Found my dream horse... but she has a sarcoid - what would you do?

[Showjumper17]

Hi!

So I have been horse shopping for almost a year now. I no longer live in the UK & the horse market here is crazy right now. Everything is overpriced and super far away.

I finally found a mare who I thought was perfect. She is bred the same as my "dream horse", whom I currently am lucky enough to ride but is not for sale & if he were, would be well out of budget! Safe to say, I loved everything about her, but then I found out she has an occular sarcoid on her face, which I believe would be covered by the bridle. Seller says she has been riding the horse 4x a week since March with no problems. It is small, flat and grey, but I am concerned due to its location. She is 3. I had plans to go visit and potentially bring her home last weekend, but I postponed until I figure this out. I have read and read and ultimately it seems like a gamble as to whether it would be totally fine or may be a nightmare. I have also spoken to two vets, one didn't seem concerned, the other just said it would be a gamble but if you really like the horse then it may be worth it. Obviously she is "reasonably" priced (for this market!).

I have a gelding I am also interested in but after looking at the mare, my heart just isn't in it. He's a lovely horse from what I can tell, but again, with the distance, I have to go off videos. This has been a long road and i'm exhausted. I'm in two minds whether to just give up and wait until after winter, but theres no guarantee on the market next year. I had my heart set on being able to go out and do something again after winter (COVID permitting...).

Anyway, what would you do?

 

[TheMule]

A sarcoid at 3 wouldn’t particularly bother me- me 3 year old homebred has one on his neck, but my vet has said they often just go away at this age as the immune system deals with them.
So long as the price takes it into account and you otherwise like the horse

 

[ycbm]

Tough one. I'm very gung ho about sarcoids in general, but I don't think i would buy with one on the face. There's just no depth of flesh to do anything about it if it goes bad.

You would also have to take the risk that the stress of moving home might make her pop out more.

When my current 5 year old was 3 and 4 he threw out more every time he got stressed about something. I had another 6 years ago which was the same.
.

 

[Buster2020]

A sarcoid would not put me off.

 

[Lamehorses]

I'd run away, had very bad experience with sarcoids

 

[meleeka]

One flat one wouldn’t make me not buy her as long as the price reflected the future vet bills.
I’d she’s worth the gamble, which it sounds like she is, go for it!

 

[L&M]

An ocular sarcoid wouldn't put me off.....a nodular one would be more likely too.

My old horse had several ocular ones that never caused an issue in the 8yrs I owned him. I sold him on and the buyer had no issues with them either, but did price him to reflect the sarcoids, so something to bare in mind.

 

[Gingerwitch]

I'd run away, had very bad experience with sarcoids

The sarcoid would not bother me, but the age was she broken in at would bother me more x

 

[Showjumper17]

The sarcoid would not bother me, but the age was she broken in at would bother me more x

Ugh believe me, I've had a hard time coming to terms with the difference over here!

 

[Marigold4]

I wouldn't buy her. If she developed one later, I would deal with it, but my rule is - don't buy trouble. The location under her bridle would bother me as if it flares up and needs weeks of treatment, you potentially can't ride. But another consideration for me is that vets seem more and more of the opinion that these are spread by flies and I would feel terrible if my other horses developed a sarcoid from my decision to buy.

 

[ycbm]

The sarcoid would not bother me, but the age was she broken in at would bother me more x

It's completely normal in the UK to break horses in at three and ride them 4 times a week. I wouldn't want to see it schooled for an hour at a time, but the age itself wouldn't bother me, I've broken all my 3 year olds.

And had threads about this on the past. There is no evidence that it does any harm, and some that it does some good.
.

 

[rara007]

A sarcoid under where tack goes especially on the face would be a no from me.

 

[Gingerwitch]

It's completely normal in the UK to break horses in at three and ride them 4 times a week. I wouldn't want to see it schooled for an hour at a time, but the age itself wouldn't bother me, I've broken all my 3 year olds.

And had threads about this on the past. There is no evidence that it does any harm, and some that it does some good.
.

Your horses your choice, but not one I agree with.

 

[Bernster]

Can I ask what you decided in the end OP?

 

[Sossigpoker]

It's completely normal in the UK to break horses in at three and ride them 4 times a week. I wouldn't want to see it schooled for an hour at a time, but the age itself wouldn't bother me, I've broken all my 3 year olds.

And had threads about this on the past. There is no evidence that it does any harm, and some that it does some good.
.

Is it? IME the good ones back them lightly at rising 4 and then turn away to mature.
I would have a problem with a 3 year old being ridden 4 times a week. Add to that a sarcoid under tack area- it would be a no from me. I will never again buy a horse with a problem.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I think I’d buy. I’ve dealt with sarcoids so if it wasn’t huge, I’d do it.

 

[stormox]

Buy it. A sarcoid wouldnt be a major concern of mine.

 

[oldie48]

Conscious that this thread is a couple of weeks old now but fwiw I bought my horse with an occult sarcoid on the inner thigh, she threw what appeared to be another one on her muzzle but that disappeared quite quickly. The one on her thigh has disappeared too. I think it's really tricky if it is going to get rubbed by tack and unless I had a pretty decent discount on the price, I'd probably walk away. I fed turmeric, have no idea if that helped but it's cheap and made me feel as if I was doing something.