.

Vet thinks based on what she's seen he's not worth the £5k asking price but seller has said his price has already been reduced and the owner is unlikely to drop further.

So WWYD?

 

[maree t]

Has the vet said wether it would affect what you want to do with him for the future ? I checked back hoping for a pass for you . x

 

[Red-1]

I would wait to see what the owner says.

The owner may be keener to sell than the person being paid to keep him.

I would expect the price to be reduced.

 

[stormox]

I would enquire a bit further what the vet means by 'signs of stringhalt'.A horse surely either has stringhalt or doesnt? Can you see it? It usually only shows at walk. Shotgun Willy had stringhalt and won many steeplechases and ran in the National. I know of a Grand Prix level showjumper that has it.
I suppose it is really whether its something you can live with if he's perfect in every other way.
But I am perplexed by 'signs of stringhalt' - is the vet an experienced equine vet? Sometimes a slightly sticky patella can give a similar jerky action as stringhalt, and that may be nothing, just that he needs to muscle up more.

 

[be positive]

I would enquire a bit further what the vet means by 'signs of stringhalt'.A horse surely either has stringhalt or doesnt? Can you see it? It usually only shows at walk. Shotgun Willy had stringhalt and won many steeplechases and ran in the National. I know of a Grand Prix level showjumper that has it.
I suppose it is really whether its something you can live with if he's perfect in every other way.
But I am perplexed by 'signs of stringhalt' - is the vet an experienced equine vet? Sometimes a slightly sticky patella can give a similar jerky action as stringhalt, and that may be nothing, just that he needs to muscle up more.

I would also want to know what he means, the horse usually either has stringhalt or doesn't it should not really effect his ability to perform at any level and as far as I know in it's true form it is not degenerative, I would be questioning the vet further and possibly get more checks done before making a decision.
If it really has stringhalt I am also surprised this was not seen by you or your advisers when you tried him so I may be inclined to think it is something else.

 

[bonny]

I would also want to know what he means, the horse usually either has stringhalt or doesn't it should not really effect his ability to perform at any level and as far as I know in it's true form it is not degenerative, I would be questioning the vet further and possibly get more checks done before making a decision.
If it really has stringhalt I am also surprised this was not seen by you or your advisers when you tried him so I may be inclined to think it is something else.

I agree with this, how can he have stringhalt and nobody has noticed ? Plus I don't think your vet, unless he/she has a lot of horse experience should be commenting on the price, either he's worth that to you or he's not....

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I trust the vet as she was the one who vetted H many years ago.

She has said he's showing the beginnings of stringhalt. This was apparent when picking up the hind leg whereby he was snatchy with the foot and then seem to spasm momentarily before placing his hoof back on the ground. In walk and under saddle it's not apparent at all. That said, he was absolutely fine when I viewed him. Happily let me fiddle with all legs with no negative reaction at all.

I have no prior experience of stringhalt and am very tired so apologies if this isn't making sense. This is just what I've been told by my vet.

She felt it currently wouldn't impact what I want to do but may do in the future.

 

[gunnergundog]

How experienced is your vet, assuming that he/she is an equine specialist?

What you have reported would lead me to assume that they are either not a specialist equine vet and/or not very experienced or that maybe something has got lost in the translation/communication between them and you or you and us! It happens!

How old is the horse and what do you want it to do? If even an intro/prelim dressage unaffiliated test, then forget it.

 

[ihatework]

Whether it's true string halt or string halt like symptoms I wouldn't be paying 5K for something with a gait abnormality

 

[rachk89]

That just sounds like what my horse does when his hock is slightly stiffer one day than the other. It also cracks but that is just air bubbles popping or something someone on here answered it better. He snatches it back if it's really bad and once he kicked me. Never did again after he got yelled at for it. With exercise it's getting much better maybe he just hasn't been ridden since you rode him?

I would enquire with the owner and get a price reduction. Even if it is stringhalt it's not going to inhibit him really so you get him at a reduced price. Bonus in my eyes.

 

[Regandal]

I would think about a second opinion.

 

[AmyMay]

How old is he? What's his history?

 

[crabbymare]

I would be looking at a second opinion as it sounds a bit odd especially if she is saying it could be the start of it at his age and it has not shown at any other time

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I want to do dressage up to elementary/medium level so it's an obvious concern.

Quite possibly something is getting lost in translation as I haven't slept in over 24 hours now and jetlag is getting the better of me. My YO is going to call in the morning and get a better steer on things for me. Likewise I'll be calling my insurer in the morning to get their take on whether this may be an exclusion.

Other food for thought was that he desperately needs his teeth doing and his saddle doesn't fit (as I suspected) so will need to look at getting my physio out and replacing the saddle. Am I wrong to be considering these things when finalising price?

 

[FestiveFuzz]

How old is he? What's his history?

He's rising 10 and has been used as a general allrounder including BS and BE. Has had the same home for 5 years and only for sale due to his owner going to uni.

 

[Red-1]

What your vet described sounds more like a shiverer. That tends to get worse over time, and makes shoeing progressively more difficult.

Any pre-existing condition will be excluded from insurance.

