Query regarding 5 stage vetting...

C

Cinders

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 October 2005
Messages
334
Visit site
Hoping some of you might be able to shed some light on this issue..

We're currently starting to look for a new horse once again as i moved off ponies onto a lovely 15.2 in august who sadly went lame 3 months later, she's hopefully going for more tests soon but her future doesn't look great and vet already thinks she'll never be rideable again.

We found a lovely sounding 15.3 and last thursday we went to view her, was a nice allrounder the been there done it type but she wasn't in full work and hadn't been competed at all this year due to her owners ill health which was the reason for sale. Rode her, popped a few jumps and took her down the road and she didn't put a foot wrong, felt totally safe on her so not wanting to let her go dad put a deposit down. She had a lump on her hind leg that owner said was caused by her mother treading on her when she was a foal but just to be on the safe side we said we'd have her vetted.

We booked a 5 stage vetting which happened yesterday and the horse was failed due to lameness. The owner who is the nicest most genuine person i've ever met, rang my dad up in tears saying the vet had been rude and aggressive towards her, he'd accused her of using lice power on the horse as he could smell it when in actually fact it was just tail spray the owner had used. He'd questioned the age and claimed the horse was a lot older than 13 despite the fact that this horse has proof of it's age and the woman has owner it for 8 years. Bit embarrassing for us as we used our own vets! Understandably i'm upset the horse failed but was ready to just move on but neither us nor the woman selling had had a vetting done so she looked up the criteria on the internet this morning and then rang us again to say she was a bit confused because our vet didn't examine the horse at all and when they trotted her up he made them do it on a down hill slope despite the fact that the horse was slipping, is it normal to do it like this?!

When the vet spoke to my dad he said any horse which isn't in full work won't pass a vetting anyway, which has left me thinking why did we bother then?! no one mentioned this before! He also said we shouldn't even consider buying this horse due to the lameness that showed up but also as it wasn't a very nice type of horse. Must say i feel a bit disheartened as we can't all afford to buy expensive flashy sport horses.

Any input greatly appreciated as i'm completely new to having vettings done. The owners sending our deposit back and i realise we can't have a horse thats showing lameness but i do feel like this horse maybe wasn't given a fair chance? Also the more i read it seems like not many horses pass flexion tests anyway?
 
All our horses passed flexion tests. So I think thats an excuse many sellers use.
If its lame, walk away, particularly with one at home already lame!
 
Flexion tests (when the vet picks their legs up and hold them for a couple of minutes then trot them straight away to test for hidden lameness) are a bit controvertial (sp?), and a horse can fail with one vet and pass with another. They're generally trotted up on a hard even surface. Their heart and eyes should be checked and the legs should be felt over and checked for any lumps and bumps. They do other things but not sure! Ideally, you should have been present for the vetting (but i can't talk - i wasn't at mine!) If you really liked the horse, then get a second opinion from a different vet. And horses not in work don't pass vettings? My horse had been ridden about 3 times in as many months and passed easily. Depends on the horse.

x
 
Shame you or your dad wasnt there at the vetting u would have been able to get a clearer picture then.
Never mind it obviously was not ment to be, there are plenty of horses out there.
5 stage vettings are really really hard to pass though dependng on what u want the horse for, but remember a horse could be ok n pass a vetting and then a couple of days later go lame, you cant win.
Good luck nxt time
 
We had a pony fail a flexion dramatically (as buyers) and witnessed her rear as the flexion was done and trot away and back very lame. We didn't buy. Another person bought her without a vetting and she has hunted three seasons since then with an up-to-weight rider and never had a day's lameness. So there's the other side of the coin for you.
crazy.gif
 
You could ask for a 2nd opinion with another vet... I have heard lots of stories where horses pass with different vets on a different day in different weathers etc etc but you will always have in the back of your mind that that horse had a problem - do you want that worry? I have had 1 horse fail on flexion and current one (a 12 yr old TB) passed so it is possible to pass...
 
It may be worth asking if you the vendor would consider a short term loan with view to having the horse re-vetted in, say, three month's time, when it is in full work.
 
Thanks for all the replies, very interesting!

It is a shame we weren't present for the vetting but it just couldn't be fitted in and we had no idea it would be complicated!

At the moment we're keeping an eye out for other suitable horses but we might consider asking the seller for a trial period or loan, which she might be ok with as at the moment she said she'll probably hang on to her for a bit as she can't bare to go through all this again. My hearts saying get a second opinion as this horse seemed great but then my heads saying don't tempt fate, we've already got a lame one so go for something sound that actually passes the vetting! Plus it would be very awkward going to our vets with said horse when they've already failed it on the vetting!
 
