Revetting a horse?

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Ahrena

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I am gutted to say the 3yo I had vetted today failed the vet. He did a few lame steps after flexion of the lower leg in 1 front leg, which was the same when repeated and worse after exercise.

The vet said if we really wanted him, to have him revetted with x-rays in 10-14 days time as there is always the chance he could of tweaked something in the field or something and could flex sound tomorrow. She said the main concern at this point is he isn't in work and we could find he goes lame once worked.

She also advised if we wanted to do this, to phone up insurance companies and ask if they would insure him and that leg if he passed second time round.

Has anyone done this? If we were to revet him, and he passed, would it be fair to ask for a reduction in his price?
 
Just wanted to offer my sympathy, and will watch with interest - especially the point on the insurance.

I had a failed (4th in a row) yesterday on a youngster who skipped a slight positive on a flexion test, lunged fine but then rode lame.

My vet suggested that, because the horse's feet were in such dreadful condition (massive toe crack to boot), to get her sorted and she would come back and finish the vetting rather than failing her right there and then. I am doing this. But am worried. I want to event and am concerned that a 6 yo that has been ridden 7 times since being backed and schooled on in December should be lame behind. I didn't see it when I went to try her, and I can spot a lameness from 100 miles away.

Sorry - just made that all about me, but wanted to offer sympathy and comparison.

I think it comes down to whether you like the horse, and what you want to do with him, ultimately. My vet has marked the check as 'incomplete' rather than a fail. She's not going to charge for a whole re-test. Is this something yours is prepared to do if all else was satisfactory?
 
I don't think you can expect a reduction in price if the horse passes .
It's a hard one it really depends on how much you like the horse if he passes and you buy him will yoube able to be happy and forget it or will it be in the back of your mind bugging you ?
I think I would worry about the three yo that did not just sail through a vetting but you could be turning down a perfectly sound horse that banged its self yesterday. Was it the fetlock or knee flexion he failed ?
 
Some years ago I had a horse vetted who was found to be quite lame on the day. My vet, who was at the time THE expert on lameness, thought it was worth getting him vetted again when he was sound. I did this and whilst he wasn't lame the recommendation was to get his front feet x-rayed. They showed slight change to his navicular bones but the vet did not think they were clinically significant at that time but would possibly be a cause for concern in the future.

Anyway I really liked the horse and went ahead and bought him - although with a reduction in price. After 8 years he did develop navicular but fortunately with rehab he came sound.

If you really like the horse it would be worth having a second vetting with x-rays but be prepared to walk away.
 
My first re vet was paused on a sore back, saw a chiropractor, passed and never had another problem. My second was similar, paused for sore back, saw chiropractor and passed. Retired 4 years later, kissing spine one of the reasons. The third was at distance, had a saddle rub , vet queried and wanted physio report which we did then horse passed . Since had problems everywhere but his back. I've since had two pass but vet advised against purchase, one with deteriorating wind problem at 5 which would worsen with growth, the second wasn't right on a hard circle. Vet felt predicted work load would be too much but would have passed for riding club etc.
 
Goldenstar said:
I don't think you can expect a reduction in price if the horse passes .
It's a hard one it really depends on how much you like the horse if he passes and you buy him will yoube able to be happy and forget it or will it be in the back of your mind bugging you ?
I think I would worry about the three yo that did not just sail through a vetting but you could be turning down a perfectly sound horse that banged its self yesterday. Was it the fetlock or knee flexion he failed ?
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Thanks. Personally I'm not concerned about price reduction as imo it's my choice to have horse revetted and if he passes with x-rays there obviously isn't a problem with him, its my mum who was banging on about it so thought I would ask for opinions.

It was fetlock flexion, he was fine on the knee one.

I'm going to phone insurance companies in a bit, if they will insure him I think I'll have a revet with x-rays (including feet).

I want him to event, ideally to a pretty high level so can't buy something with future problems but I really like him and he has a superb temperament so hate to think i could lose him due to a knock in the field!

