horse with 'short action' in front

[Sadie146]

I recently was all ready to buy a horse. I have been loaning for years and years. I found what I thought was the perfect little 6 yo ISH mare. I had her 5# vetted and she 'failed' the vetting based on her 'short action' in front. The vet seemed to think she might be bilaterally lame, but wasn't sure.

However she passed everything else. The current owner has just retired her from a short and unsuccessful eventing career because she just wasn't forwards enough.

She is very lazy, its part of what I like about her.

The owner doesn't agree with the vet. She had her vet totally check her over incl leg x-rays when she wasn't enjoying eventing. She said the x-rays rule out navicular.

Is it possible that she is just lazy? or could this be a sign of something more serious do you think? I know what I really shouldn't go ahead and buy her, or else why would I bother with the vetting in the first place, but I am a bit heartbroken.

p.s. I was only planning on hacking, RC, funrides. The vet was aware of this.

Who knew horse shopping wouldnt be amazing fun?

 

[ycbm]

I recently was all ready to buy a horse. I have been loaning for years and years. I found what I thought was the perfect little 6 yo ISH mare. I had her 5# vetted and she 'failed' the vetting based on her 'short action' in front. The vet seemed to think she might be bilaterally lame, but wasn't sure.

However she passed everything else. The current owner has just retired her from a short and unsuccessful eventing career because she just wasn't forwards enough.

She is very lazy, its part of what I like about her.

The owner doesn't agree with the vet. She had her vet totally check her over incl leg x-rays when she wasn't enjoying eventing. She said the x-rays rule out navicular.

Is it possible that she is just lazy? or could this be a sign of something more serious do you think? I know what I really shouldn't go ahead and buy her, or else why would I bother with the vetting in the first place, but I am a bit heartbroken.

p.s. I was only planning on hacking, RC, funrides. The vet was aware of this.

Who knew horse shopping wouldnt be amazing fun?

Your vet was right and hers is wrong. You can't rule out equal lameness in both front feet from x rays, as the lameness is usually caused by tendon our ligament problems which don't show up on an x Ray. The chances are very high, in your vets opinion, that if they numbed one of her feet with a nerve block, the horse would then be lame. It's probably also the reason she was 'lazy' and failed eventing - her feet hurt.

Welcome to the world of horse hunting! Better luck next time.

 

[Sadie146]

Your vet was right and hers is wrong. You can't rule out equal lameness in both front feet from x rays, as the lameness is usually caused by tendon our ligament problems which don't show up on an x Ray. The chances are very high, in your vets opinion, that if they numbed one of her feet with a nerve block, the horse would then be lame. It's probably also the reason she was 'lazy' and failed eventing - her feet hurt.

Welcome to the world of horse hunting! Better luck next time.

Thanks! That's as I thought just don't want it to be true.. boo.

 

[Ronalda]

But how are her feet, what is causing the retarded action?

Long toe, heel pain, how is she landing?

 

[old hand]

My advice would be don't touch it with a barge pole. have had the same with one of mine , he was short from the off under saddle, no evidence of it loose. Five lameness workups and x rays over four years and then evidence of navicular and coffin bone disiease in x rays. Not broken until nearly five and I lost him one week short of his ninth birthday , several thousands pounds later. It turned out he had had septic shock from joint ill as a foal, not disclosed by seller but his family dobbed him in when they realised I was trying to treat him. He went lame all over this time and we decided to call it a day as he got very aggressive and was in severe pain. One of the kindest and safest horses I have ever had and would not wish this on any person or horse, they should have let him go as a foal. I don't think most lamenesses show on x rays until they are severe particularly if they are bi-lateral.