Lame after flexion test - any good stories?

MiniMilton

MiniMilton

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I have a horse on trial who is perfect for me. Super temperament, a horse I could see myself keeping forever and developing a great bond with. However he just failed a 3stage vetting. A few lame steps on one of the forelegs after flexion. Noticeably lame, but then it trotted out. Otherwise appears sound. The vet is coming to retest in a week in the hope that it was something minor and temporary.
The problem is I really really want this horse. Its been so hard to find one with the temperament i'm looking for yet isn't a plod.
If he fails again would it be completely nuts to consider buying him anyway? I'm not paying mega money for him and just want to do some riding club stuff. I'm going to find it very hard to walk away from this one.
help!
 
I personally don't rate flexion tests. If I was concerned about there being an issue I'd have xrays or scans done instead of relying on something as basic (and unscientific) as flexions. And yes if I had faith in the horse being what I think it is, I'd buy it on failed flexions, but then I have my own land and it wouldn't devastate my life if the horse had to be retired early if something cropped up a few years down the line.
 
Negotiate the price. I've had one for seven years now after it failed a flexion test. It hasn't competed to level it did before I bought it but has still done BE, some decent dressage and been to the RC SJ winter champs.
 
I would (and have! ) used it to negotiate on price and buy the horse.

Flexion tests are not a reliable indicator of soundness/lameness.
 
I have heard that a lot of horses will trot away lame from a flexion test, yet otherwise be fine. It certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if they were otherwise fine and sound. It would be good to talk price with the owner maybe she would drop enough for you to consider X-rays . However it is possible that he could pass the next test, so try not to worry. ( easy for me to say I know;) )
 
I have had several "fail" flexions, most recently a pony that came in to be sold who had recently been shod with an obvious, to my eye, inbalance the vet failed him so I had him shod by my farrier, he flew through his next vetting. Another was slightly wrong, we had nerve blocks and xrays done but it proved to be bruising so he was fine a month later, both were in front and had no history of unsoundness.

I would certainly not walk away, as the horse is on trial you have the option to investigate further it could be something simple as an unbalanced foot or that he has knocked himself, you are in control so you know the owners cannot cover anything by giving bute so there is less risk if you want to continue, I would give him a couple of days rest to give anything a chance to settle then work as normal up to the next vet check.
 
Spring Feather said:
I personally don't rate flexion tests. If I was concerned about there being an issue I'd have xrays or scans done instead of relying on something as basic (and unscientific) as flexions. And yes if I had faith in the horse being what I think it is, I'd buy it on failed flexions,.
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This, if you did a flexion on test on me I would fail hands down.
 
Another one who wouldn't worry about the flexion test provided my vet was happy with everything else. I've been told that doing a flexion test incorrectly can cause some lame steps.

I am also another one who would fail a flexion test - part of the 'joy' of getting older
 
How old is the horse? On a mature horse I would expect it to be unlevel for a few steps, but then trot sound thereafter.

The flexion test can be controversial, a lot depends on how much the vet scrunches the joints, and how long it is up. I have known horses "fail" and live a long and healthy life. I would set more store on lungeing on small circle on firm ground - the vet I use has indoor rubber small area, very telling. I mean rubber mats BTW, not shred.

All the vet can do is give an opinion, after that you have to decide how much you need the horse, balanced by age, cost, what you intend to use him for and how you would deal with the situation if he went lame.
 
I won't allow flexion tests to be done on any of mine after a Shetland incurred muscle damage from the vet failing to take into account just how small he was and lifted his hind leg far too high.

I am also another who would massively fail a flexion test done on myself.
 
Instead or redoing the flexions, you'd probably gain more by trotting the horse round on a tight circle, both directions, on a good base. If the horse is not lame on a tight circle then it failing the flexions wouldn't hold any weight with me.
 
My sister's boy failed flexions on both front legs at his vetting at 4. Even the vet said he wished he hadn't done them. She bought him anyway and he is now 17 still in full work and going strong and has had a full working busy pony club and mother/daughter share life with barely a day off lame.

On the other hand my old girl passed her flexions with flying colours at 4.....she was semi retired on light work at 14 and has been fully retired for 2 years and is now 19!!
 
We had sash vetted 18 month ago, she failed same thing one or two lame steps on a fore leg flextion, but the vet really held her leg up tight and high, she really did not like it! But we negotiated price, and I had X-rays on both fores, and feet, all ok ( my own vet) we have had two fab years, with not a days lameness, and she does fast Polocrosse all summer. She is 15 now, was 13 when we bought her.. So I would do X-rays if you are at all bothered.. Otherwise go with your instinct..
 
