Have you ever bought a horse without doing a vetting?

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baymareb

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Just curious. I actually bought Bella without doing one. Silly, I know and luckily it turned out fine as she is pretty much perfect in every way and my vet has since pronounced her sound and suitable for about anything I want to do.

Just wondering if others have taken the chance and what sort of luck you've had with it.

(as for my reason for not doing it, it was purely foolish emotion - I fell in love with her and bought her on the spot :o )
 
I bought mine without a vetting, thoroughly looked over him myself though and trotted him about didn't see anything abnormal (although that's no excuse). We were told by the dealer he had someone else coming to view him in an hour for the 2nd time and was sure they would take him if we didn't there and then, so we bought him there and then although It's probably something they all say to get a quick sale!
 
Frube said:
Have to admit i'v never had a horse vetted.
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Me neither, although all but Shambles (shetland brought in 1982) Juno, was only told that her pasterns were so sloping that she'd break down - she did, but nearly 20 years later! (welsh/arab brought in 1993) Sunny (TB, brought in 1994) and Meg (mine on loan in 2000, brought in 2002) have been on loan. Never really had a problem, although Sunny's feet were very odd, and this was his downfall.
 
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After buying a horse with Navicular, then next one got Ringbone soon after, I was badgered by my friend to have the next one vetted, so I did. He failed miserably on LF flexion. I walked away but went back and bought him a couple of weeks later. Touching wood frantically, that was 8 yrs ago and hes never had a problem.
I think it depends on the price of the horse really. I would definately have an expensive horse vetted. Its ok saying its insured but if something is majorly wrong but doesnt warrant PTS then you are left with a horse that is a field ornament. Suppose thats same whether expensive or not, I better shut up waffling :D:D
 
I didn't when I bought Lil but I would in normal circumstances.

Lil is a very well bred WB mare that I bought very cheaply from the field. I didn't see much point getting her vetted from the field as she was not fit so you're not going to see the full picture. With her breeding I could sell her for that much as a broodmare if she turned out lame and I was buying her from another client of my instructor so I was fairly confident that they weren't lying about lameness or any health issues.
 
Never had a horse vetted. They aren't worth the paper they are written on. i.e was selling a connemara, first vetting vet failed with servere COPD. Had another person have it vetted two days later and passed with flying colours, vet even commented on how clear the lungs were!!!!! :eek:

Another intance, vet says horse was not 100% symmetrical behind, vetted week later and passed with no mention of it.

Also had a mare with lump in neck. Buyer was aware but did not tell vet before vetting - Vet did not even pick up on it!

Another, pony had splint, vet did not pick up another vetting did. It's just a matter of opinion and if the vet is gutsy enough to say yes go for it! Vets can make the silliest thing sound life threatening!

Vetting really are not worth it. You shouls take someone with you who at least would be able to pick up on lameness etc. My friend bought a horse for £15000, passed 5 stage vet, two weeks later went lame, further tests showed navicular which would only show on xrays - She had no come back as vetting only for the day only.
 
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I didn't have my first pony vetted, because I couldn't afford it! I rode her for nearly an hour when I tried her out and everything seemed to be fine, so I bought her! Didn't have any problems with her at all

Didn't have my new lad vetted cos I didn't see the point, I bought him from the YO and am keeping him at the yard, so if there's anything wrong with him... well I know where they live LOL he's not had any major problems while I've had him...
 
We bought Cappy without a vetting and have had no problems at all *touch wood* However I did have Fany vetted and would always get them vetted from now on, it is worth the money because I am not an expert in conformation etc.
 
I just bought a horse that i had 5 stage vetted. She passed :) After 3 weeks at home she developed a sacroiliac injury, my instructor pointed out that she has muscle wastage, suggesting shes had this injury before and the vet on the vetting failed to mention this would be a problem and now shes suspected of having wobblers too. So a disaster all around.

I wouldnt get a horse vetted again. In all honesty, if youre going to have bad luck, youre going to have bad luck

Its sad but true :(
 
I wasn't going to bother with a vetting but I just did a two-stage because everyone said I was stupid not to. So just for a piece of mind really, would've bought her either way!
I was having a chat to the vets receptionist and she actually says she never does either!!
 
