Heavies and Flexion tests

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MissMincePie&Brandy

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I think I'm about to give up and keep cats instead :(
3rd horse vetted. 3rd horse failed :( The latest horse I REALLY liked though.

Would you have bought a 6yr old who went 3 tenths lame on a hind leg flexion test for about 4 strides in trot, and then became sound again?
I was quite upset and we repeated the flexion tests again, at the end of the 5 stage vetting, with the same result.

The horses I've had fail flexion tests are big at around 17hh and slightly heavier types. ID cosses, and a shire cross. My vet said often the bigger, heavier types are likelier to show wear and tear in older age, and more likely to develop bone spavins and ringbone than your lighter sport horse or Tb types in the same work. However the horses I've been looking at have been 5 and 6 years old.

Have I just had bad luck?
 
My friend bought a TB (never raced) that failed flexion tests on three legs. She negotiated a vastly reduced price and decided to take a gamble. He was sound for the three years that she owned him and competed at a low level regularly.

When she came to sell him, he failed the flexion test on the only leg that had passed before, the other three legs (previously failed) passed! The buyer bought him anyway and the last I heard he was still doing low level competitions with no soundness issues.
 
Yes, I am tempted to have him, but the trouble is I already have a retired 9yr old (who passed his vetting), but within 2 years of that, has since developed psd in his right hock, amongst other ailments. There is another young, semi retired horse on our yard with bone spavin (he hacks, but no longer can compete at even low level dressage) and I'm worried that if arthritic changes are happening already, 5 years of daily road work, and dressage with me would finish him off?

If I didn't already have a 9yr old retired horse, I would probably be more inclined to take the risk and have him though, I think.
 
Going against the vetting result is a risk, I fully understand your reasons for not wanting to take that risk.

Hopefully the next horse you like, will pass the vetting and remain sound for many years to come. :D
 
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