My horse just failed his vetting

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Horseyskates

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I have a 14 year old gelding we have had most of his life, fantastic competition record in a variety of disciplines, honestly never had a day's lameness. He has been out of work for a bit (no fault of his own) but just brought back into work and has been going really well. Professional horsey people have seen him recently and not commented on soundness.

Found a wonderful home for him, subject to vetting, which we just had. He behaved wonderfully, did flexion tests fine on the road etc then the vet asked me to lunge him. After I'd lunged him both ways she said she would have to stop as he was showing signs of intermittent lameness on one rein. I feel like a terrible owner now because I can honestly say I didn't really notice anything and was surprised! He has always been stiffer on the rein in question, especially at the moment as he isn't fit - so perhaps its just because I am used to it, although dressage and showing judges have never commented on it (to the contrary.) I did ask if I could show him under saddle as I really don't believe he is lame but it is procedure to stop the vetting so understandably the vet said no - they were very nice and I understand the position they were in. He is in need of shoeing and she did mention that could be the issue. Also, I never lunge usually and neither of us are much good at it!

I did have a quick ride to see if I could feel anything wrong and he seemed to go well - shoulder in and ten metre circles on both reins felt good. I didn't want to ride for long in case something was the matter.

What now? He doesn't look lame to me but I'm sure the vet knows what they are doing and I don't want to compromise his welfare. I'm going to get him reshod and have our vet look at him but I'm worried sick!
 
Farrrier visit first followed by 2nd opinion from own vet asap....Was he lunged on hard or soft ground? Might be an idea to lung him on 10-15m circle on hard ground before you get your vet out, just to give you an idea if there is something there? Did you speak to the proposed purchaser to get thier view?.....maybe they are happy to wait for an update if they liked him that much!
 
I agree with Archie37. My friend's horse "failed" the vet with a possible back issue. Her vet checked him over, in the prospective purchasers presence, and could find nothing wrong. Purchasers then got a specialist to look at him who gave him the all clear so they went ahead and bought him.

If your vet doesn't find anything after he is shod it would be worth seeing if the purchasers would agree to another vetting - even offer to pay for it maybe??

Was it a horse vet who was doing the vetting or a general practice vet?

The problem with vettings is that it is just a snapshot at that time.

As an aside I think it is always worth getting a horse shod 10 - 15 days before a vetting.

I also think that a 14 year old with a good competition record might well have a few 'niggles' but these not stop him being suitable for the new owners.
 
You are both right, I've calmed down now and thinking logically.

Prospective buyer is being fantastic, obviously very disappointed but very understanding. He's being reshod tomorrow if possible and then we'll have to pay for a revetting next week. Apparently vet did recommend this because they felt it could possibly be the feet (he was going to be reshod yesterday but vetting only arranged a couple of days ago and didn't want him to be footy!)

It was an equine vet and I think they have a good reputation, I'm sure they know what they are doing.

I'm just so worried though - if you asked me I would have said honestly he was sound as a pound but I feel now I don't know what I'm talking about and am concerned maybe he is hurting somewhere!
 
Hope it all works out for the best for you all.

Don't worry though, my friend is a horse vet and she sees a lame horse and I see a sound one! I've been around horses for 40 years so I would have thought I could spot lameness but she picks up the very subtle signs that pass me by.
 
I paid for horse to be revetted today. Sailed through most of the vetting - vet (very nice guy!) said he looked perfectly sound on the straight, in a circle, walk trot and canter etc. However, he did come up stiff in the hindleg flexion tests this time - a couple of lame strides then sound.

Vet said to me that in his opinion it was nothing much to worry about - we might want to look into it but that it was unsurprising in a 14 year old. However, I did ask him to phone the prospective purchaser and be very honest with her and he said that he couldn't guarantee him sound for more than hacking so she does not want him anymore.

I'm not sure what to do now. He feels great in the school, instructor says he looks well although obviously he's still very unfit. Farrier (very experienced/well known) says he thinks as he comes into work he will be good to compete for many more years. I will get our vet to check him over anyway but I need to sell him sooner rather than later as well.

What would you do?
 
My horse failed his flexion tests twice, even though he looked 100% sound. Turned out he had arthritis in his hocks. He had to go to the vets for tests, and that was the diagnosis, so he had injections into his hocks, and will need them every 18 months for the rest of his life, and he's 10. It could very easily be something similar with your horse, do definitely get the vet to check him.

My horse is now really 100% sound, and is going to the people who originally wanted him, albeit at a much reduced price.
 
Agree with other posters.

Re-advertise, maybe as a happy hacker / pleasure competition & be honest about his potential limitations.

Price will obviously have to reflect the new information.

Plenty of people looking for an honest, slightly older horse. Just be aware though that people will not be able to get illness insurance because of his age so it may put some people off.
 
**Vanner** said:
Advertise him with this information - some people would value your honesty.
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I completly agree, that is great advice for you. Some people may be willing to pay a reduced price on a very good, honest competition pony, just because of a failed vetting.
Some people may not think that his problems are bad enough.
Others may not even bother to get him vetted if its a low asking price.
 
