Failed vetting on flexion test. Would you/have you proceeded?

[Tamski]

Horse I really like failed the vet today on hind flexion test. She showed a very positive response to the test before being ridden and then a mild response after.

Vet couldn't find any obvious reason and no problems elsewhere. Vet said she'd be great if all i wanted to do was hack but no guarantees she'd stand up to more schooling or jumping

I told seller I'd have to think about it. What would you do?

 

[charmeroo]

I'm afraid I would walk away. If nothing else - your insurance would have exclusions from day one with regard to hind-limb lamesness etc. Obviously the horse could/might pass a vetting on another day or with another vet but from what you've said it sounds like quite a definite response to the flexion.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I would go ahead with the purchase. I'm not a fan of flexion tests anyway.

 

[BentleyBelly]

A year ago I would have not minded and gone for it despite the failed flexion test. However in March this year, my pony, whose near foreleg had always failed a flexion test became permanently lame and he was diagnosed with DJD in that fetlock. He hacks out gently with a danilon a day which is fine as its all I like to do now but he wouldn't be capable of any more than that. So if I were you, unfortunately I would have to walk away.

 

[newbie_nix]

Definitely not a fan of the flexion test either. I had my youngster vetted before purchase. The vet was rather 'old school' took him from standing in his stall to a track about 20 metres away (so no chance to warm up) had his back leg up really high and held it up there for ages. On trotting away he was 'lame for the first 3 strides' then fine and he failed him on this basis. I bought him anyway. Admittedly we are only using him for hacking, light work but even still I think its overly harsh.

Since then I have had him re-vetted and he is fine. The new vet said she still does the flexion test but only once the horse has been properly warmed up and even then she doesn't even look at the horse until they are quite far away. Her opinion was that a flexion test can make any horse look 'lame' and it is mainly used because vets are scared to sign soundness off in case they are sued at a later date.

Many others I have spoken to who are more in the know than I am also agree with the above. Its a test that needs to viewed with pragmatism in their opinion.

 

[Merry Crisis]

You seem supprised! Flexion tests should be banned, to deliberately lame a horse is an out dated method of seeing how quickly it can become sound. They mean nothing at all and an owner of the horse for sale can demand that FTs are not used in a veterinary check. If I was having a horse vet checked I would insist that a flexion test was not done.

 

[leflynn]

I've done both...

Walked away from a lovely horse that jumped for fun when he had a positive reaction and my vet advised not to proceed, horse was 14yo. Then bought current horse that failed and then re-passed (now 5yo). As NB says be pragmatic and also don't view that as a singular thing only.

Would the seller agree to a loan period so you can both be confident it's the right decision?

 

[Jesstickle]

I don't much like them either. What are they meant to show exactly? I've never worked it out! Seems a bit of an odd test to me really

 

[meandmyself]

If someone held my legs up, I wouldn't walk away sound either!

Are x-rays an option?

 

[Mince Pie]

I would go ahead with the purchase. I'm not a fan of flexion tests anyway.

This ^

My boy failed his flexion, only time he was lame was due to a massive hematoma on his chest.

 

[cassie summers]

If someone held my legs up, I wouldn't walk away sound either!

Are x-rays an option?

me to i dont like flexion tests either outdated completely depends how much the horse is if its in the 3000 or more than x ray and thats only because of your insurance otherwise i wouldnt worry about it

 

[rockysmum]

Depends what you want to do with it and how much it costs.

If its not a lot of money and you only want to hack then I would go for it.

If you might want to do more in the future or its expensive then I agree about investigating further. Its probably worth a few hundred for xrays etc to save heartbreak later.

 

[LEC]

There are two approaches.

1) You get x rays - having gone through spavins with an eventer I will NEVER buy a horse without x rays ever again on hocks and front feet.

2) You knock the price down to take into account the risk you will be taking. I would never buy a horse who failed flexions and then just pay the money the owner wanted!

 

[Teeni]

I think for me it would depend on the degree of the lameness shown and also how long they stayed lame. I'm not a fan of flexion tests at all and i'm sure i'd hobble off lame should the same be done to me but i think they have there uses if only minimal.
I also view them similar to a MOT on a vehicle because it is only a representative of that day only!
I've seen a mare fail flexion tests on both hinds, the mare was trying to trot on 3 legs, she was 9/10's lame and stayed lame for at least two more weeks after, the sad thing was she was only a 9yo and the damage was caused through being hammered at a very young age.

 

[be positive]

Have bought one that failed, he moved so well behind I felt he was worth the risk, he was sold two years later passing 5 stage including flexions with no problems.
I recently sold a pony that failed its vetting on front flexions the vet would not consider re examining him at a later date, which I wanted him to do, so I found another purchaser and he passed with no problems.
I think they are a poor guide as many horses that pass seem to go on to have problems anyway, if I wanted to go ahead I would get another vetting and possibly xray if the horse was worth it.

