roach back please help :-(

[shezza]

hi there- help again please on my horse hunting!

Seen a lovely tb advertised, 8yo, not seen him yet but she said that he wouldn't pass a vetting due to his mild roach back which would be classed as a confirmatation fault? as for offers, is willing to drop price by 1200 pounds for quick sale...buyer beware?!?!

 

[Cuppatea]

depends what you want to use him for?

 

[shezza]

nothing fantastic, local stuff/fun etc maybe local dressage /hacking etc i think it's the willingness to drop in price that sets alarm bells ringing although i'm a cynic!!

 

[PercyMum]

I'm fully prepared for people to shoot me down in flames over this but I bought 2 horse with 'mild roach back' and both have had to have Kissing Spine Surgery! Neither now have a roach back! So I have a theory that roach back MAY be indicative of KS. Although I base that entirely on 2 horses and am probably talking nonsense!!!!

So essentially I wouldn't as there are plenty of lovely horses out there at a similar price without any probs

 

[MissMoo]

depends what you want to use him for?

Agree with the above. My TB ex-racer has got a mild roach back, passed a five stage vetting for general hacking/riding club use but my insurance policy put an exclusion on for 'conformational abnormalities'. Most people don't even notice she has a slight roach back unless she is untacked and I point it out. As she filled out and muscled up it has become barely noticeable.

 

[Archangel]

I was always led to believe horses with roach backs (not too extreme mnd) were good jumpers.

 

[Cuppatea]

go have a look at him and see how 'mild' it is....!!

 

[shezza]

ye i will- i've seen pics of him jumping etc but hard to tell in a photo- i was thinking of ringing my vet's and asking their opinion too -you never know!

 

[Waterborn]

I was always led to believe horses with roach backs (not too extreme mnd) were good jumpers.

Agree with that, here's my daughter's horse with mild Roach back and we'll never sell him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh-IwsRhITY&feature=player_embedded

 

[Umbongo]

I'm fully prepared for people to shoot me down in flames over this but I bought 2 horse with 'mild roach back' and both have had to have Kissing Spine Surgery! Neither now have a roach back! So I have a theory that roach back MAY be indicative of KS. Although I base that entirely on 2 horses and am probably talking nonsense!!!!

So essentially I wouldn't as there are plenty of lovely horses out there at a similar price without any probs

My old share horse with a roach back had KS too! Unfortunately his was too severe for surgery....would have been interesting to see if the roach back disappeared after surgery

 

[shezza]

he's stunning have u ever had any probs with insurance/saddles/vettings etc?

 

[pastie2]

I wouldnt worry too much about a roach back. I had an eventer with that condidtion and she went advanced.

 

[Louey]

I also had a lovely 15.3 dressage/showjumper with a roach back and he had a great career especially for dressage. I really wouldnt worry too much but go and check him out.