A lot of vets these days are very wary about passing a horse as they are very well aware that should that horse go lame within a short time after you purchase it then it could well come back on their heads! I presume the vet you sent was an equine vet? That can be another problem, some vets are not that great with horses and indeed vetting them and I wouldn't necessarily take the vets opinion of a horse's age as a given unless i knew damn well that vet knew what he was talking about!

My sister's horse did not technically pass the 5 stage vetting as he was not developed enough in his front limbs (very weak) and the vet advised we wouldn't be able to do any hard work with him for at least another year (he was 4 at purchase) and he was likely to throw splints. Anyway, he couldn't fail him either really it was basically up to us. We went to get him having deciding to risk it as we thought he showed potential. The owners however decided our vet didn't have a clue what he was talking about etc etc but we trust our vet and have known him for years and he is very thorough.

Be careful you are not being emotionally blackmailed by an owner who knows damn well you like the horse. What she says the vet said and what he actually said to her could be completely different things. She may seem like the nicest person in the works but sadly some people can be very deceiving and of course she didn't want her horse to fail. If you have any inkling something is not quite right then walk away. There's plenty of horses out there!
 
I would be wary about the trail period. You asked for the horse to be vetted for a reason - peace of mind. Your vet has stopped the vetting by the sounds of it because the horse was found to be lame. That is usual procedure. Seems silly to spend all that money, and then totally disregard your vet's advice.

If the horse was lame - a second opinion won't change that......

I found it invaluable to be at the vetting of my horse when I bought him last year. And would make every effort to be at the vetting of any prospective horse in the future.

Shame, but there will be others.
 
First of all, if you get another horse vetted then make sure you go to the vetting. You really need to see and hear what the vet does/says.

We had been looking for a pony for my daughter for 3 mths. The first we liked we hat vetted (not my vet as another area) and it failed because of a back problem causing lameness in both back legs. the vet stopped the vetting at that point because there was no point carrying on.

The next we found that we liked, again failed - this time on a rear leg flexion test. He continued the vetting and was going to re-do the flexion test 2 wks later but having time to think about it, we decided to walk away.

3rd time luck - last Friday we had a pony vetted and he passed everything and we brought him home on Saturday.

there is a horse out there waiting for you. You had the vetting done for a reason and it would be unwise really to go against your vet's advice. But please make sure you attend the vetting next time.

Good luck in your search - he/she is out there somewhere!
 
my mare passed a 5 stage vetting!
and she had a rotated pelvis and a sacroilliac ligament strain
thankfully we have it on the mend now
just proves the vetting is not infalable
 
sounds to me like 6 of one and half a dozen of the other!
if you really like the horse get a second opinion as some vets aren't great, but then again be wary of the owner; im sure she is a honest person but at the end of the day she wants to sell the horse and could be aware of underlying problems, or the vet could just be crap! get a second opinion from a different vet and try to be there.
 
[ QUOTE ]
sounds to me like 6 of one and half a dozen of the other!
if you really like the horse get a second opinion as some vets aren't great

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, I'm being pedantic I know - but.

If a horse is lame it is lame. How would a second opinion help?

And if the vet isn't great - then surely the OP wouldn't (or shouldn't) have asked them to vet in the first instance.

What is the point in asking the vet that you use and trust to vet your potential new horse - if you are then going to swan off and get another opinion from someone you don't know - so can't trust - because the answer from the first vet is not what you want to hear
confused.gif


Horses fail vettings!
 
Agree with AmyMay on this one - you paid for a prefessional opinion from someone you *hopefull* trust who has been a good vet to you - he failed it on lameness, why pay for another vetting?

Personally would always be there for vetting but at the end of the day the vet is working for you so should give you a good service.

I've also never had a horse fail a flexion with differents and pass with another.

Horse really should not look any lamer going downhil, uphill, across a hill etc - if it's lame, it's lame.
 
Your all completely right and i guess we must walk away. The vet although i don't know him personally is one of the senior partners and has a very good reputation and for him to say 'please don't buy this horse' i don't know why we're even considering it!

AmyMay- thats very true, no point in us paying £250 for us to do the opposite to what the vet said!

Thanks for making me see sense, if anyone knows of a 15.2-16.2 for sale them let me know!
 
A friend of mine sent me details of a horse the other day someone she knows is selling - I deleted it though as didn't know anyone who was looking. I think he was a 5 or 6 old chestnut and was reasonably priced - i think?!

Not sure where you are though - my friend's in kent. If you want me to send you details I can get ask her to resend?
 
LadyT- unfortunately i'm in lincolnshire so kent would be way to far to travel, plus i'm not very experienced so wouldn't want to risk having a young horse, thanks for the offer though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top