Horrible viewing...

It does sound as though the daughter was unacceptably rude.

However I wouldn't dream of asking to do a flexion test myself, and would have turned you down flat too.
 
Agree with the others - would never allow anyone but a vet to do a flexion test on my horse, but she was unduly rude. I'd just say I wasn't going to allow that, but you were welcome to arrange a 5 stage vetting.
 
Moomin1 said:
Nobody, I don't care how experienced they are/think they are should be doing a flexion test other than a qualified vet.
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Moomin1 do you think owners should be allowed to flexion test their own horses?

I do them every few months on my horse with spavins to assure myself that the non prescription meds I am giving him for his joints are keeping him pain free.

I do every horse before I put one up for sale to make sure I'm not going to put someone to the expense of a vet for a horse that won't pass. Not too close to the vetting though, you can cause a failure that way by sensitizing them to the next test.
 
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cptrayes said:
Seriously? You don't think that people should be allowed to flexion test their own horses? Why not?


I do them every few months on my horse with spavins to assure myself that the non prescription meds I am giving him for his joints are keeping him pain free.

I do every horse before I put one up for sale to make sure I'm not going to put someone to the expense of a vet for a horse that won't pass. Not too close to the vetting though, you can cause a failure that way.
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I don't agree with it that's all. I think there is a risk of any Tom, Dick or Harry performing them on their horses and causing problems.

I also don't 100% agree that a flexion test is proof of a horse being unsound/sound anyway.
 
When buying our most recent horse we went for miles looking and eventually found her 20 mins away. Keep on trying and you will know as soon as you see " the one"
 
Moomin1 said:
I don't agree with it that's all. I think there is a risk of any Tom, Dick or Harry performing them on their horses and causing problems.

I also don't 100% agree that a flexion test is proof of a horse being unsound/sound anyway.
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A flexion test shows differences between joints on different legs the horse may be sound but if there's a difference between one side and the other there's a reason.
If buying a young horse I would always walk a away from a young one showing a marked difference between sides , older ones it's a judgement call.
 
Moomin1 said:
I also don't 100% agree that a flexion test is proof of a horse being unsound/sound anyway.
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It isn't. The country is littered with horses who've failed vettings on a flexion and still been sound years later. I'd want them on any horse I paid for a vetting for, though I've never been cheeky enough to ask to do them myself on a horse I don't own :p
 
cptrayes said:
It isn't. The country is littered with horses who've failed vettings on a flexion and still been sound years later. I'd want them on any horse I paid for a vetting for, though I've never been cheeky enough to ask to do them myself on a horse I don't own :p
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Agree. I had a 5 stage vetting done on mine and she was sound as a pound and still is. But I have known so many fail and then remain sound for years and years.

What I do worry about with mine is that she plaits outwards behind - doesn't interfere in anyway but I do worry that because she is 16.3 and hunter build she will be a bit more prone later on.:(
 
Moomin1 said:
Agree. I had a 5 stage vetting done on mine and she was sound as a pound and still is. But I have known so many fail and then remain sound for years and years.

What I do worry about with mine is that she plaits outwards behind - doesn't interfere in anyway but I do worry that because she is 16.3 and hunter build she will be a bit more prone later on.:(
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Something gets them all in the end just enjoy every minute with them that all you can do .
My first horse had horrendous front legs although she did have one bout of lameness when about fifteen but ahe worked for us for sixteen years ( I got her at five)they caught up with her in the end but we had a wonderful time together.
 
I don't know much about flexion tests- a pony I sold had a vet out that did one but as a rule my knowledge is limited. Why is it so bad for someone who isn't a vet to do one? It seemed pretty straight forward to my unknowledgable eye?
 
Sounds like said daughter had PMT or something. I agree OP, definitely NOT the way to behave regardless of whether the horse was sound, unsound or she positively loathed flexion tests!

