Possible purchase - what would you do?

[Sprogladite01]

Viewed a pony today after losing my boy last year to kidney failure. Vet at the time speculated likely to be an internal tumour (he was a grey connie). Pony I viewed today is also a grey connie, 4 years old. Really, really lovely little mare, green but super sweet. The only reservation I had coming out of the viewing is that she has a small, pea-sized lump (smooth, non ulcerated) under her tail. I am in two minds about it - she is a lovely, lovely horse but I'm not sure what to make of this lump. Would it put you off buying/proceeding?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have lost 2 greys too young so I always avoid greys now.

 

[Patterdale]

I would run a mile and never look back. But then I would never even view a grey I’m afraid, for this very reason.

Sorry for your loss

 

[twiggy2]

Viewed a pony today after losing my boy last year to kidney failure. Vet at the time speculated likely to be an internal tumour (he was a grey connie). Pony I viewed today is also a grey connie, 4 years old. Really, really lovely little mare, green but super sweet. The only reservation I had coming out of the viewing is that she has a small, pea-sized lump (smooth, non ulcerated) under her tail. I am in two minds about it - she is a lovely, lovely horse but I'm not sure what to make of this lump. Would it put you off buying/proceeding?

I wouldn't take the risk

 

[TheMule]

Nope, if you suspect there’s already a melanoma there it's a definite steer clear from me.
I lost my old boy to melanomas- he was 23 but he didn’t have any until he was 19. And once they started they didn’t stop sprouting

 

[Lady Jane]

The lump sounds like a melanoma - at least that's a really common place to get them. I had one boy with melanomas, he made it to 27yrs and they never caused a problem. I have another grey who has had melanoma simce he was about 10(?) - he is 19 now and retired. His melanoma are worst around his throat and I can see could cause a problem in the future. But I bought anotgher grey (my avatar). Nothing is certain with horses and if that is your only concern I would probably progress to a 5 stage vet but make sure the vet starts on the lump so he can stop there is he is concerned (and save you money). If its a sarcoid that's another matter - to me anyway, but many may disagree. Let is know how things go

 

[Floofball]

Agree with the above post but just wanted to add that 4 years old is very young to be starting with them. My grey lad started with them under his tail about 12/13. Lost him at 18 with strangulating lipoma that was thought to be linked. It has put me off another grey

 

[Sprogladite01]

Thanks everyone. Pretty much what I thought, but darn it she ticks every box except for this! Does anyone know if it's possible to biopsy/fine needle aspirate to find out exactly what the lump is without going for the whole hog on vetting (assuming seller is open to that)?

 

[nagblagger]

If you want to go forward i would get her vetted, raising concerns about the lump. You will then have the facts with treatment costs and expectations then you can make an informed decision to either walk away or discuss a lower price. She will not be able to be insured for this 'lump'so think about this when you decide.
I confess i'm a grey lover.,

 

[SadKen]

I would have previously said run away. If she is perfect in every other way I’d be inclined to get a vet to give me a good idea of what it was, and then I’d buy her at a low price to reflect the problem and enjoy every day to the max knowing there might not be as many of them. Nothing is certain with horses, you can buy one that seems perfect and it can have a fall in the field the next day, or colic and your world has ended. I think it would depend mightily on whether that ‘embrace the now, don’t worry about the future’ approach feels right for you, I can certainly understand if it didn’t.

 

[COldNag]

I bought a 16 year old with a small melanoma under the tail and 12 years on it hasn't changed.

A 4 year old.... very different. It would definitely worry me.

 

[Marigold4]

It would depend how much I liked the horse. I'm not sure I'd be that bothered but would expect a price reduction. I had a connie with one under her tail. I got her at 9 and she was pts at 22 for other reasons. The melanoma grew once she hit her 20s and she developed 2 more small ones at that stage but not an issue. I think my vet's approach of leave it alone has changed now to something more proactive, so would be worth talking to your vet.

 

[Bernster]

I’d be very wary of getting a grey now, as my boy has had melanoma since he was 7. He’s been amazing and we’ve had a lot of fun but it’s not something I’d want to deal with again.

 

[Melody Grey]

I would have previously said run away. If she is perfect in every other way I’d be inclined to get a vet to give me a good idea of what it was, and then I’d buy her at a low price to reflect the problem and enjoy every day to the max knowing there might not be as many of them. Nothing is certain with horses, you can buy one that seems perfect and it can have a fall in the field the next day, or colic and your world has ended. I think it would depend mightily on whether that ‘embrace the now, don’t worry about the future’ approach feels right for you, I can certainly understand if it didn’t.

Exactly this- horses are all a gamble at the end of the day. That said, if there were others available without obvious drawbacks, I’d consider them perhaps over this one.

 

[Red-1]

Mine is a grey but, before purchase, I checked he didn't have any melanomas as he too was just 4 and I think that is too young to start dealing with them. I accept that most greys get them in the end.

That said, my vet says that treatment for a melanoma has changed from when it was best advised to leave them. He says current practice is to operate early and often they then don't come back for years.

I would buy one over 10yo if it was small and inert and the horse was already doing what I wanted.

I don't like greys. They lie in poo.

 

[Sprogladite01]

After lots of going back and forth on it, I cancelled the 2nd viewing that was meant to happen today. I think 4 is just too young to be starting to deal with melanomas, and as much as I like the pony I'd end up giving myself a really hard time if they became problematic quickly (I should have known better etc etc - I don't tend to be kind to myself like that!). I'd also constantly be worrying/checking for new ones. I think I may have to stop viewing greys - my boy last year, then the grey Arab I had vetted had 2 suspect lumps and failed the vetting (after flexions), this one I absolutely love but has a lump too. I obviously have a thing for greys deep down as that's what I keep going for, but I don't want to set myself up for more stress/heartbreak - horses are inventive enough in finding ways to break our hearts without an added risk that can be avoided (mostly) simply by picking one of a different colour!

Aaarrgghhh. I hate horse shopping!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

IMO the right decision. Very disappointing for you but better to buy something without an already visible risk in a young 4 year old.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I think you made the right decision. I won't have a grey for this reason. Friend has a grey 8 year old that has had melanomas for a few years. It's not what you can see for me, it's what is going on inside. Better to be safe than sorry. Good luck in your search.

 

[Rowreach]

I lost one at 12 due to melanoma. Hers started young. I wouldn’t.

 

[Sprogladite01]

Thanks all. My previous boy was only 13 when I lost him so don't want to go through that again. Disappointing, but just means "the one" is still out there waiting for me...

...right?!

 

[Ratface]

Sprogladite01, I think that you have been very sensible in deciding not to proceed further with the potential purchase of the grey horse.
I hope you find another "possible" very quickly.