grey horses - melanomas - would you buy a grey?

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silverstar

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Following on from the article in H&H

Ive had one grey horse who was 15 by the time he went on loan and he had some melanomas under his tail but given that they can occur anywhere on the body would you buy a grey horse?
 
I've had two greys. One is now 23 and she has never had a melanoma. My other grey is 11 and melanoma free. I've had a palomino and two bays and they've caused me far more grief than my greys.
 
I've bought LOTS of them - and bred more! The oldest is 21 - plus a couple at 19 - and none of them have melanomas. So yes - I would. The vast majority of melanomas in greys are under the tail - and the majority cause no problems until a horse is of advanced years. There are SO many things that can go wrong - that the risk of melanomas - even in greys - is well down my list of things to avoid.
 
i have a grey that is 30 and has a couple under her tail but they've been there for years, not changed at all and dont cause any issues. my friends grey died at 15 and he ended up being covered in them inside and out, he was put down because of them
 
Yep, I have a 22yr old gray, he has a melenoma under his tail, otherwise he's fine. I check it regularly to check its not any bigger or changed shape etc. I've known other greys where old age got to them before their melenomas did.
 
The possibility of melanomas wouldn't stop me buying a grey

The prospect of keeping the damn thing clean might make me think twice :)
 
not my favourite colour due to keeping clean, but yes, I would. Many years ago I worked for a guy who collected the bloody things and ALL had to be kept spotless. Put me off forever!
 
i have three of them, both molly and bruce are 16, molly has none neither does bruce, and then theres taz, at five, who also has none but is prone to small sarcoids. But no the thought of melanomas wouldnt put me off buying another grey unless they had a history of them already, then i wouldnt. Keeping them clean is a nightmare but they look stunning when sparkling clean! :D
 
Mine doesnt have a single one so I would buy a grey - I also know a few greys, none have them! In fact I know far more bays with sarcoids than greys with anything at all!
 
I have a rose grey arab (now very white), no melanomas, never had any skin issues. I have more problems with her chestnut daughter who has a pink nose (thank heaven for fly masks with the nose attachments, works much better than sunblock)
 
I knew of a lovely grey pony who was on loan to a friend a while ago, he had quite a few melanomas which did caused him problems at times but he was still able to compete, sadly he lost his life just over a week ago, I think due to the melanomas.

I would be put me off if I knew a horse had them but it wouldn't put me off greys.
 
Mine doesnt have any atall and shes 15. To keep her clean - deep bed of shavings, Stain Remover spray and warm water with sponge, works a treat!!
 
I love greys, currently have two. One, Foxy is now 22, he had a small melanoma between his back legs when we bought his as a 3 year old and over the years he has developed a few more under his tail and on his sheath but I keep an eye on them and get the vet to check them annually when he has his boosters and they have never caused any problems.

It certainly wouldn't put me off buying another grey and I've never regretted buying Fox.
 
It depends, I wouldn't be put off if the horse was right for me, as plenty of greys may never get melanomas, or they may only be small and the horses are not affected.

I knew a grey who was in a lot of pain for a while, horribly thin, diarrhoea etc....on post mortem he was found to be absolutely riddled with melanomas all through his intestines, poor lad :(

The main thing that puts me off is trying to keep the damn things clean :)
 
Having lost my first pony to them (sleep tight William, I'll never forget you love) I can honestly say that I would never have another. Every lump or bump would have me worried, I just couldn't cope with that again.
 
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