Hind flexion tests?

[Polo*Pony]

Hi all,

Just after a bit of advice about what hind flexion tests are, what they show and what they might indicate. I don't know much about them but have heard that they're not always reliable.

The reason I'm asking is that I saw an advert this morning for a horse which I’m really keen on. However, he recently showed to be 1/10th lame on a hind flexion test. I meant to phone my vet this morning with my questions, but haven’t had chance. I'm not sure how lame they have to be to record anything, but 1/10 doesn't sound too bad - am I naive here? I also can’t help wondering why the tests were done in the first place... Could there have been some initial lameness the advert doesn’t mention?

I want the horse for BSJA and I wouldn’t be too put off if I went to see him and he jumped round nicely. However, I’m worried about the future – does this slight lameness (how severe is 1/10?) a possible indicator that bigger problems will develop later?

All advice gratefully received, thank you

 

[happy_talk]

1/10th is the mildest form of lameness- however, it is a lameness and therefore the horse is most likely in pain and something is causing that. Have you spoken to the vendor? The horse has probably either been vetted and found 1/10th lame, or something else has been seen to be wrong and the vet called for a lameness examination, but the latter should have been investigated further. Some vets can be very "hard" on the flexion tests, others easier. However the grading of lameness is also subjective.
Apart from buying a horse with a potential problem from the start, you may have problems insuring the (whole) horse. If you're interested speak to vendor and if still interested ask to speak to their vet.