Potential Purchase but Skin Problems

WelshD

WelshD

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After buying my yearling recently I have discovered that his ex field mate is up for sale

It would be nice to reunite them especially as my planned loan of a friends horse as a companion has fallen through

When I visited to buy my yearling the other pony had a full fly rug on, the owner said he has been badly bitten by insects and had gone scabby

Now this is a cheap pony but should I be cautious of the bites? It doesn't sound like sweet itch so could it be alleviated by a change of location?

Also how likely is it that when the scabs have healed there will be no marks left (potential for local level showing here) I didn't look much at this pony when I was there so don't know exactly where the scabs are

Is an insurer likely to exclude skin problems from the insurance cover as the pony had some cream prescribed

Or do I just say thanks but no thanks?
 
Hi sorry to bump this one up but I am still considering this purchase

My yearling is rather unsettled and so this could be a good solution and the proposed purchase (not a yearling!) is of good breeding and worth the trouble

Is there a definitive test for sweet itch? The pony has some scabs but no characteristic rubbing of mane and dock

Could it be that it's just simply more sensitive to bites?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated
 
Sweet itch shows up in the second or third year. Usually rubbing of mane tail and scurfy withers are the classic signs. Standard fly rugs don't stop it because its an allergy to midge bites. Fly rugs don't have a fine enough mesh and are usually open at the belly and legs, allowing midges to bite through or go up under the rug. If he's less than 2yrs and the fly rug is helping its probably not sweet itch. Though a horse having sweet itch wouldn't put me off buying it anyway. Sure, it requires management, but there's no such thing as the perfect horse.
 
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