Rotated pelvis

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gallopinghooves

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Hi everyone, a horse I'm hoping to buy just 'passed' her 5 stage vetting but the vet did say her pelvis is rotated (I had noticed it was 'uneven' when I tried her) but that it's not currently causing any issues at all and she is perfectly sound and fit to work etc.

However, he obviously had to say that it could cause issues down the line. I know they have to say that but I am a bit worried as surely it's not normal to have this. I'm sure with regular Chiro apps it could be sorted but does anybody have any experience / advice? Would you still purchase (she did pass after all)?
 
The vet did say the some horses are just born with an ‘uneven’ pelvis? She’s on sales livery so the girl doesn’t know and she’s not got any vet history at all.

Would he really pass her if he thought it was problematic? It’s frustrating as she’s 100% sound now. Passed her flexion tests and isn’t in discomfort but I am definitely concerned.

And I got the vetting because I really liked her and I didn’t know if my worried brain was just seeing things with her pelvis so wanted a professional opinion
 
What do you want to do with her? If you're looking to go for a safe steady wander round the block a few times a week it's a bit different to if you fancy going novice eventing... And is the price money youre prepared to write off?
For me it would probably bother me too much, I'm pretty keen to do a bit with my horses and starting with an issue I'd be concerned the work I'd be asking would have a negative impact
 
Roxylola said:
What do you want to do with her? If you're looking to go for a safe steady wander round the block a few times a week it's a bit different to if you fancy going novice eventing... And is the price money youre prepared to write off?
For me it would probably bother me too much, I'm pretty keen to do a bit with my horses and starting with an issue I'd be concerned the work I'd be asking would have a negative impact
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This really, if she’s cheap and cheerful and what you want then I would take the chance on her but not if you are wanting a competition horse.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I have an uneven pelvis - it causes me extensive pain and problems but you wouldn't always necessarily know from my gait.. obviously horse vs human is very different but I wouldn't entertain the idea.
Think of all the compensatory pressure on the surrounding soft tissues, spine, leg structures and likely foot
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I always think like this!! It kind of annoys me when there are visible confirmation issues but ‘no pain’ - horses don’t show pain for a long time! Totally agree with you and your reply as really emphasised how I feel so thank you.
 
Roxylola said:
What do you want to do with her? If you're looking to go for a safe steady wander round the block a few times a week it's a bit different to if you fancy going novice eventing... And is the price money youre prepared to write off?
For me it would probably bother me too much, I'm pretty keen to do a bit with my horses and starting with an issue I'd be concerned the work I'd be asking would have a negative impact
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I’m wanting to hack and lightly hunt, fun rides etc. Not bothered about jumping or dressage! But do want a horse who can canter and have fun.

She’s not cheap because she is very safe and kind. So I’m not sure I want to risk the money.

Hopefully I can get my deposit back though!
 
Out of curiosity what causes an uneven pelvis? Is it the bone/skeleton or muscle around it that's the problem? Or could it even be one leg shorter than the other? I'm guessing it's not ideal for top performance and staying pain free, however I am no vet.
 
Horses don't "pass or fail" a vetting. They are assessed on the day for their ability to do the job you have told the vet you want to do. Ie happy hacker or advanced medium dressage etc so the same horse could be suitable to hack but not to do dressage. She was sound at the time of vetting - did you get bloods taken - is the dealer doing sales livery on the dodgy dealer facebook site?
For me horses develop enough issues that I would not be looking to buy one with a possible major problem down the line.
 
misst said:
Horses don't "pass or fail" a vetting. They are assessed on the day for their ability to do the job you have told the vet you want to do. Ie happy hacker or advanced medium dressage etc so the same horse could be suitable to hack but not to do dressage. She was sound at the time of vetting - did you get bloods taken - is the dealer doing sales livery on the dodgy dealer facebook site?
For me horses develop enough issues that I would not be looking to buy one with a possible major problem down the line.
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Yes that’s why I said ‘pass’ as everyone knows what I mean. The dealer is reputable.

