Failed 5 stage Vetting-long wallow in self pity alert!

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

So we finally found a 17hh 8 yrs horse for my OH, it was love at first sight! Ok so he had a nice pair of pigeon toes and dished but it didnt matter as he was for hunting and hacking (and i already have one like that so i know the pitfalls)lovely lovely temperament and confo otherwise. Just had him vetted and along with rather flat feet (although he has been unshod in the field for 4 months) he was unsound on the first trotup (1/5), was hopping for 6/7 strides on the first (pastern) flexion all on one fore leg, other 3 legs and everything else was ok. Vet has obviously advised us to walk away but he liked the horse as much as we did, he even repeated the trotup at the end to be sure.
OH is absolutely gutted and now doesnt even want to look at other horses ATM but as the vet pointed out, we already have one with ringbone and another with arthritis and did we really want another lame one to add to the collection?On the other hand he suggested going back in another month to reassess as he has only had shoes on a week and was footy.He also suggested to make a very low offer to reduce the financial risk/loss if horse is longterm off games...
So unfair *stamps feet* Head says walk away fast, heart says hang on.

 

[Alibear]

Oh a hug from me.

But sounds like the horse has been turned away in a field because it was lame and they were hoping it wouldn't show up until after they'd sold it.

Walk away.

 

[AutumnRose]

Oh no, i'm so sorry to hear that!!!!! Definitely worth going back in a few weeks though, could be feet and personally i very much dislike flexion tests!!

I'm having a horse vetted on Friday that i've totally fallen for. I'll be so devasted if he fails so i know exactly how you must be feeling!!!

 

[mintaka04]

Sorry to hear that hun <hugs>
But d'ye know, you're better finding out now that it's a no-hoper.
I bought one with a very similar background, 17hh, flat feet, been turned away for months and only shod for vetting......
He turned into a total nigtmare that the farrier said he could only fix if he was able to suspend him from the ceiling for 6 months!
I sold him to a dealer (gave him away really) for a fraction of what I had paid and was glad to see the back of him. (horse nearly killed me)

I know you feel gutted now, but your vet is right, you don't need another hospital case.
Plenty more sound horses out there.
Just try to be patient.

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

It is so disappointing. Sorry.

Just a quick question - why did the vet continue with the rest of the vetting when he was lame on the first trot up? Most the vettings I have had done when they are lame on preliminary trot up and fail flexions so badly they would stop the vetting?

Hope you find another one soon

 

[Flame_]

Walk away, its not worth buying problems. I thought I'd found the right horse a couple of weeks ago but she failed the vet. The vet said she'd suggest to some people going back in a few weeks but as I've had so many lameness problems already I'd specified that I only want a horse if if flies through a vetting soundness wise. I've looked at loads of others and I despair at the number that aren't sound. I might have found what I'm after today though. I'm going back tomorrow for another ride and then the vetting. I've seen over twenty horses though. Just keep looking, health and soundness have to come before everything else, IMO.

 

[Louby]

My horse failed badly on his left fore in flexion test and I too walked away, looked at a few more but went back and bought him. He was rising 4 and not over expensive so I took a chance. He was sound on the trot up though. That was 5 yrs ago, touch wood he has never had a days lameness (apart from fracturing said leg in the field!!) and has since been flexioned and passed fine.
Im not saying buy but flexion tests are contraversial sp.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Hi Holly, the vet was 3 hours late and the horse had been waiting in a small hot stable and had gone to sleep so he felt it wasnt fair to immediately halt the vetting especially as even he isnt a big fan of flexion tests.The vet continued as the horse was 1/5th lame on trotup but 3/5th lame on flexion, We had a quick chat and vet suggested going onto the next stage of lunging on hard ground in which the horse seemed very very nearly sound so to give the benefit of the doubt we kept going with the horse sailing through the rest of it and then repeat the trotup at the end.

IMO and experience, i appreciated my vets efforts to give a fair and accurate assessment of the horse as i have also previously had horses vetted (both buying and selling) where the vet has halted it after the first trotup- the vetting still costs the same so if the vet is happy to continue then i am too and i am grateful he tried his best for buyer/seller/horse.