Flexion tests

[Ali1000]

Can anyone give me some advise on flexion tests carried out at a pre purchase examination? Had a horse vetted and even though hasn't been lame in 8 years , was grades a 2 on a flexion test ? Vet has advise to recheck horse in couple weeks then re vet . Is the horse likely to pass ? Seems to be a grey area with vettings?
Thanks

 

[be positive]

You do not make it clear if you are buying or selling.
They are a very grey area, I have bought and sold horses that have "failed" on flexion in varying degrees, they are so differently interpreted by vets that they are a confusing part of the vetting process to say the least.

If buying I would, depending on the purpose, either get xrays done to have a proper picture, walk away if I had concerns or if only for low level work if I felt happy to do so offer a lower price and buy anyway but you need experience to make this choice plus the expectation of keeping the horse for life.
A client of mine bought a horse several years age that failed, we decided to go ahead anyway and when he was sold 2 years later he flew through with the vet saying how good he was for a 15 year old he showed no reaction to flexions at all, so what did the first vet do to him, we had never treated him or wrapped him in cotton wool, he was bought to keep forever but as often happens things change and he had to go, he was sold to a super home for good money.

If selling I would probably either give the horse an easy time for the first week, get him shod to make sure his feet are 100% not causing a problem, I have seen poor shoeing unbalance one enough that it failed, reshod it passed 2 weeks later, then put it back for the vetting as requested. Option 2 I would get my own vet out to assess and take advice on what to do, it may mean there are signs of something happening that needs treatment before you can put back on the market.

 

[Ali1000]

Sorry only just seen reply! We are buying , after speaking to the vet again she stopped the 5 stage vetting at 2 stage because after flexion test and then let house rest it was still lame once trotted. Vet concerns are because of this there might be an under lying problem especially as it was just one leg. Perfect horse otherwise, but don't want to chance only having it for 6 weeks then breaks.

 

[chestnut cob]

If you really like the horse then I'd probably get it vetted again in a couple of weeks. Has the seller's vet seen the horse since to investigate what could be going on? Maybe ask them to have their farrier check it out too, in case there's something brewing in the foot.

If it fails again second time then I think I would walk away. Having got a horse who spends half of his time being lame with various arthritic conditions (hence buying a baby who thankfully sailed through his 5 stage vetting) I wouldn't chance buying one who fails flexion tests.

 

[sarahhowen]

Personally (and I will probably get flamed for this) I'm not a fan of vettings,i have seen sound horses fail flexion tests as they had been flexed to aggressively and lame horses pass as they have not been flexed correctly! If this horse is perfect in all other ways would the seller let you take the horse on a trial period (with a legal agreement in place) we did it with Indi when we brought him, paid a deposit and then had him for 6 weeks and paid the balance at that point, if at anytime he had come up unsound due to a pre existing condition we could of returned him at any point and got a full refund.