Thanks btw, i did wonder whether i was being a fool to even bother revet but feel a bit better about that now.
 
So so sorry to hear this - I know that you had your heart set on him. :(

Why don't you sleep on it tonight before making a decision. If it was me I would be tempted to walk away especially as you want him for high level stuff, but only you can make that decision.

Hugs, you must be devastated. xx
 
Almost all of the 3 year olds that sell from my farm have digital x-rays taken at their vettings. These are then emailed over to the buyers vet for them to talk the buyer through what they see. Nearly every single youngster who sells from my farm is bought unseen so the vettings are very important to both myself and the buyers. We've had this discussion on this forum before and it seems the case that in the UK flexions still seem to hold a lot of weight, over here not so much and they are never done on very young horses over here. If it were me I'd have xrays done to give a better idea of what, if anything, is going on.
 
I have to say I would walk away. There are enough things that can go wrong in the future and even x-rays are not always foolproof. The horse is 3 and I am sure you can find another.
Sorry, but I cannot really understand why you would want to take it further.
 
huntley said:
I have to say I would walk away. There are enough things that can go wrong in the future and even x-rays are not always foolproof. The horse is 3 and I am sure you can find another.
Sorry, but I cannot really understand why you would want to take it further.
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Just incase he twisted something in the field or something.

I'v found flexion tests notoriously unreliable and the vet said several times he could easily pass a flexion test tomorrow.

I really like the horse, and feel if he passed a flexion test second time round AND x-rays showed nothing then he must of just twisted something in the field or something.

I dunno, just thinking things through.

For anyone interested, i phoned 2 insurances, pet something (not sure which it is now, not pet plan) wouldn't insure him, but NFU who my others are with would fully insure him if he passed the second vetting with x-rays.
 
The same thing happened with us today :( He failed the flexion test on both front legs. He was going to be for my sister who is absolutely gutted because she is quite a nervous rider and it was the happiest we had seen her for ages. My dad wants to get him revetted with x-rays and nerve tests but my mum isn't so sure. Our only problem is that it is a lot of money to spend if we have to walk away at the end of it.
I completely understand how you are feeling! :( x
 
Sorry to read that Ahrena. I'd go for the xrays. I think Springfeather gives some really good advice.

Flexions are such a can of worms.

You may have an issue with insurance though which is another issue to be weighed up.
 
The nicest horse I think I ever rode failed a vetting when I was buying it it was a 5 yo it took two lame steps lunged on a IOmetre circle it's feet where not in good condition and I had asked them to reshoe it before vetting as it was way overdue to be shod .
I have the misfortune to see its picture in HandH fairly regularily .
I regret not getting them to shoe it and vetting again but given the vet drove 275 miles to do the vetting and the horse was cost more than our house did when we bought it I walked away it still bugs me.
So I totally understand why OP is tempted to try again.
 
We've decided to revet with x-rays.

This horse gives me a feeling I've rarely had before and i really think he could be something special.

It's a lot of money to lose if it does fail, but will give me a great peace of mind, otherwise I'll always wonder what if.
 
Ahrena said:
We've decided to revet with x-rays.

This horse gives me a feeling I've rarely had before and i really think he could be something special.

It's a lot of money to lose if it does fail, but will give me a great peace of mind, otherwise I'll always wonder what if.
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Well I think you're doing the right thing :) Very best of luck it turns out to be nothing :)
 
My 4 year old came up 1/10th lame on a circle . Vet said was prob shoeing as he came from Ireland . So ... Bought him home subject to passing vetting once re shod and he passed :D
 
I think doing right thing to revet with xrays. something is telling you not to just walk away but with xrays etc you can make an informed decision. really hope all comes back good for you and let us know hun :)
 
I think you are doing the right thing. Yes, it's money, but it's £000s saved if he did show up something.

And (sorry to hijack your thread) thank you to those who mention revetting on shoeing and passing. HH is hoping very much now.
 
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