Forward in the knee - Buy or leave well alone?!

VictoriaEDT

VictoriaEDT

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www.equinedental.co.uk
Hello

I have been offered a horse (no cost) who is 5years ols ID X TB 17.2hh. The lady who offered him to me bought him a year ago with a passed 5 stage vetting for eventing and noticed recently that his gait was changing so had a vet investigate. He told her he had a very minor suspensory injury (due to her beginning jumping small x poles) caused by a conformational defect as he is forward in the knee. The vet has said he will be fine for hacking but not eventing.

Now my problem, do I take him on? I only want a horse as a companion for my boy as we are moving to a house with land. I would want to hack but not compete. I want to give this boy a second chance but dont want to take on a horse that will cost lots in regular vet visits (at such a young age too) and incur related compensatory injuries.

Does anyone know horses that are forward in the knee due to conformation and are doing well? Any help would be really appreciated!!

Thanks

Victoria
 
I would have him - but then I have re-homed an ailment prone ex racer to the detriment of my finances. In saying that, my Mum re-homed one with handicap knees who has been absolutely fantastic & 100% sound. Could you get another vets opinion? Sorry but I know very litttle about the condition myself.
 
I'd get him too. I'm sure I heard that this isn't too bad a fault to have... could be thinking so something else though!
 
I had a horse that was over at the knee, it caused him no problems, he was a racehorse and retired at 5, is now happy hacking and doing local shows, if you are only hacking a confirmation fault like that wont be a problem.

I would go for it!
 
I've always been lead to believe that over at the knee is usually more desirable than back at knee.

Horses slightly over at the knee tend to have more space for the tendons meaning they are less likely to suffer such injuries. (Of course this is only what I've been lead to believe which must've come from magazines or books as I can't call where I heard it)
 
Most TBS are over at the knee, years ago someone decided it meant speed so they bred it firmly into them. It wouldnt worry me in the slightest.
What would worry me is the suspensory injury. I wouldnt take on a horse that has had less than a years minimum field rest. They are an absolute pain in the a55 to get right and keep right. Out of all the injuries they are the most likely to keep recurring.
 
Has this supposed supensory injury actually been diagnosed by th vet with ultrasound? Anyway I really would get a second opinion cos any vet who says that being over at the knee has caused this problem is a bit of a muppet. Take that with a pinch of salt.

As Vicijp says, there are hundreds of racehorses that are over at the knee. I also had a eventer that was horribly over at the knee& has never had a days lameness and he has evented every season for 12 years now including 4x 3 day events always passing the trot ups.

Sounds a good horse just get a second opinion on this tendon!
 
hunters and race horses are prefered slightly over at the knee ( proper hunters if you know what i mean show hunters prefered to be nicely shaped) supposed to help stop them damaging tendons so easily ! i think slightly is ok, drastic over at the knee looks very bizzare

foreleg%20drawings.jpg


G. Line dissects knee, cannon & fetlock - Correct

H. Calf kneed

I. Over at knee
 
Thank you guys.

Yes I was worried about the amount of time he had off due to the suspensory injury. My boy at the moments ripped his SL in his hind leg about 8 years ago; had a year off and about 2 years ago damaged it again in the field (as they do!) and now is only able to hack.

He is in Lancashire and I am in Liphook Hampshire so I will have to find a good lameness vet up there (wish I could post Stuart - my vet up there!!!).
 
My old mare had over the knee and old bony tissue, she did everything from PC/ RC eventing to Hunting...at the same time she also had navicular, i had great 6 years with her until she was put down at 19ish from completely different problem, She was Anglo Arab.
 
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