Failed vetting of potential pony.. HHO thoughts much appreciated

[kinnygirl1]

Hello HHO. Some may remember I posted a few months ago that I lost my lovely Stanley in March. I miss having a horse to care for and plod about on and have been very tentatively looking for another. Prices are high and my budget is modest so limited on that front, but am essentially just looking for a happy hacker happy for a sedate pace of life who enjoys the company of a human!

I went to view a lovely cob at a localish riding school. Hacked on the road and she was so good and I felt super safe. Tried her in the school too and she was a little strong and rushy but it didn’t worry me.. hacking by far more important. After a second viewing I booked a vetting…

Day of viewing she had a puffy hock I hadn’t noticed before and was 2/10 lame on trot up. Vetting was stopped and I went home a bit disappointed. Seller have since had their vet out and she has been diagnosed with arthritis in her hocks. I believe she has had them injected now and she has been offered to me at a reduced price. They have also given me permission to speak to their vet which I am waiting to do. Very kind and fair of the seller… can’t fault them in any way so please don’t think I’m complaining about them at all!! Just wondering what your thoughts are. If any of you have followed my journey with Stanley, you will know I’m no stranger to hock arthritis, however this time there will be no insurance to help with cost so must bear that in mind!

ETA… vet also picked up that her skin is quite scarred on her pasterns from previous mud fever but that current owner is managing it well(they had also told me about this) and it seems under control … not something I have experienced before so any thoughts on that welcome too. Thank you

 

[AmyMay]

How old is she?

Is she overweight?

 

[TheMule]

If I liked her and hacking was most important to me, I'd buy her at a low price, knowing that I'm going to have ongoing maintenance and that her working life might not be that long

 

[dottylottie]

depending on what the vet says as to severity/future workload, it wouldn’t put me off in your situation! if you’re happy accepting the associated risks and costs, go for it!

 

[kinnygirl1]

How old is she?

Is she overweight?

She is 13 … maybe a little pudgy but could feel ribs fairly easily.

 

[kinnygirl1]

depending on what the vet says as to severity/future workload, it wouldn’t put me off in your situation! if you’re happy accepting the associated risks and costs, go for it!

Yes I won’t make any decisions until I’ve had a chat with the vet.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would speak to the vet and if s/he is fairly positive about the future, I would buy her at the reduced price you've been offered.

 

[AmyMay]

She is 13 … maybe a little pudgy but could feel ribs fairly easily.

I’d probably take a punt then for three figures.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I wouldn't immediately cross her off your list. The seller sound unusually honest and that alone is very reassuring and refreshing in this day and age. See what the vet says.

But do keep in mind, if she has been a riding school horse for sometime, she might well prove very nappy when asked to hack out by herself in a new home. Very often they have ingrained need for another tail to follow and it can be quite challenging to cure the napping habit. As you have owned horse's before I am sure you are more than capable of dealing with any possible issue, but worth thinking about.

 

[kinnygirl1]

I wouldn't immediately cross her off your list. The seller sound unusually honest and that alone is very reassuring and refreshing in this day and age. See what the vet says.

But do keep in mind, if she has been a riding school horse for sometime, she might well prove very nappy when asked to hack out by herself in a new home. Very often they have ingrained need for another tail to follow and it can be quite challenging to cure the napping habit. As you have owned horse's before I am sure you are more than capable of dealing with any possible issue, but worth thinking about.

Yes that’s a good point.. I have never had one from an RS before.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Ask the vet if she's suitable for your use but Id go for it if vet approves.
Also RS horses can be livelier when they get into a private home with less work .
The owners sound refreshingly straight forward. Do you think they would agree to a LWVTB?

 

[ester]

the pastern situ can be pretty hard work and prone to getting worse as they age.

 

[kinnygirl1]

the pastern situ can be pretty hard work and prone to getting worse as they age.

Yes I have been doing some reading on this … does seem a little daunting! Again, not something I know very much about! None of mine have ever suffered from mud fever.

 

[IrishMilo]

I'd be amazed if there's a horse out there at 13 with no sign of OA in any joint. It's pretty par for the course tbh and if you are looking to just hack around gently I wouldn't let it put you off at all, especially if the price reflects it. My TB gets mud fever at the drop of a hat. He got a really nasty case earlier this year from a hot, wet spell. I manage it by plastering his pasterns with Sudocreme any time it's wet and it works really well.

