Hock injections in 6 year old

[welshcob101]

Hi, I am looking at buying a 6 year old irish sport horse, who has had his hocks injected with arthramid and depo medrone by his previous owners not the person who I am potentially buying him from. So the details of why this was done are a little hazey, they said he wasnt lame before having the injections but felt he was weak and 'not springy enough'. If I was to proceed I would have him 5 stage vetted and potentially x rays.
Just looking for peoples opinions and any advice
Thanks all

 

[ycbm]

I believe you may never be able to insure him for any hind end lameness problems, but if his x rays are completely clear I would buy him at the right price. I would want x rays of feet, fetlocks hocks and stifles in the hind legs. And while you're about that you might as well test for PSSM1, which is a hair root DNA test.
.

 

[SEL]

Mine had hocks investigated at 6 and the vets said that was very young for a low mileage horse - she turned out to have other issues.

Can you get a copy of the vet records from that time? I'd definitely want x rays because "not springy" at 5/6 raises alarm bells

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Second @SEL.. must be another reason surely, doesn’t sound very honest. My mare has had Arthramid injections due to having a chip removed from her hock, common in irish sport horses.

 

[AmyMay]

I wouldn’t entertain the prospect of buying a six year old with medicated hocks, unless it was under a grand and I was prepared to write that money off an issue did subsequently develop.

 

[millikins]

He's six and unless the owners who medicated were also his breeders he's had 3 homes. Sorry but I think the poor thing's a wrong 'un, why is the seller selling?

 

[Surbie]

I just wouldn't go there. As @millikins said, the horse has had at least 2 homes and is only 6. I'm assuming they've had the horse 6months+ so the horse would have been 5 or younger when treated? 'Not springy enough' isn't something you associate with a horse that young.

It just sounds like a lot of potential heartache and credit card use.

 

[Melody Grey]

If only 6 now, how much younger could this horse potentially have been at the time of injecting?

 

[Bellaboo18]

Its just no from me. How old was he when he was declared not springy enough?!

 

[Hollylee1989]

Sounds like they're hiding something, with not being clear on why. I think you're going the right way with wanting xrays etc. Go with your gut feeling

 

[twiggy2]

I wouldn't touch it,

 

[Glitter's fun]

Sounds dodgy to me. I wouldn't pay for x rays. Walk away. Sorry.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Sounds dodgy to me. I wouldn't pay for x rays. Walk away. Sorry.

Neither would I! If you really want a field ornament you can get one quite easily from one of the charities, without going to the expense of x-rays etc

 

[Sossigpoker]

I wouldn’t entertain the prospect of buying a six year old with medicated hocks, unless it was under a grand and I was prepared to write that money off an issue did subsequently develop.

You'd be surprised by how common hock arthritis is in 5-6 year old horses. You'd be lucky to find a horse with completely clean hock x-rays.

My boy is 9 and had his almost fused hock treated with Arthmid last winter and the result has been amazing.
The hocks having been medicated wouldn't concern me if the horse was currently going well.

 

[magicmoments]

Is it just me, but I find it incredibly sad that such young horses are having problems. In an older horse who's worked hard it is more understandable. What the hell is going wrong? Breeding from young horses before their soundness, and longevity has been proven, environmental factors, too much arena work? Sorry, perhaps I should start another thread, and not hijack this one.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Is it just me, but I find it incredibly sad that such young horses are having problems. In an older horse who's worked hard it is more understandable. What the hell is going wrong? Breeding from young horses before their soundness, and longevity has been proven, environmental factors, too much arena work? Sorry, perhaps I should start another thread, and not hijack this one.

Agreed it's sad and probably down to horses being worked too young and hard , poorly trained and cared for. My boy has juvenile arthritis though so not sure how much of that is down to (indiscriminate) breeding. He will have been trashed in Ireland too , which doesn't help.