I agree. I think I’m going to pass but will loose a very hefty deposit even though it’s not really my fault that I’m pulling out!
 
mariew said:
Out of curiosity what causes an uneven pelvis? Is it the bone/skeleton or muscle around it that's the problem? Or could it even be one leg shorter than the other? I'm guessing it's not ideal for top performance and staying pain free, however I am no vet.
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It can be tight muscles &/or fascia - in which case some decent sessions of bodywork could sort it. But if it's been there a while then that's much harder because everything has twisted / shortened etc to adapt.

It could also be a symptom of something more serious - I saw an 8yo once who was a companion after a field accident as a youngster who was obviously down on one side
 
We had a pony as children with a rotated pelvis. She was a lovely old sort but only ever used for light hacking and dangling toddlers on. I don't think she was in pain as far as I can remember or would have known as a child, but definitely had a compromised slightly lop sided gait with it.

Lovely as she was I would never knowingly buy one with a rotated pelvis as I suspect that is why we were not allowed to do anything very exciting on her.

Edited to ask is it usual that a vet would pass any horse as 100 ok with a rotated pelvis? I don't really see how they can.
 
Run a mile!

Seller doesn't know the reason for the tilt; there's no vet history available and whilst it may be sound now, the chances are that with hunting over uneven terrain and in deep going you could exacerbate some underlying deeper issue. Oh, and not cheap??

PS. Has the horse hunted this season just gone? If so, how many days, with whom and over what type of country? If not, why not?

PPS. Vets no longer pass or fail horses on five stage vettings.
 
A horse who the vet says is lame or otherwise not fit for purpose has failed the vet. I don't see how else you would describe it.

A horse who is fit for purpose today but has issues which may limit it in future is more of a grey area, but for sure horses can pass and fail the vet.
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gallopinghooves said:
Hi everyone, a horse I'm hoping to buy just 'passed' her 5 stage vetting but the vet did say her pelvis is rotated (I had noticed it was 'uneven' when I tried her) but that it's not currently causing any issues at all and she is perfectly sound and fit to work etc.

However, he obviously had to say that it could cause issues down the line. I know they have to say that but I am a bit worried as surely it's not normal to have this. I'm sure with regular Chiro apps it could be sorted but does anybody have any experience / advice? Would you still purchase (she did pass after all)?
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I personally wouldn’t. Friend had an eventer who had a rotated or tilted pelvis, she bought him knowing this but he had great breeding and felt he’d be fine as he had competed a lot already with success and she’d be getting a bargain. At the start he just required a lot of extra work to ensure he had enough muscle to support himself and had a correct way of going. When he was about 12 or 13 or so the experience was just constant soundness issues and lameness, always needing bodywork sessions and injections in later life, towards the end was very reluctant to jump and owner didn’t want to push him when jumping was something he usually enjoyed so he’s a full time field ornament now that is semi retired apart from a hack here and there but he’s very happy keeping the youngsters company.

I think, while you might be getting a cheaper deal now, the maintenance of it may catch up with you in the future cost wise so if you’re willing to foot the cost to keep the horse comfortable, and able to cope with disappointment if horse suddenly comes out of the stables lame one day, or is dealing with intermittent lameness due to this issue then that’s fair, but I don’t think many buy a horse to pay large vet bills, physio bills, and be stressed about your horses well being all of the time, and anyone who is in this situation usually didn’t think they would be at the time of buying! You have a crystal ball!
 
