Horse gone lame just before vetting

Fingers crossed it was just a bruise. Just be very critcal when you go and don't look at it as a horse you know and want, but as a horse you have never seen before and do NOT want because of issues. See them on several surfaces before you ask the vet again.

p.s. is this a horse the owner is not too keen to sell but will sell to you, or a horse that is for sale and owner wants to sell?
 
Hi all, an update.

I went up to see him on Tuesday and he was still lame, but very slight (I'd say .5/10) in trot on the lunge. Examined leg and foot and there was still not heat/ swelling, but he has taken a bit of a chunk out of the hoof on the lame leg, which *could* be the cause of the lameness but not quite big enough to say definitely either way.

Fast forward to today and his owner texted to say she things he looks 100% on the lunge now. I am going to go down and see what I think shortly.

The issue for me now is how to proceed. I really like him - the time I have spent with him this week has really reminded me why I wanted to buy him before I went away! However, I need to buy a horse that has a decent chance of being saleable in the future (I won't go into the whys and wherefores but feel free to PM if you want more info). I know you can't guarantee a horse won't go lame/ develop a chronic issue, but it is always helpful to start with a sound horse!

So - do I assume it is the hoof, get a 2 stage vetting and buy him? Do I upgrade to a 5 stage? Do I upgrade to a 5 stage AND get the problem leg x rayed from the knee down? I'm inclined towards the latter though it will up the costs considerably and he may need to go to the vets to have it done as the facilities where he is would just do for a 2 stage, but a 5 stage will be pushing it.

I suspect I know the answer to this question, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. It doesn't feel quite right to be buying a horse that has been lame for almost 2 weeks with no diagnosis!
 
How much does the owner want to rush you? I was kind of assuming she didn't have other people lined up?

I wouldn't be vetting a horse who may have only just come mostly sound which if more than a bruise/abscess might be because he hasn't done anything for two weeks. I would want him sound, worked for a couple of weeks and then vetted if he still looked sound.
 
I would delay the vetting and work him properly for the next week or two, if he stays sound in harder work you should be fine to go ahead with a vetting, I wouldn't consider vetting until I had done this as you will be wondering what it was and that will stay with you forever even if he passes, if I were selling I would be doing much the same there is no benefit from resting him now he is sound and if he goes lame again the owner can get started with diagnostics.
They don't need any fancy facilities for a 5 stage, a field to ride in will be perfectly adequate and everything else requires the same as it does for a 2 stage.
 
ester said:
How much does the owner want to rush you? I was kind of assuming she didn't have other people lined up?

I wouldn't be vetting a horse who may have only just come mostly sound which if more than a bruise/abscess might be because he hasn't done anything for two weeks. I would want him sound, worked for a couple of weeks and then vetted if he still looked sound.
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be positive said:
I would delay the vetting and work him properly for the next week or two, if he stays sound in harder work you should be fine to go ahead with a vetting, I wouldn't consider vetting until I had done this as you will be wondering what it was and that will stay with you forever even if he passes, if I were selling I would be doing much the same there is no benefit from resting him now he is sound and if he goes lame again the owner can get started with diagnostics.
They don't need any fancy facilities for a 5 stage, a field to ride in will be perfectly adequate and everything else requires the same as it does for a 2 stage.
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Thanks guys - that's really helpful and actually a very valid point! I'm not sure why I didn't think of it! I will suggest to his owner that we give him a couple of weeks back in work. He isn't very fit as he has done naff all over the summer while I was away, so I'm not sure how "hard" the work will be, but we can certainly get things moving again. She isn't in any hurry to sell (those who remember the original thread will remember he wasn't advertised - I asked after riding him for a few months) so I should think this will be fine.

It's such a faff though as school starts again next week, which makes being around for vettings a bit trickier. I reckon I'll be able to take a Thursday afternoon at some point though, although it may have to be described as an urgent vet appointment rather than a vetting for a new horse! The deputy head struggled to understand why I could't ride the 2 I already have when we spoke recently!
 
good, I couldn't remember but assumed she wasn't in a rush, in which case don't feel rushed into doing it, do it correctly instead :).
Fwiw if you explained the situ to the vet I am sure they would say the same, and if owner isn't sure maybe you could ask vet and pass on what they say rather than 'a bunch of randomers on the internet told me' ;)
 
ester said:
good, I couldn't remember but assumed she wasn't in a rush, in which case don't feel rushed into doing it, do it correctly instead :).
Fwiw if you explained the situ to the vet I am sure they would say the same, and if owner isn't sure maybe you could ask vet and pass on what they say rather than 'a bunch of randomers on the internet told me' ;)
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Yes that's a good point! The whole thing is just so frustrating - do you ever wonder if some things just aren't meant to be?
 
I agree that taking some time now getting him back into work is sensible. It sounds like it wouldn't be an issue for the owner if the vetting didn't happen for even a month or so... so definitely take advantage of that and see if he stays sound or goes lame again once in work. If he's sound in work and you go ahead and vet, I would be tempted to do a thorough vetting for your own peace of mind.

I hope it all works out. :)
 
I'm afraid this was all a bit redundant as he is, in my view, still lame! It's slight but I'm convinced it's there :confused:
I'm going to meet the owner there tomorrow so we can look at him together and then we will take it from there. At the moment though I'm not feeling particularly happy about proceeding any further until he sees a vet.
 
The owner sounds a bit novicey and unsure what to do for the best, the horse sounds as if it is improving even if still slightly off, it could well be the foot, taking a chunk out could well have caused bruising that may take several weeks to fully resolve.
I would suggest she gets her farrier in to trim anyway and have a bit of a look to see if there is an area of bruising, my farrier will come out quickly and give his opinion/ advice if I ever need it, in theory a vet is the only one allowed to diagnose but as it is getting better I think having a vet out, when there is a clear area of foot that has been damaged, is unnecessary at this stage.
 
Might be useful to see a hoof pic OP if you could nab one.

But it does sound like the owner needs to get a professional or two on board to have a look at this point.
 
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