If the horse was perfect, and a shiver only slight, and the price were cheap, I personally would still consider it, but would understand that most would not.

 

[AmyMay]

You were so enthusiastic about him in your last post - I'd be inclined to take a punt if you can get the price down a bit. As long as it's not a 'shiver', which I agree it almost sounds like. If that were the case, I'd walk away.

Were you at the vetting?

 

[MrsNorris]

I trust the vet as she was the one who vetted H many years ago.

She has said he's showing the beginnings of stringhalt. This was apparent when picking up the hind leg whereby he was snatchy with the foot and then seem to spasm momentarily before placing his hoof back on the ground. In walk and under saddle it's not apparent at all. That said, he was absolutely fine when I viewed him. Happily let me fiddle with all legs with no negative reaction at all.

I have no prior experience of stringhalt and am very tired so apologies if this isn't making sense. This is just what I've been told by my vet.

She felt it currently wouldn't impact what I want to do but may do in the future.

Sounds a bit like shivers, which I believe may progress over time, though not entirely sure. I would want to be certain of the diagnosis before making a decision.

 

[eggs]

Remembering the smile on your face in the pictures you posted when you tried him I wouldn't rush to discard him. It sounds as though you trust your vet but a second opinion would not go amiss.

Depending on how competitive you want go be the possibility of stringhalt shouldn't prevent you doing medium level dressage. I would be far more concerned if the vet thought he had shivers.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

You were so enthusiastic about him in your last post - I'd be inclined to take a punt if you can get the price down a bit.

Were you at the vetting?

I know! I'm absolutely gutted right now and really don't know what to do for the best.

I was present at the vetting...literally hopped off a plane and toddled off to the yard. I suspect it's nothing major as he was in a bit of a funny mood full stop today which I'd say is down to lack of turnout and less than pleasant weather...he managed to ****** off twice during the trot up but was a saint under saddle. At a guess I'd say he was a bit peed off with all the poking and prodding and getting a bit fidgety...but then again my vet is far more experienced than I am in these matters and there seems little point in vetting in the first place if I'm just going to ignore the findings.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I really don't want to walk away if I can help it but likewise don't want to let me heart rule my head. There was no mention of shivers though, just stringhalt.

What would you guys say an acceptable offer would be all things considered?

 

[eggs]

Given that they appear to have indicated that they will not reduce the price any further you have the option of having either a second vetting or walking away.

 

[ycbm]

I really don't want to walk away if I can help it but likewise don't want to let me heart rule my head. There was no mention of shivers though, just stringhalt.

What would you guys say an acceptable offer would be all things considered?

That sound really odd. Because shivers is identified by what the horse does when you pick a back leg up, whereas stringhalt is identified by how the horse snatches up a hind leg when it walks.

I really think you need a second opinion on the back legs. It shouldn't cost too much.


In answer to your last question, for me he's worth half if he has stringhalt and less than that if he has shivers.

 

[crabbymare]

I would have budgeted for having the teeth and physio to any horse I was buying and probably a saddle as well or fitting if I had one that was a close fit so that would not come into price negotiations. as for the price drop if I were the seller and the horse was likely to pass a vetting on another day (and if he was snatching due to being in a grump about being prodded around that would seem to be likely) then I would not drop the price any more. If I was buying I may try for £500 off but then how much is the smile you had when riding him worth to you?

 

[Regandal]

FF, what was the seller's reaction to the suggestion of stringhalt?

 

[AmyMay]

You need to ask yourvet specifically about shivers. Then have a think.

 

[be positive]

That sound really odd. Because shivers is identified by what the horse does when you pick a back leg up, whereas stringhalt is identified by how the horse snatches up a hind leg when it walks.

I really think you need a second opinion on the back legs. It shouldn't cost too much.


I also think it sounds odd and that the vet may not be sure so has given a rather vague opinion, you said his saddle does not fit it may well be that his back is causing a spasm when he picked the foot up after all the prodding and poking also the messing about in hand, I would probably get my physio out to give a second opinion as it is more within their remit than a vet and then make a decision.

If I were the seller I would want a second opinion before considering a low offer as it may well be something and nothing, I have had similar happen and the horse has gone on to pass with no issues at a later date having had no treatment or change to routine, a vetting is just a snapshot on the day and sometimes that day is the only day they are not quite right.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I agree a vetting is just a snapshot of a given day but on this occasion the snapshot is likely to directly impact my insurance by way of exclusions which I need to consider when deciding what he is worth to me.

They haven't outrightly declined a lower offer, just suggested that there's little wiggle room given they've already decreased his price.

 

[rachk89]

So he has a saddle that doesn't fit, hasn't had much turnout recently and probably not ridden much as the seller thought he was sold pretty much.

And the vets conclusion was stringhalt? Second opinion if you really need one but my guess: stiffness. Any horse would be the same and a badly fitting saddle really messes up their movement.

 

[webble]

What breed is he and has he been eating straw? I ask because a friends quarter horse cross had similar symptoms when eating straw in her bed regularly. Research showed it was an unusual side effect and once the breeding was changed it went away. Just a thought