Horses failing vet checks, was vet correct long term?

Daisychain

Daisychain

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Having this discussion recently, and i know of many horses which have failed vet, (mainly flexion) which have carried on for many years with no problems, so your stories please, how accurate has your vet been at spotting a potential defect?
 
Vet considered failing Chloe on her near hind, we were there three hours and he couldn't actually find anything wrong with it, she passed flexion tests etc and in the end he passed her.
9 years later she blew the suspensory in that leg.

Most likley co-incidence but alway made me wonder.

Had plently of horses pass vets only to have serious problems shortley after.

Thing is those that failed I never saw again so can't say what happened to them.
 
I nearly sold my horse about 6 or 7 years ago. He went on a trial then the failed the vetting (before he's even been ridden) as the vet 'predicted' he would get a bad back as he has a 'very swingy gait'. I was obviously gutted, how could I have missed such a catastophy waiting to happen (and he'd had the same gait and passed the vetting when I bought him several years earlier). My vet couldn't find anything wrong with his back and I can categorically say it was a complete load of b***ox. He has no problems with his back and is absolutely fine. Her loss though, I'm glad it worked out this way and would never sell him now.
 
I know several horses near the yard (at a dealers) that had had a vetting and failed and then another vet has done it and it passed.

I guess it today's "sue society", vets are wary to pass anything that is on the boarderline. I guess it's 'safer' for the vet if they fail the horse, then passing it, only to get bitten on the bum (possibly) later on.
 
My cob failed flexion on three legs as well as a rather long list of other issues but the vet was insistant on me buying him anyway (he knows im a sucker for sad cases).That was 2006.

*touches wood, crosses everything and whistles*
other than a thorn in his knee, 1punctured sole and a nasty cracked heel - all of which were minor and easily sorted- he has remained 100% and just starting his 3rd hunting season.

We have also just bought a horse that also failed on one flexion but the price was reduced as xrays showed arthritis which we are familiar with managing- as the vet said- Its a calculated risk.
 
yep i had a horse fail a vetting she sais it had bone spavin in the hock joints,i was gutted as had it on a trial period and realy liked it, but then i was telling a friend she said she wasnt surprised the vet i had failed it she said the vet was known for failing horses so i think it maybe the vet you get
 
I bought a horse that failed flexion (12 years old) as he passed in every other aspect. He went on to RC event, compete up to medium dressage and was placed at PUK summer champs in SH classes up to the age of 20. He was pts at 23 due to cancer and cushings related problems. I never regretted buying him for a minute and until the cushings problems started at 21 he never had a days lameness!
 
In the past I've bought horses who have passed the vet but with lots of "ifs and buts" for insurance exclusions and "could indicate something terrible down the line but probably doesn't" etc...

At least three have had to be destroyed under fourteen years old due to things connected to things picked up on the vetting, one when it was seven. Now I don't under-estimate anything and I told the vet this time I was looking, I want a horse that passes with flying colours, any "ifs or buts" just fail it.

My four year old has a flawless vets certificate. If she's still alive in ten years I'll feel confident that fussiness makes sense.
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Vet failed one on front flexion that I was going to buy for BSJA - horse had been eventing and he felt low grade 1/10 lame and slightly uneven front leg confo - heard on grapevine that horse blew a tendon jumping 6 weeks later (with opriginal owner) and was shot)

Personally I would always listen to my vet - that's why I pay for the vetting, if I wasn't going to listen to their professional opinion then I wouldn't bother vetting

I trust my vet and his partner explicitly though and would always use them for vettings
 
One of mine has consistently failed a vetting on hock flexion for all of his previous owners, as he did when I had a pre purchase vetting done on him, but each time, the vet advised it was not a reason to pull out of the sale, and he has remained sound all this time.
 
I had a pony fail a vet which I still bought, I thought the vet was seeing something & nothing & that if anything the pony had some soft tissue issue. Pony was very competitive - never lame & passed a very rigorous vetting when I sold him 2 years later.
Had a pony fail the vet which I really wanted to buy. Vet & owner were pretty insistent that it was a wrench and pony would pass if retested, but I was concerned about the relationship of a loin strain to the poor (ish) conformation of pony's front feet. Walked away. Would love to know now if pony stayed sound or if there was something deeper going on.
 
Over the years when selling we've had...
Failed as 6yo for high-blowing (possible wind and temperament issues) - never had problems in 20 years.
Failed for having minor scar tissue on the um, castration scar. Oddly enough, never had problems there either.
Failed for having a slightly asymetrical face as a 5yo. (Could have brain damage if result of injury as a foal) last I heard was still going strong as a 15yo.
Failed for being idle behind in walk as a 5yo (might be developing arthritis in both hocks) - Still fine at 11...
 
we had a 4yo we were looking to buy fail due to foot problems, so we instantly didnt buy him. he however has gone on to be placed in the top 5 in all 6 PNs he has done...so...cant be too bad afterall
 
I think the last two posters sum it up perfectly... I actually think unless you go and have x rays, scans etc it is only someones opinion... and even those can be wrong lol!
 
harvey failed the flexion test at 12, he is now 28 and apart from slight stiffness in winter he has never been lame, never had a problem with any of his joints.

Pride was 1/10th lame in a front leg. he was 14, he is now 25 and has never had a day lame in the time ive had him.

My arab passed a vetting, he now has kissing spines and knee problems so is permanantly lame.

My connemara was 11 when vetted he failed on a flexion test of his back leg, now until a month ago he had NEVER had a day lame in the 8 years ive had him. a month ago he did a suspensory on a front leg but we think we know what triggered that (a bad slip at a show)
 
A vet is checking the horse to make sure it is fit for purpose. I know young horses who have passed 5 stage vettings and within a very short time developed problems in their legs, hole in the pedal bone was one of them and Navicular was another. Horses are now no longer with us, as owners cannot afford to keep a young horse, especially large ones as pets. A vet will tell you that it is only valid on the day it is done, which is very honest, shame MRI scans are not cheaper and more accessible, its surprising what you can see on one of those.

Suspensory ligaments can be reattached, Kissing spine can be operated on, the wonders of technology.

My advice is always make sure your horse is insured that way if you have problems you can normally get them sorted and a good vet will tell you if you are wasting your time. Harsh but true.
 
I bought my horse nearly 6 yrs ago, he failed miserable on a flexion test, he was hopping. I walked away but went back and bought him. He has (touching wood manically) never had a problem with it. He did fracture said leg 2 yrs ago but that wasnt connected.
 
I would have X rays over and above any vetting now tbh.
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But knew a horse who failed a vetting, passed with the next person who brought it and is now winning and Nov and being placed highly at Intermediates, has just completed his first 2*
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Agree with Kat-

Literally ( I mean this is totally black and white ) every horse that Ive had that has passed the vet has been burdened with severe problems and has had to be retired/semi retired/or they were not right in some way.

However every horse that Ive had that has failed the vet, or not had vetted, Ive bought anyway......and they have been sound as a pound in their whole time with me, and were then sold, and then passed a vetting at the sale!

One horse I bought, was rather expensive from Holland, and he passed a full vetting with a top vet- but despite buying the horse, I decided that I did not like it, so we sold it on within a few weeks- and 3 months later, it was PTS as it went lame- they found that it had a old pedal bone fracture in its foot that had gone arthritic!! I felt dreadfull for the new owners, but it just shows how youve got to have xrays.

Now I think that getting a horse vetted is a bad omen!! ( I really do !) Which is illogical really!
 
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