Help! 5yr old failed flexion test.

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bugsylugs

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I've just had an extremely well bred 5yr old mare 5* vetted. She passed evrything with flying colours except flexion of a hind leg. The vet said she had windgalls on both hinds and this is probably why. She was sound under saddle in all paces including after a gallop and being trotted on the lunge on hard ground. She said she could stay like that forever and be perfectly fine or it could become OCD or she might need her annular ligament cut if it became bad. Really confused as not a definitive answer.

I'm now thinking of having her scanned to see if anything else shows up. Anyone else had this kind of experience or could shed some light??? Now in a battle of heart vrs head!!! Need some unbiased opinions!!!
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If you really like the horse I would get a second (vet) opinion.


Will prob get slaughtered for saying this but flexion tests are really not the be all and end all.
 
Depends what you want to do with her.
Mine failed the flexion too, but I was already in love and only hack/riding club so I bought her anyway. IMO flexion tests aren't much cop. Yes they may show up major problems but I'm sure if you held Kelly Holmes' leg up for several minutes then made her run she'd be a bit wobbly too, I know I certainly would be!!
 
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IF the horse was perfect in all other ways then I would scan AND xray the limb and if it was ok then haggle VERY hard for a reduction in ££

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Why if scan and xray all ok would you then want to haggle hard for a reduction? Anyone with a bit of knowledge can make a horse go lame on flexion
 
Failing a flexion test isn't the end of the world. But if I was looking for a competition horse I would expect a 5 year old to sail through on all four limbs.

If you are likely to want to sell the horse in the future, someone is going to ask has she ever shown up lame/failed a flexion and you'd have to be straight with them.

You could ask for a repeat test another day or pay for x-rays. If she's that tidly bred I opt for that.

But personally I'd walk away for every one that fails there's dozens out there that pass their 5* vetting with no problems.
 
Really tough situation to be in...I bought a horse that had failed the flexion test and had him for the rest of his life (competition all rounder, points BSJA & BD) without any issues on that leg, then bought a horse that passed its vetting without a single note only to be PTS because of double stifle OCD. Vettings have to be taken in context, if you like her give her two weeks off and vet to see what happens.
 
I guess it depends what you want the horse for?

My immediate reaction on reading your post was 'don't buy it' but then I thought well it depends. Obviously, if you are thinking of ever re selling in the future, you will have this problem and therefore may find that you are stuck with this horse forever.

When I was looking for my boy, I had one fail on the flexion test. He also had a skin condition and the vet (a friend of a good friend) advised me against buying. I kept looking and found my wonderful horse I have now and am so glad
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I think you should keep looking, you will find something even better I'm sure!
 
I think flexion tests are very hit and miss and on its own it wouldn't necesarily stop me from buying the horse - it would depend on other factors, including cost, whether you could afford treatment / field ornament if it did progress into something, and the vet's opinion (if I trusted my vet!)
 
Why has a 5yr old got windgalls already?! TBH I would be very weary... a young horse failing flexions isnt good news! However, if you really like her, get her X-rayed or get a second opinion.
 
If someone bent my leg up and then asked me to run in a straight line I wouldnt be sound either !!!

Honestly get a second opinion and go from there. Vets are being so cautious these days, and I dont blame them with the compensation trend at the moment.

Nothing is definate with any vetting really, good luck. It must be equally frustrating for the vendor, can you imagine
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would it not bring up exclusions on the insurance though? That would surely be another thing to consider as most insurance comapnies (decent ones anywway) would want a 5*vetting for a horse over a certain value??
 
As you say 'the' vet i'm assuming it wasn't 'your' vet?
If so, get your own vet to take a look. He knows you and what you want from a horse, and is more likely to assess from your point of view. Plus he will be more likely to give his opinion, which 'vetting vets' aren't really supposed to do.
 
flexion tests are cr*p and don't prove a horse has or hasn't got any issues.

if i liked the horse i would buy it anyway for leisure or competition work and the flexion test wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

my friend sold her horse and it failed a vetting on flexion tests, next week with a different vet passed with flying colours! A LOT depends on the vet doing the tests

and as for a 5yro having windgalls, i may mention it to get a discount but other than that it wouldn't bother me- didn't King William have a bog spavin when Mary King bought him???
 
We bought our then 4yr old after failing on flexion test. We wanted to event and so vet failed her! We went ahead anyway ,she did a couple of intros but it wasn't for her. she is now up to med dressage.
The downside is she was not insured on that leg for FIVE years.
Now 12 and no problems!!!
 
Personally I wouldn't be put off if a horse failed a flexion test. If I was spending a serious amount of money then I would get x-rays/scans and a second vet to re-do the flexion test.
 
My horse failed miserably as a 4 yr old on his LF on a flexion test. I walked away but couldnt get him out of my head and went back and bought him. He wasnt mega money so I took the risk. He is 10 now and has not had a problem, touching wood.
He also has windgalls on his hind legs and has had them years.
Its a tough one.
 
whilst i am not that convinced about the flexion tests the concern for me is if you wanted to re-sell in the future- my friend bought a horse which failed flexions (and had no problems with him in 4 years) but then when she came to sell she lost a few buyers after he failed flexions again- ended up taking bargain basement price for him. i'd be a little bit more concerned about the windgalls TBH- how has she got these at 5 years old?
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Vet reckons it could be a tight annular ligament causing fluid build up around the tendon sheath. Talking to the owner today to see if she'll agree to a scan etc. Gutted as she is an almost perfect 5yr old with looks, breeding, action and temperament to die for.
 
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