Is there a market for a schoolmaster who won't pass a vetting?

[Swirlymurphy]

As the title really, I have a relatively young schoolmaster type - quality, good looking, easy to handle etc - who won't pass a flexion test on one leg (is 1/10 lame afterwards) but who is functionally sound and happy and capable in work. Is there a market for this type of horse and if so, what suggestions does anyone have for places to advertise? Price is very flexible.

 

[star]

My horse failed his flexion in his right hind on vetting. That leg is excluded on insurance but otherwise has never affected him in the 6yrs I've had him. He's now doing Advanced dressage and jumps 1m25 courses.

 

[{97702}]

Hell yes most definitely to the right sort of buyer

 

[Swirlymurphy]

Any suggestions for how to find the right sort of buyer? They seem to be short on the ground!

 

[star]

I guess I probably wouldn't advertise him as not able to pass a vetting. I would never enquire about a horse like that. It just happened it was thrown up during my horse's vetting and I'd already fallen in love. And in fact the vet did pass him as suitable for RC activities. I took him back to same vet last year for an MOT and he was rather impressed as what he'd gone on to do!

I negotiated a trial, he did everything I wanted and more, I negotiated a price and the rest is history. I'm not saying withold the information but you probably need them to come and see him and try him and then discuss it. If he is sound at all other times and it's only after flexion he's fractionally lame then it shouldn't necessarily affect him. Other option is to investigate it thoroughly and then show prospective buyers the reports assuming nothing significant found.

 

[honetpot]

PC, teenager coming off of ponies with cash strapped mum.
It all depends how idiot proof a schoolmaster he is. I bought a stiff behind TB for my daughter, at the time I thought was a bargain price but I probably over paid. He never had a flexion test.
I sold a horse who failed the vetting on flexion, the vet refused to continue. They still bought him as he was lovely and you could put anyone on him.

 

[Ahrena]

I bought my boy after he failed the vet on flexions.

I'd had him on loan for 6 months and he is a complete star so decided to take the risk. Has needed medicating for hock arthritis but he's given me the world.

 

[TGM]

Has he actually got a decent competition record? If so, there should be people prepared to take him on at a reduced price. However, I think people would be more reluctant to take on an unproven 'schoolmaster type' with a soundness problem.

 

[rachk89]

I think you would maybe have to consider something like LWVTB. How young is he?

 

[Goldenstar]

I have bought hunters for MrGS that where flexion failures .
As long as I know why so I can manage it apporiatly I give it a go as long as the price is right .
I think you will have to open about what the problem is and let the buyer see his vet records .

 

[JillA]

I know someone looking for a safe fun horse for an adult - if you message me details of age/height/experience/price and location, with your email and any pics if I think it's what she is looking for I'll pass it on

 

[spacefaer]

Is it just one flexion test that he has failed?

They're a very subjective things - depends on the vet, how long they hold the leg for, how hard they flex it, and I have known horses fail a flexion on one day and pass one within a few days.

If he has failed several of them, then that's a different matter, - but 1/10 is not a lot of lameness - I'm sure there'd be plenty of people prepared to take the gamble, if the price was right. I've seen horses advertised on HorseQuest as "won't pass a vetting on flexion" and they've been snapped up pretty quickly.

 

[spacefaer]

Our current old boy was bought at a much reduced price from the original asking price as he had failed the vet on flexion with original purchasers. He's 19 now and just contemplating slowing down, and we've had him 7 years - never taken a lame step.

 

[ihatework]

There is always a market for a well schooled and competitive schoolmaster going cheap due to a vetting failure.
However there are also too many people calling no -competitive crocs 'schoolmasters' in an attempt to sell them!

 

[Xtra]

Absolutely there is a market for this as this is the type of horse I am looking for. AS someone said above he/she would suit someone like me on a budget looking for something safe and fun to compete but happy to step back if an issue arose. I have seen some similar advertised but never in my area sadly.

 

[Wheels]

I bought a horse who failed a flexion test but wasn't lame any other time and vet couldn't really 'find' anything then after owning him for a year we saw that he had v mild stringhalt. I jumped him up to 1.20 on a regular basis and stood up to plenty of work.

So yes, there is a market for right kind of horse for the right kind of person - maybe advertise as LWVTB and disclose the information when you speak to people on the phone.

Does the vet have any idea why the horse might be 1/10 lame?

 

[LouisCat]

I've never had a horse vetted yet but also I've never bought an expensive horse so it would probably be price dependent....

 

[sarahandwilby]

I'd be less concerned about an older horse that won't pass a flexion (assuming it's probably hock arthritis which would be improved by medicating the joints). A younger horse I'd probably want to know why!

Have you had any investigations done?

 

[Firewell]

Why does he fail the flexion? There has to be a reason.
I only say this because I had my horse flexed and he failed as 3/10th lame on a hind leg.... I booked him in for a work up as I wasn't comfortable selling a horse if there was something wrong with it that I didn't know about.
The work up was two weeks later and he was sound! Passed the flexion on same leg dead sound (and vet held it up for longer to make sure). I did radiography anyway of all the major joints and nothing. We put it down to having sore muscles from a hard work session or patting around in the field.
So basically I would say 1. Are you sure he would fail a vet now, next week, a month from now? He could have nothing wrong with him.
2. If he repeatedly fails flexion on that leg I would get it looked at so you know what the reason is and whatever the reason is will affect how saleable he is (ie is it because he has arthritis or is it because he has a sore muscle, I wouldn't buy the first but I would the second).

 

[Booboos]

What kind of schoolmaster is he? Which discipline, what level, what kinds of results? How much would he be worth if he could pass the vet?

Why is he lame? What kinds of treatments are available for his problem? What is his long term prognosis? What level can he compete at with his problem?

If you can answer these questions it will be easier to specify what kind of home he would be suitable for and at what price.

 

[Mooseontheloose]

I went to sell a five year old pony and the vet failed him just this way, one tenth lame on flexion on tight circle. We took him immediately to Newmarket as he was a fantastic pony and it looked as though there may be something lurking. Newmarket said they could find nothing wrong, and many horses will fail this test especially on right hind. The buyers decided they would have him and he has never had a day's lameness in six years, including having hunted, tetrathlon, mounted games, Badminton grass roots final, pc dressage champs...........
So I wouldn't give up, and maybe do a further investigation yourself.
Incidentally the same vet has just failed another pony locally for same thing and they took the same route and he has been sold.
As the Newmarket vet said, how often do you ride a five metre circle on the concrete?

 

[CleanShavings]

It would be something I would look at, send over an advert as I am currently looking