Neglected youngster - would you buy?

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cobface

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If you where to buy a youngster (more of one between 12 - 24 months) that was thin and neglected, what if any sort of problems may occur with it in the future? Are they a walking vet bill? i know at first its going to be costs of worming, farrier, vet etc.........
Would you rescue a neglected horse if you had a space, good grazing and companions waiting?
thanks :)
 
I have bought ones like this before and wouldn't hesitate to do it again if funds allowed, it is really rewarding and I never had any problems with vet bills later on in life, I have kept in touch with the owners of the worst one that i had, he was emaciated, FULL of worms and in a really bad way, but he has never had a day off sick and has been a ride and drive for a long time now (he even ate a fair bi of dry sugar beet when he escaped and apart from being uncomfortable he didnt even react badly enough to need the vet, he was deprived of water for a while by his new owners tho)
 
I would find that a really tricky situation. While I would very much want to remove a horse from a bad situation I would worry that by handing over money for a badly cared for horse I would be reinforcing the situation and feeding the demand as the seller would know they could get £ by pulling peoples heart strings and therefore wouldn't offer them any incentive to offer well cared for horses for sale. Would be different if the horse was in a poor condition and you were looking after it, but not buying it - ie helping out an owner who found themselves in difficult circumstances. Would reporting the youngster to a welfare charity not be an option instead? A hard situation to be in, a def head or heart decision.
 
The only thing I can think of is a girl whose pony had to be PTS shortly after mine did (unrellated incidents). Pone was only 5, a lovely dartmoor, but unbeknown to current owners had suffered such bad worm damage in his past that he colicked badly (at seemingly no trigger at all) and there was nothing for it but to PTS an otherwise healthy pony. He looked the picture of health - it was only the PM that revealed the reason for his demise, and when the owners bought him (aged 4) he certainly didn't look ill or neglected. :(
 
I bought a sportshorse 2 yrs old in a very poor state. I liked his breeding.

But

Beware that when they are ill you may not see there true personality and as soon as my became stronger and fitter I realised I had bitten off more than I could chew.

Having said that I am sure it was his bloodlines that made him difficult and for a normal horse I would have no hesitation.
 
If I had the money, time and grazing, yes....probably more so with a neglected one, every animal deserves a chance in life and it's nice to know people don't dismiss these just because there not up to weight and turned out to perfection.

Providing there is no obvious comformation problems from the out set, you should be ok, a good farrier can work wonders on a young foot.

It doesnt take long for a youngster specially at that age to loose condition and look neglected, but it doesnt mean physically there will be anything wrong with them once there back in full health.
 
Yes.
While i've never actually had a severly neglected horse, except a loan incident with my beloved late Squeak...
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a neglected youngster.
It's just not my choice of action right now even though I have a the space and money...I have my 2 year old turned away and using up grazing along with his "women" lol.

I guess it depends how it is neglected? malnutrition, abuse etc;
Mentally is obviously less expensive than physically, but a lot harder to "repair" as it were.
 
glosgirl said:
I would find that a really tricky situation. While I would very much want to remove a horse from a bad situation I would worry that by handing over money for a badly cared for horse I would be reinforcing the situation and feeding the demand as the seller would know they could get £ by pulling peoples heart strings and therefore wouldn't offer them any incentive to offer well cared for horses for sale. Would be different if the horse was in a poor condition and you were looking after it, but not buying it - ie helping out an owner who found themselves in difficult circumstances. Would reporting the youngster to a welfare charity not be an option instead? A hard situation to be in, a def head or heart decision.
Click to expand...

This is where I also stand with this sort of thing. I just feel by purchasing horses like this we as fueling the trade (if u get what I mean?).
 
Yes - but be aware that what you see is not necessarily what you get.

As others have seen there may be vet bills, difficulties and unforeseen problems ahead.

Dom was going to Reading market when I bought him from the dealer, he hated people and would be touched if he could avoid it. It took me months to gain his trust enough to get a headcollar on and off.

He was cut late and backed late because of his issues.

He hated having his legs handled (still not keen) so the first few farrier visits were a nightmare.

He's a headshaker.

He hated lorries.

:(


However, I now have a trusting, nosy, friendly, big personality cob who loves everyone. He still headshakes but we know how to manage it.

He calls when he sees me and always comes over in the field to say hello.

I wouldn't change him for the world. (well, mostly!!)

:)
 
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