Potential new horse - vet history?

[AmyP28]

Hi all, I am possibly purchasing a horse from a local contact so not from a dealer. I have never bought as an adult so not sure on what to expect! I’m told the horse had a suspensory injury last year but is back in work following a successful rehab programme from the vet etc. I’m going to ask for more details but not sure what is standard practice! Two questions:

1. Is it normal for one owner’s vets to send details of an injury and treatment to another’s before purchasing so we can make our own mind up about the prognosis and do they normally charge for this?

2. Does anyone have any knowledge of suspensory injuries and what the prognosis is like? The horse is eight and will be for all-rounder riding club activities and also some jumping. Hard to tell without further details but any info greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Zoeypxo]

I would reccomend a 5 stage vetting, that should help answer your second question as the vet can fully assess current soundness and advise on suitability.
You can ask for the owner to give you the vet history but as far as im aware they don’t have to give it to you.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

With the owners permission their vet can send the notes to you or your vet.

With suspensory injuries both of my horses had an injury on the same hind limb one was 12 when he did it and recovered after prp and 6 months box rest his was basically a hole in it, when he was 18 he had slight damage to both suspensories behind and had laser and field rest his still ridden but I'm careful with him.

Other horse had a not so serious tear he had laser and field rest as he won't box rest he came sound and has been fine ever since his 19 now.

I would be very cautious buying an 8 year old that has had suspensory damage to be honest I personally wouldn't consider it.

So many horses have psd now which is a degeneration of the suspensories that is the worst prognosis because they will just get worse over time.

Where as if just one leg has a hole or damage to the suspensory chances are it was caused by something the horse did rather than a ongoing condition.

 

[nutjob]

I would give it a miss but I've had one which had bilateral hind suspensory problems DSLD/ESPA and was PTS at aged 6. One which developed hind suspensory problems while rehabbing a SDFT injury on a front leg and ended up being PTS age 16. Currently got one with one front suspensory being rehabbed for last 18 months as he reinjured it getting over excited in the field, he looks like he may be sound now but I wouldn't risk jumping him again, currently aged 12. They can be deceptive and the injury can be more severe than the amount of lameness suggests, an ultrasound is not very expensive and I would def. have this done before buying even if the horse is sound.

 

[Birker2020]

Many years ago now I went to view a horse with a suspsensory branch injury that had healed (this was a branch and not the actual suspensory - so even a better prognosis). To be honest I wasn't sure that I even wanted to see the horse but went along 'just in case'.

Anyway said horse was back in work with a successful rehab programme and scan under its belt. However it was lame on viewing with a visible swelling on its leg and I didn't even sit on it. Couple of weeks later and said horse was PTS as the injury turned catastrophic whilst jumping at a show with the seller.

So no, it retrospect I wouldn't look at a horse with this injury again.

My previous horse had a branch injury, eventually we opted for PRP which was very satisfactory and I followed rehab instructions from the vet to the letter and the horse went back jumping for many years until an incident where the horse caught its leg in a wheelbarrow and the branch developed calcification with the structures surrounding it. Although the vet assured me it was mechanical lameness and not painful I was advised after a couple of years to stop jumping which I did. Horse was then hacked for a couple of years before being pts on the same leg with DDFT/navicular issue.

 

[ihatework]

Yes, provided the seller consents, the treating vet can share the history with your vet. Hopefully the vets know each other and can have a professional conversation on the cause, extent and potential future implications for the injury. Then your vet can guide you on the level of risk you may be taking on. Depending on you relationship with your vet, you may or may not be charged. Certainly my vet would not charge me, but I do put a lot of work their way!

Be aware that you won’t get insured for recurrence of the specific injury, and you may well get a blanket exclusion on that leg, and opposite tendon to start with (usually lifted after 12 months if no further issues).

 

[dixie]

You could ask if he’s been re-scanned and if your vet could view the images