 

[cassie summers]

There are two approaches.

1) You get x rays - having gone through spavins with an eventer I will NEVER buy a horse without x rays ever again on hocks and front feet.

2) You knock the price down to take into account the risk you will be taking. I would never buy a horse who failed flexions and then just pay the money the owner wanted!

yep totally agree with this

 

[newbie_nix]

You seem supprised! Flexion tests should be banned, to deliberately lame a horse is an out dated method of seeing how quickly it can become sound. They mean nothing at all and an owner of the horse for sale can demand that FTs are not used in a veterinary check. If I was having a horse vet checked I would insist that a flexion test was not done.

Having now seen one done I agree, if I were selling no way would I let a vet put so much pressure on my horse's joints. I am no expert of course but it seems a rather harsh, outdated and inaccurate method of assessing a horse's soundness.

 

[glamourpuss]

When I bought my Lad as a 3 year old I had flexion tests done. He was horribly lame on them & failed miserably. The vet told me to walk away, he said the horse was as good as crippled & would only have a useful life, as a hack, for a couple of years.
I knocked the price down to a minimal value & took him home anyway.
13 years later having completed BE eventing to novice, affiliated dressage & showjumping said horse is still going strong. He completed MK 3day event in the spring & is currently going out hunting.
I could honestly count on my fingers the times he has been lame.
I'd never have flexions done again they are outdated & very user dependent (different vets will have different results). I'd much rather have x-rays done.

 

[Daytona]

Agree with all the comments on flexion tests and after having a vetting done not long ago abd my vet confirming they not reliable (my horse passed though ) but he still said they not ideal. Anyway I think because of insurance I would walk away as all companies will exclude though they might lift it if in 6 months he not got lame and tests redone and he passes. Know someone who managed to get exclusion lifted that way.

 

[Marydoll]

There is no need to exert great pressure on a flexion test if theres a problem a gentle flexion will show it.
I wouldnt rule out a sale on flexion tests alone and they shouldnt be looked on in isolation as a reason to rule out a horse. What else showed up ?
As has been said before, get x rays if youre keen, but id negotiate a reduced price to reflect this extra expense.
Its a case of you pay your money and take your chance.

 

[LaurenM]

How much is the horse advertised for? I think my insurance requires 5 stage vetting if over £5k.

My first horse passed a two stage - that was all the insurance company needed I've not had any issues with lameness and I've had him almost two years - he'll be 17 soon

 

[brighthair]

Not sure really..

I had a mare who had 2 massive splints and the worst cow hocks you have ever seen - noted in vetting. She's now *counts on fingers* 19, still as rude/bargy/pig headed as she was as a 3 year old and has never had a day off. I had her for 6 years and never had a vet visit

I also bought a 18 year old ex racer who failed a flexion text (120 races, he was going to!). He developed very mild arthritis, and had dodgy hooves, but I had a lot of years fun hacking, schooling and jumping

I agree with the human analogy - I am sat on the sofa with one leg up, and if I stood up now I will hop for a step.... although I have 2 previously badly broken ankles so not ideal ;-)

 

[Super_Kat]

My top polocrosse pony failed the flexions nearly 4 years ago...... He went out and won a world championship this summer, nationals in '08/'10 and the europeans in '09.
I doubt it would bother me.

 

[Black_Horse_White]

My horse was lame on his hind for 3 strides too, I brought him as the vet said he was suitable for what I was buying him for.

 

[Garfield1537]

Not a big fan of flexion tests, I got my boy as he failed a flexion test so his original buyers walked away! I took the chance he's been fab but I only do dressage and it's not affected us at all x

 

[AmyMay]

I would walk away. You have a vetting for a reason......

 

[Alphamare]

This is why I don't bother with vettings anymore. especially since vets just want to fail horses because they are worried about liability.

But then I do have a good idea what I am looking at.

Also I think flexion tests are barbaric and uncessesary and pointless.

 

[BlueCakes]

Bought my first horse without a vetting with the possibility that he might not last through hard work. Never lame a day I had him.

and bought my latest horse knwoing he had failed the flexion test.

I really wouldn't give a notice about a flexion test tbh. I have known lots of horses be fine but have failed that. How would you run after someone had just held yor leg in an awkward position?

Ask if the owners can give you a 6 month guarantee on the leg he failed. If he goes lame on that within 6 months you are welcome to return him. Thats worth more than any vetting.
x

 

[AmyMay]

Also I think flexion tests are barbaric....

Really? Why??

 

[YasandCrystal]

I would go ahead with the purchase. I'm not a fan of flexion tests anyway.

^^ This