Flexion tests in vettings

[soloequestrian]

Planning to sell a horse in the next few months. I've never sold before and I haven't vetted the most recent ones I've bought so I am quite out of touch - do they still do flexion tests during a vetting? I've always hated them - if they are still standard, would it put people off if I refused to let them be carried out? I don't think there is anything wrong with the horse but it always looks to me like a flexion test has a good chance of causing damage!

 

[WispyBegs]

When I was in the process of selling one of my horses a year and a half ago, he was vetted and they carried out flexion tests. Unfortunately, he failed on these (1/10 lame) and they did not continue with the vetting.

 

[Equi]

They are still used as standard. A failed flexion is a failed vetting afaik

 

[ihatework]

They are standard part of vetting.
A failed flexion will at minimum be noted on a vetting, most likely fail a vetting. It may or may not impact the sale.

Any vendor refusing flexions I would walk away from. Any horse failing flexions from an open seller I wouldn’t automatically rule out.

 

[scats]

If I was buying a horse and having it vetted and the owner refused flexions, I’d walk away.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

When I had mine vetted it was nearly the vet who failed the flexion test . A tonne of Ginger heavy horse requires a strong vet.

Horse passed easily, vet recovered after a short break and a cold drink.

 

[Fluffypiglet]

I don't particularly like them. A million years ago I had a pony on loan who was as sound as anything but failed on flexion so missed out on a really nice new home. Remained sound and not sure where she was sold to in the end . But I really didn't agree the outcome at all. And I had no vested interest in the outcome as she didn't belong to me. Current horse had some really vicious flexion tests in his vetting, poor sod. I couldn't look and the person selling was horrified! However he passed completely sound (and I've had no issues to date - she says cautiously with everything crossed!) ?

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't buy a horse where the vendor refused flexions.

I've seen or done hundreds and the only horses I've seen lamed by them have had something wrong with them.
.

 

[LiquidMetal]

I personally don’t put a ton of faith in flexions because they are highly variable depending on who is performing them. However, I would walk away from any purchase where owner said they couldn’t be performed at all.

A few years ago, I read an article by a vet who did a very casual experiment after coming across some issues with flexions in a PPE. He would flex client’s horses as a baseline and then he would redo flexions. The second time he would hold for longer and put more pressure on joint. He could make about 96% of horses ‘fail’ based on second round of flexions. Even if they’d been perfectly sound the first time.

I’d still always have them done but I think they’re more valuable when not done to the extreme. If joint is moderately flexed for 1 min and horse comes out very lame, that’s more concerning to me than if a large male vet cranks the leg up for 2 minutes. I’d also probably trot away lame in that situation!

 

[poiuytrewq]

My absolute little hero coblet was for sale for £3750 years ago, sold, buyers had a vetting and he failed on a hind flexion.
The buyer pulled out and along came me!
We snapped him up for £1300 and he’s been the best horse ever. He did a bit of eventing, team chased, RC, hunted. He was a star.
He’s now 21 and the past year that hind leg has been a big contributer to his retirement but I’d never change having bought him. He’s the best little horse ever.

 

[GG13]

I’m another who would walk away if the seller refused to allow flexions.
I would add, if you do plan to refuse them, make sure to let potential buyers know this before they book the vetting. I would be very annoyed if I paid for a vetting and then found out flexions hadn’t been done as seller had refused them

 

[soloequestrian]

I wonder if it would be worth specifying only female vets allowed then! I just hate the concept of them (flexion tests, not female vets). It's interesting the comments about time the leg is held - I thought there was a standard amount of time?

 

[ycbm]

You would lose me a a buyer if you tried to influence my choice of vet in any way, SE, it would raise huge alarm bells about what you were afraid of.

 

[LiquidMetal]

If you’re concerned, why don’t you have a vet come and do flexions prior to listing horse for sale? Then you’ll know if you have anything to actually worry about. I’d also walk away if a buyer told me what vet I could use.

I don’t know what you’re planning to ask for price but my coach tells her clients who are asking higher prices to essentially do a PPE or soundness exam prior to listing horse. Then you can feel confident in the price you’re asking and that nothing is likely to show up on vetting.

 

[spacefaer]

Legs are held in flexion for 1 minute. The result depends hugely on the age, gender, experience and enthusiasm of the vet. I've had horses respond positively to one vet and give no reaction to a different vet the following day. I take them with a pinch of salt in the main. They're very subjective.

If a seller specified no flexions, I would walk away however. Massive red flag for me.