Nope never had a horse vetted, my last one cost £3500 and just didnt feel the need, I checked her over trotted on hard surface saw her tightly lunged no lameness, so bought her 6 months on and she has jsut gone from strength to strength, I saved about £350 so happy. If I cant judge the horse im viewing then I would wonder if I should be!
Spoke to a very good vet friend who basically told me they arent worth the paper written on, she has vetted and passed many horses who went lame the next day, or had a reaction etc the day after and before the horse was collected, nothing can be done as passed vetting, so buyers generally lose out on there deposits. She also said flexion tests are a joke when are they a natural postion? a horse only ever tucks it legs up like that for a matter of seconds whilst jumping. She said next time you go for a run hold your leg back tight for 1 minute then run and see if you can do it!
So no never have a honestly never ever will, just lining vets pockets, in my opinion.
 
I've never had a horse vetted. My old boy would never have passed with tendons the shape they are, but it doesn't affect him and he is now 20 years old, still sound and acting like an 8 year old.

I didn't get my 8 year old mare vetted when i bought her in April, and she is now seriously ill, however what she has wouldn't have been picked up on a vetting, so it was irrelevant really!
 
:o I don't think I have ever bought one with a vetting to be honest. I never buy anything very valuable and don't require them to be more than averagely athletic, also, the going rate for a pre-purchase exam is in the region of $500 plus gas. More than I pay for some horses!

If I get it wrong then I pay for the consequences.

A Vetting, even one with all the bells and whistles, is only good for the day it is done, who is to guarantee that the horse won't go and tweak something in the paddock before collection? Who is responsible then, the seller? The buyer? I am sure that's happened.
 
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I didn't get Harry vetted, mainly because I was very naive when buying him and was following my heart and not my head bt it has all turned out fine. He was only 18 months when I bought him and he's now 3, had no problems and hopefully won't do when it comes to breaking him next year. No signs of anything so not really worried :)
 
It is such a minefield that I could never recommend to anyone to forego a vetting. I seldom follow my own advice and have bought several unseen without a vetting, 4 from the USA, 2 from Canada, 1 from Holland and also 1 from Northern Ireland, seen but no vetting. Never had a single problem with any of them. Still have them all and wouldn't part with any of them for any amount of money. They were all exactly what I expected them to be, as described by their reputable owners and from their pics and videos. Sadly, not everyone in the horse world is as reputable.
 
YES! This is probably been coincidence but my horse purchasing has been as follows:
O - vetted, totally wrong for me. (Not physical problem I know)
S - vetted, went back 3 days later, couldn't get near him whatsoever and dealer swapped him for
D - not vetted, bet pony I could have hopped for!
M - not vetted, as above, awesome
J - vetted, turned out to be unsound and slightly nuts :p
M - Not vetted, easily the best horse we have ever owned, or pony of a lifetime.
C - vetted. Dangerous, couldn't even pay anyone to get on him (oddly he was quiet as a lamb when we went to see him :/
W - vetted, never should have passed ( I have vet's confirmation on this as issues were long standing) and has recently had fairly heft ops to resolve said issues.
L - not vetted. Legend, hasn't had any problems nor has he put a foot wrong.


I know, it's more than likely a fluke, but I can't help but think I really shouldn't bother. Esp after having Worm vetted and passing despite problems that have been there for years and made her come up lame on flexion tests. . .
 
Im glad i am reading all these posts as im actually thinking about buying a horse who has a 5 stage vetting 4 months ago and passed. For those of you who do not have the horses vetted, does this affect your insurance premium if you have not had them vetted?
 
enfys said:
A Vetting, even one with all the bells and whistles, is only good for the day it is done, who is to guarantee that the horse won't go and tweak something in the paddock before collection? Who is responsible then, the seller? The buyer? I am sure that's happened.
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Having my potential new horse vetted tomorrow and going with my trailer.

So nervous... Wish I was just picking him up! He was vetted when he came over from Ireland earlier in the year though and had a clean sheet... So FINGERS CROSSED!!
 
I don't really know what to do now:confused:

I'm getting my mare in Nov, she passed a 5 stage vetting when her current owner bought her and her owner has been very honest with me. She doesn't appear lame... Vets have quoted me £220 for 5 stage vetting. She's 6 and has a 4 month foal.

I know it's my choice but should I get her vetted?
 
Further to my previous post, 4 were colts and 4 were mares/fillies. All 4 of the colts passed their vetting for stallion licensing with flying colours after I'd bought them and they had arrived in this country. The mares/fillies have never seen a vet and have never had any problems.
 
I bought my lad without.
So far no probs, but to be honest he is so nutty at times i wonder if anyone could actually keep his heart rate in check to do a vetting properly!
Vet checked him over when he came to me, fit for purpose, only thing (which i had picked up myself) was his old tendon injury, never caused him a prob in 3 years!
If I was paying a substantial amount i would consider a vetting, but to be fair heard that many stories of ppl finding probs days after 5* vettings have been done that i can honestly say i may risk it in future too!!
 
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