 

[kinnygirl1]

Ask the vet if she's suitable for your use but Id go for it if vet approves.
Also RS horses can be livelier when they get into a private home with less work .
The owners sound refreshingly straight forward. Do you think they would agree to a LWVTB?

Seller has been very honest and helpful. I genuinely think they are fond of her and want to see her in a nice home. Riding school is immaculate and ponies look to be extremely well cared for. I’m not sure about lvwtb.. haven’t asked.

 

[ester]

Yes I have been doing some reading on this … does seem a little daunting! Again, not something I know very much about! None of mine have ever suffered from mud fever.

mudfever/likely mites in a cob/Chronic progressive lymphedema

 

[kinnygirl1]

mudfever/likely mites in a cob/Chronic progressive lymphedema

CPL in particular looks awful!

 

[SEL]

My littlest cob is riddled with problems - wonky feet, KS and likely other stuff too. Safe as houses on the roads so I buy her daily bozmerix without complaint.

CPL completely manageable if you're ok with taking feather off

Tbh if the price is ok I'd take a punt on a good hacking pony - mine is worth every penny.

 

[poiuytrewq]

My most lovely little horse who we lost in February this year (not specifically hock related) was for sale for £3500, failed a vetting instructed by another buyer on a hock flexion.
The buyer pulled out
I spoke to the seller they were totally honest about what had happened and genuinely shocked. They dropped the price and I got him for £1300 He’d been out eventing only days before and did another one between the failed vetting and me buying so I knew he wasn’t awful.
We had a happy 9 years with him and he did everything he was bought for. RC, hunting, team chased.

 

[tda]

Good advice from everyone, definitely check for CPL, tho it is manageable

 

[AdorableAlice]

Riding schools very rarely part with their horses unless there is a problem. Has the vendor mentioned why the pony is being moved on.

 

[Wishfilly]

Seller has been very honest and helpful. I genuinely think they are fond of her and want to see her in a nice home. Riding school is immaculate and ponies look to be extremely well cared for. I’m not sure about lvwtb.. haven’t asked.

Possibly obvious, but have they said why they are selling her? Obviously the arthritis was unknown to them, fair enough, but I'm curious as to why a RS would sell a 13yo safe hacking cob- it sounds like the sort of horse most RS are desperate for and struggling to afford at current prices.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Good point from Mrs J about nappiness


Mine was from an rs and I kept him there after I'd brought him. Originally hacking he'd try and turn and nap at the same place the rs rides would turn for home

I solved it by hopping off when he planted and leading him for 200m or so before hopping back on - as it got him out the rut he'd gone in off wed go again. Rinse and repeat if he got "stuck" again

Also going out with a willing foot soldier. He seemed better on his own with a foot soldier than another horse and being asked to be in front he'd be very sticky

After a month or 2 of work he generally became very good to hack once or twice he'd think about napping but a smack on his backside and growl swiftly sent him on his way!

 

[kinnygirl1]

Riding schools very rarely part with their horses unless there is a problem. Has the vendor mentioned why the pony is being moved on.

Yes … they have said she is too strong for their novice riders in the school. (It’s based at a private girls school so I imagine all child riders?). I have tried her in the school though.. I know what they mean but I think she just doesn’t like a strong contact .. when I rode with my seat, voice and a very light hand she was very responsive and I didn’t feel worried.

 

[meleeka]

If you do end up with the pony, I’d keep her legs clipped. It will be much easier to manage.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Yes that’s a good point.. I have never had one from an RS before.

I have had ex-RS horses that were more than happy to hack alone. If you have tried her hacking alone at the viewing, I'm sure she'll be fine.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Yes … they have said she is too strong for their novice riders in the school. (It’s based at a private girls school so I imagine all child riders?). I have tried her in the school though.. I know what they mean but I think she just doesn’t like a strong contact .. when I rode with my seat, voice and a very light hand she was very responsive and I didn’t feel worried.

That seems fair. The only question I would ask them is how long they have had her, that would give you an idea of how long they have tried her for before moving her along. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.