Fibrotic Myopathy- Would you buy a horse with this?

Toraylac

Toraylac

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I have been offered a super gelding who is beautifully bred and super talented who is looking for a quieter life. I have been told that he has Fibrotic Myopathy (I hadn't heard of it before) which was acquired after a field injury. Apparently the damaged muscle repairs as scar tissue which means the horse is mechanically unsound but not in any pain. It justs looks like he slaps his off hind down on the ground so you can hear a change in gait. Anybody got any experience of this?
 
No experience, but if mechanically unsound I wouldn't buy, as it would be very evident that I was riding a lame horse, and I'm not comfortable with that even if vets have confirmed the horse isn't in pain.

I've a feeling it would result in strong words from those unfamiliar with the condition, and I wouldn't have the patience to keep explaining!
 
I have experience of it, not my horse but even if she wasn't in "pain" she was distressed and uncomfortable (was after an accident resulting in her being winged out of a ditch by her legs as she was stuck in it upside down) so no I wouldn't buy. It did seem to progress also.
 
I would take the horse on for light work for free but not buy. I would expect to not push the horse or insist on working in an outline but be guided by how the horse felt and what it wanted to do. Like with a horse with arthritis. The muscles do not work in isolation the body works as a whole if one area is compromised i would expect compensation in other areas which over time could lead to the horse becoming more lame or needing something such as regular physiotherapy to keep it sound. Other people's attitudes to riding a lame horse would not concern me. If the horse was of a kind temperament, free and I had no competitive ambitions I would happily take it on paying for future treatment and PTS or retire when necessary.
 
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