To be honest vettings are very subjective and there could something one day that isnt seen another day, I recently sold a horse that for failed a 2* vetting with the original buyer, trotted up well, flexions all fine etc then lunged on a surface vet said he was lame behind.
2nd buyer came and wanted vetting with a vet I know is renowned for failing everything, cue 5* vetting complete with xrays etc and horse passed with flying colours. Baffling :rolleyes:
 
This is precisely the reason why you should always have a horse vetted prior to purchase as in some cases even honest and caring owners are not aware that their horses have a problem.
 
I'm sorry but i would not advertise him as only suitable for hacking just because he has failed on flexions!

he passed the first lot of flexion tests which just goes to show what a complete waste of time flexion tests really are.

I would get him re-checked by your own vet for peace of mind and then readvertise for full value assuming your vet doesn't find anything.
 
I had a pony fail a vetting once, it was vetted by a different vet three days later and passed...I don’t hold out much hope for vetting to be honest.

I have never had a horse vetted, including the one I spent rather a lot of money on in January (though he did come with a 3 week old vetting, which he had passed)

I have known people to have vettings, only to get the horse home and something go wrong in the first one or two weeks. One was behavioural - and she had no come back with the dealer as the vet had passed it as sane and sound. Second horse did a suspensory five days after she got it.

Would also like to add that I think flexion tests are a load of rubbish - my horse was sound after flexion when he chipped a bone out of his hock - so not entirely sure what they are out to prove!! He was also sound on a small circle...
 
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Thank you all for the advice. Own vet is coming out to x-ray. I don't think I'll say on the ad hacking only just yet - he seems more than happy to go (WELL!) in the school and I'd like him to continue competing - he isn't a jumper or Grand Prix dressage horse in any case. He'd be a great schoolmaster for a long time yet in my opinion but will just have to say how the x-rays go.
 
millitiger said:
I'm sorry but i would not advertise him as only suitable for hacking just because he has failed on flexions!

he passed the first lot of flexion tests which just goes to show what a complete waste of time flexion tests really are.

I would get him re-checked by your own vet for peace of mind and then readvertise for full value assuming your vet doesn't find anything.
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Exactly what ^ she said!
I think an amount of common sense is required here. Shame his prospective purchaser couldn't see beyond this to be honest. A lot of horses take a couple of 'lame' steps after flexion tests - and given he is 14 I would expect it. Time to look at the bigger picture - it certainly doesn't mean he can only hack!
 
well you can lame anything with flexions! yong or old. i think lunging on the hard on a smallish circle 5 to 8 metres is more accurate. but at 14 you wshould expect a few niggles doesnt mean the horse is past it!! i would get horse shod, walk the shoes in for 2 to 3 days and then re vet. if it fits the bill in every way then i wouldnt have a problem with it!
 
I'm so confused. One said signs of lameness in front, the other said fine in front but stiff behind - he feels sound to me but I don't know if I'm missing anything. Still scoring highly in dressage competitions.

Will get him checked by our vet but so dispirited, we genuinely thought I had the perfect schoolmaster for somebody, part native with never a day lameness, no blemishes and lots of experience, I feel like he's written off now! He's an honest horse so maybe hiding something causing him discomfort (hence our vet appointment) but even so surely the odd veterinary treatment is not too much to ask for such an amazing character with a seriously good record?
 
Without knowing how big and his record I'd say that if he's safe and sane and has been out competing with a good record and reputation for good behaviour he will sell word of mouth!

There might be an issue as he has been out of work so whilst you are ringing round instructors you've worked with, places he's competed at, local PC and RC to let them know he's for sale also ask if there's someone who needs a horse to ride over the summer, to get fit and start back competing - that's assuming you have neither the time nor the inclination to do it yourself. Once he's out and competing and advertising himself as being sound he should sell easily.

Whereabouts are you?
 
Horseyskates said:
I'm so confused. One said signs of lameness in front, the other said fine in front but stiff behind - he feels sound to me but I don't know if I'm missing anything. Still scoring highly in dressage competitions.

Will get him checked by our vet but so dispirited, we genuinely thought I had the perfect schoolmaster for somebody, part native with never a day lameness, no blemishes and lots of experience, I feel like he's written off now! He's an honest horse so maybe hiding something causing him discomfort (hence our vet appointment) but even so surely the odd veterinary treatment is not too much to ask for such an amazing character with a seriously good record?
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I don't know how much you are asking for him, but for a 14 year there is going to be some wear and tear especially if he has been competing. I would get him shod, get him fit and advertise him as before. Unless you are asking silly money most people would only have eyes and heart checked anyway. As others have said vetting is SO subjective. The problem these days is that younger vets vet everything as if it is going round Burghley even if it is to be a happy hacker and are not prepared to pass anything with the slightest issue....irrespective of use. Don't worry ....trust me!
 
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