Personally I'd have
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her before leaving for the return 6 hr drive home!
 
cptrayes said:
I have been asked only once in selling quite a few horses. I refused and the potential buyer was really put out and expected me to trust her that her vet said she could do them. I said the horse was open to vet but she couldn't do them herself. I think that's probably a normal reaction, from the posts on here.
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I would have done the same - a polite refusal but offer to consult a vet. I think the kind of response is the key, here, though. I don't like flexion tests, either, but to swear profanities at a potential buyer is just odd.
 
No excuse for rudeness, that alone would have made me walk away, no matter how far I had driven.
As for allowing you to perform a flexion test, that would be a definate no no I'm afraid. If I were selling a horse and a potential customer wanted a vet to perform a flexion test, I would consider allowing it, although I personally question the usefullness of the test.
 
vieshot said:
I don't know much about flexion tests- a pony I sold had a vet out that did one but as a rule my knowledge is limited. Why is it so bad for someone who isn't a vet to do one? It seemed pretty straight forward to my unknowledgable eye?
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It is pretty straightforward, but the interpretation is everything. In order to interpret the result properly you have to know how hard you put the test on, and then make a judgement against all sorts of factors how many, if any, lame steps are allowable. That isn't something I'd be prepared to let someone else do to a horse of mine if I was selling.

It has become widely believed that it is "easy" to lame a horse with a flexion test. That's not my experience, I've never lamed one yet that was not lame when I started, and I generally put them on really hard. But what I think it does indicate is just how many horses, especially on fronts (is my impression) will fail a flexion on a vetting and yet live a long and sound life
 
Alot of people seem to be missing the OP's point - she merely ASKED if she could do a flexion test and therefore was prepared for a refusal. She didn't march up and grab the horse's leg or something. Her complaint is about the attitude and rudeness of the girl selling the horse and nothing else.
 
fatpiggy said:
Alot of people seem to be missing the OP's point - she merely ASKED if she could do a flexion test and therefore was prepared for a refusal. She didn't march up and grab the horse's leg or something. Her complaint is about the attitude and rudeness of the girl selling the horse and nothing else.
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Mind you, it's interesting to note the bad feeling towards flexion tests these days! Very enlightening :)
 
Yeah I know what you mean Spyder. I hadnt heard of issues with them before this forum.

I do think you need to trust to vet advice though as I am in no way qualified to know. I spoke to my vet from the rvc and she said they should be done on a 5 stage. A sound horse will pass a flexion test was her view. She did say its just a snap shot on the day and she takes all circs. Into account when vetting, which is fair enough, but they will often show up an underlying problem.

But agree with all on here, the are for vets or similarly qualified people to do. but no excuse for rudeness so you are best out o f there OP. very optimistic to take a trailer though on first viewing - I'm far more cautious!
 
She was totally in the wrong. Perhaps before a six hour drive to see an unvetted horse for the first time, you might ask over the phone if you could do a flexion yest then you know to either get a vet out or not bother.
Probably a little bit of fate in there, the right one will be found!
 
Spyda said:
Mind you, it's interesting to note the bad feeling towards flexion tests these days! Very enlightening :)
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Haven't the usefulness of flexion tests been questioned for a long time ? I've never been keen, but of course would permit a vet to do them at a vetting. Certainly wouldn't be letting someone whose competence I don't know be doing one on my horses.
 
Flexion tests can damage horses too so I wouldnt have allowed you to have done it myself but am I suprised at the unscrupulous in the horse selling world etc who dont give a stuff of what they sell to who. Not shocked at all.

I have had sellers whole demeanour change when I said NO..ie wanting to know why and why and why I wont buy etc. Lies and more lies.

But am sure something will come along. Feel sorry for the horse having such an awful owner.

Good to walk away.
 
I'm sure the right horse is out there for you op, but have to say I think I'd be looking a lot closer to home, and also with some of the things I've heard recently I think if I were looking again I'd want my own regular vet to do any vetting on any potential new horse. But then I am extra cynical. Good luck with your horse hunting. :) x
 
Having seen four horses recently most of which were not really as described, I would find it difficult to go ready to pick up on first viewing. Was tempted with one as it sounded perfect but that was a 6 hour round trip. Very glad I didn't.