Thanks so much for all of your helpful replies. I will pass on her - such a shame as she's so lovely. It's so unfair about deposits because even though the vet report says she's fit for purpose, the rotated pelvis is obviously a big deal and now I probably won't get a very large deposit back! Why is buying horses so hard (and expensive!!)
 
gallopinghooves said:
Thanks so much for all of your helpful replies. I will pass on her - such a shame as she's so lovely. It's so unfair about deposits because even though the vet report says she's fit for purpose, the rotated pelvis is obviously a big deal and now I probably won't get a very large deposit back! Why is buying horses so hard (and expensive!!)
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Have you talked to the owner about the deposit ? Maybe try 50/50 especially if you gave her a large deposit. Doesn’t seem fair for you to lose it all when the vet has found a problem ?
 
gallopinghooves said:
Thanks so much for all of your helpful replies. I will pass on her - such a shame as she's so lovely. It's so unfair about deposits because even though the vet report says she's fit for purpose, the rotated pelvis is obviously a big deal and now I probably won't get a very large deposit back! Why is buying horses so hard (and expensive!!)
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Can you go back to the vet, GH, and ask him to make a clearer statement that the rotated pelvis is a risk factor for future fitness for purpose, and no timescale can be put on that, it could be tomorrow.

That should get you your deposit back. I think the vet has let you down as things stand. I don't think a horse with a rotated pelvis should have been passed as fit for purpose for fast work like hunting.
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I had one vetted which was slightly unlevel on the tuber sacrale which in my vets opinion was an old injury and would not be a problem in future. The horse failed on other issues so I didn't get chance to find out one way or another or to be put in a difficult position if I was personally uncomfortable with this.

Good luck getting your deposit back, I lost one to a dodgy dealer who basically stole it and despite a ccj I didn't get it returned. I did get the one back where the horse clearly failed but not without the threat of legal action.

Buying a horse is a miserable experience these days.
 
gallopinghooves said:
I’m wanting to hack and lightly hunt, fun rides etc.
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There's no such thing as lightly hunt, surely? It's pretty physical, even without the jumping! Sorry to say that if that's what you want to do, I'd walk. You won't get your deposit back if the horse was deemed suitable for the activities related to the vet, though.
 
Fransurrey said:
There's no such thing as lightly hunt, surely? It's pretty physical, even without the jumping! Sorry to say that if that's what you want to do, I'd walk. You won't get your deposit back if the horse was deemed suitable for the activities related to the vet, though.
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Well I’d only go once a month at most and I don’t jump when out and don’t do lots of hours! So just thought I’d preface that as there’s hunting and there’s hunting (eg being out at every meet, all day, jumping everything). Also I’d be in Surrey which is a lot less tough than ireland for example.

I find it odd that the vet passed her knowing I want to hunt. HOWEVER, I’ve just looked at the certificate and it says she’s fine to ‘hack and lightly compete’ but I never said I want to compete (I don’t!) and there’s no mention of hunting. So maybe that’s my leverage?
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I have an uneven pelvis - it causes me extensive pain and problems but you wouldn't always necessarily know from my gait.. obviously horse vs human is very different but I wouldn't entertain the idea.
Think of all the compensatory pressure on the surrounding soft tissues, spine, leg structures and likely foot
Click to expand...

I have the same/similar. Most of the time you wouldn't notice from my 'way of going' but it doesn't take much to cause an awful lot of discomfort and pain.

The compensation for it being out of line in this horse could be doing untold damage.

OP - Was the vet your vet or a recommended one by the sales yard? Surely the actual owner could be contacted by the yard if you require further information about the horses history? If I were selling I'd welcome people asking for more information it would make me feel that my horse was going to go to someone who was responsible and doing their home work before jumping in to purchase.
 
dorsetladette said:
I have the same/similar. Most of the time you wouldn't notice from my 'way of going' but it doesn't take much to cause an awful lot of discomfort and pain.

The compensation for it being out of line in this horse could be doing untold damage.

OP - Was the vet your vet or a recommended one by the sales yard? Surely the actual owner could be contacted by the yard if you require further information about the horses history? If I were selling I'd welcome people asking for more information it would make me feel that my horse was going to go to someone who was responsible and doing their home work before jumping in to purchase.
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Yes I have history (not that that means much!). She was in ireland owned by a lady who did lots of activities on her (hunting, side saddle etc). Only selling as this horse isn’t going to take her up the levels as she’s more woah than go (suits me).

I did ask for a vet history and she said ‘she has none just vaccinations’ …
 
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