I don't think much of flexion tests. Try sitting on your leg then suddenly get up and try to walk properly. You will not be able to do it. This is what happens with a flexion test. Most horses will put in a couple of lame trotting strides after the flex test. I would not be too worried about a horse that did a couple of strides.

There are better test to determine lameness in a horse.
 
I don't rate flexion tests at all, and actually won't allow them on any of my horses. If I lose a sale then so be it.

The percentage of horses that trot away unsound are higher than those that don't according to my Vet. If it mattered that much then I would be having x-rays etc say for an endurance horse where it needed to be 100% for me to buy. if I liked a horse enough and it trotted sound on a small circle then that would be good enough for me.

If someone did a flexion test on me they'd want to shoot me to end my pain :(
 
Oh wow you have all really made my night! He is only 7, which is why the vet was making such a big deal about the lameness. He was trotted on a small circle on Tarmac and sound. My gut was telling me to be a bit reckless and buy him anyway, and now I see that perhaps it wouldn't be such a reckless decision.

Wish me luck, hopefully I'll be posting a happy "new horse" post early next week!
 
Slightlyconfused said:
This, if you did a flexion on test on me I would fail hands down.
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This.

Pops is nearly 16 and wouldn't pass a flexion test . . . but after few dodgy steps behind, would be absolutely fine and can still jump over a metre at competition and 1.30M at home and do a credible DR test.

Honestly, it depends what you want to do with the horse . . . and remember that holding a leg up artificially high and the releasing it and instantly expecting the horse to trot away sound can be a somewhat arbitrary way of testing soundness.

P
 
MiniMilton said:
Oh wow you have all really made my night! He is only 7, which is why the vet was making such a big deal about the lameness. He was trotted on a small circle on Tarmac and sound. My gut was telling me to be a bit reckless and buy him anyway, and now I see that perhaps it wouldn't be such a reckless decision.

Wish me luck, hopefully I'll be posting a happy "new horse" post early next week!
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Best of luck.

P
 
According to my vet front leg lameness after flexion vary rarely happens, very rarely means anything, and normally has everything to do with the vet carrying out the procedure, after I was left in tears with a vetting on my horse who had only ever had one period of lameness in all the years I'd had him. My vet said with some vets it's a privilege if a horse passes, and the next day after an extensive work up my vet proclaimed the horse perfectly sound, and said it had been all the time as he was at my yard when the original vetting was done and watched him trot up afterwards.
 
Flexions tests have their place, so I wouldn't automatically dismiss them. That said they aren't 100% reliable so don't run away from a potentially good horse just yet.

What was the horse like on a 10m concrete circle - this for me is a far more important test for front limb soundness.

Depending on the results of the next vetting you might want to consider getting X-ray / scan done. Kind of depends on how much you like the horse, it's price tag and your attitude to risk. Bear in mind the leg might be excluded from insurance.
 
MiniMilton said:
Oh wow you have all really made my night! He is only 7, which is why the vet was making such a big deal about the lameness. He was trotted on a small circle on Tarmac and sound.[/u]My gut was telling me to be a bit reckless and buy him anyway, and now I see that perhaps it wouldn't be such a reckless decision.

Wish me luck, hopefully I'll be posting a happy "new horse" post early next week!
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Sound on small circle would be good enough for me. Best of luck making your decision.
 
A belated update. He passed the re-test! To be honest I decided I was going to buy him anyway. His temperament is fabulous. So I'm the proud new owner of a sweet 15.2 Connemara. We have already competed at out first show and he went clear :-)
 
MiniMilton said:
Oh wow you have all really made my night! He is only 7, which is why the vet was making such a big deal about the lameness. He was trotted on a small circle on Tarmac and sound. My gut was telling me to be a bit reckless and buy him anyway, and now I see that perhaps it wouldn't be such a reckless decision.

Wish me luck, hopefully I'll be posting a happy "new horse" post early next week!
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Buy him, the hard circle test is far more indicative on a problem.

Just saw he passed anyway, fab, have fun!
 
I don't rate flexion! My pony was sound after flexion behind but I knew there was a problem, it wasn't until the vet lunged him on the hard ground she noticed something was definately wrong and he had bilateral hind PSD and navicular in front.

Honestly me and my friend were watching as he trotted up sound on flexion with our mouths open, so I don't believe in them anymore
 
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