Also I have a hatred of ads which say "no time wasters" and normally will not view these horses as it appears aggressive and doesn't stop the real time wasters anyway. Against my better judgement I went to see a horse which had this in the ad, agreed to buy (another 6 hour journey), arranged vetting and she changed her mind.
 
skyhigh said:
So after I asked if we could do a flexion test on him.....well! All he'll broke loose! It was like I had just sake to steal his kidney or something.

was it really that unreasonable to do a flexion test for potentially buying a horse? I suspect he was lame and they were trying to cover it :/
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Jeez - you were pretty damn lucky not to get your head kicked in. This was a strange horse and he didn't know you, and was obviously in pain, and reacted violently to it.

No I don't think it unreasonable to have a flexion test done before buying a horse, BUT I would expect this to be done as part of a vetting by a qualified vet.

You frankly had a very narrow escape; you could have been very badly injured indeed. A piece of advice that I was given was NEVER to touch the horse yourself, particularly feet (and VERY particularly hind feet!!!). Let the owner/handler do it ....... that way, to put it bluntly, its their head that gets kicked in and not yours. Also, I'm probably telling grannie to suck eggs here, ALWAYS watch it ridden first as well - a friend of mine went to see a horse for her daughter and as soon as it was mounted started bronking for England; and, you've guessed it, it had "never done that before"!!!

So protect yourself, and stay safe.
 
fatpiggy said:
Alot of people seem to be missing the OP's point - she merely ASKED if she could do a flexion test and therefore was prepared for a refusal. She didn't march up and grab the horse's leg or something. Her complaint is about the attitude and rudeness of the girl selling the horse and nothing else.
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THANK YOU!!! :D someone has finally understood what my post was about :p maybe I worded it wrong haha.
 
Sorry mijods I think you've misunderstood..... I never touched the horse or it's feet at this point for any matter.
 
skyhigh said:
I have Worked in Dubai for 2 years at an equestrian club and dealt a lot in buying polo and ex racers and we always dome a flexion test so maybe I am just use to doing that. It is also a first go to for vets over there. But as I said I am not posting this because I didn't get to do a flexion test. It was just the attitude of the people selling and was just wondering if this was common when searching for a horse.
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working in dubai doesnt make you qualified to be vet, or even think you are one.

Paris1 said:
She was totally in the wrong. Perhaps before a six hour drive to see an unvetted horse for the first time, you might ask over the phone if you could do a flexion yest then you know to either get a vet out or not bother.
Probably a little bit of fate in there, the right one will be found!
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see? she was going to pick it up at the same time:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
jhoward said:
working in dubai doesnt make you qualified to be vet, or even think you are one.



see? she was going to pick it up at the same time:rolleyes::rolleyes:
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When did i ever insinuate I was a vet or thought I was a vet! ? I said I worked in Dubai....

Youre comment is totally inappropriate and has no point what so ever.
 
Jeeze :rolleyes:

I bet the OP rues the day she decided to post about being fouly sworn at during a horse viewing!!! I think that was the OP's reason for posting, not to be torn off a strip for how she chooses to go about her horse purchase.

Okay, I personally wouldn't go to view a horse for the first time with a trailer/lorry in tow, but many people do. This was a young horse (4?), maybe still unbacked. Maybe the OP'er had thought she'd seen enough (video/photos/advert) and asked enough questions over the phone to indicate the young horse might be worth the trip and take a chance on not having it vetted if it appeared genuine in the flesh. Not everyone has every horse vetted. Shocking :eek:, but true. Also, people visit horse auctions all the time with a trailer/lorry expecting to take home a horse (minus a vetting) the same day. Shock horror! Plenty of people on this forum do this so why is this poster being slated for the same 'crime'? Beats me. :confused:

Good luck finding your new horse OP. Just make sure you don't post about it on here, eh :rolleyes:
 
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