sarcoids - to buy or not to buy?

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eventers4eva

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Hey

Have a horse on trial and although I scrutinised him before him coming, I have now found very small suggestions of sarcoids. One small bean sized lump under skin between front legs and then one small rash like patch up between back legs. Don't look bad but I know they can get worse etc. What are your opinions on buying him. He's pretty cheap and has a nice character but my aim was to bring him on through the winter and prob sell next year (unless he events well!). How sellable will he be and is there a max you would pay for a horse with sarcoids? Have to make a decision and very confused! help!
 
Could you get your vet to look him over? Were you having him vetted anyway? If so they could start with the 'lumps' and make a decision there either way before progressing with the whole 5 stage bit?
Its so hard to say..I had a friend who bought a 6yo with a few that never changed / grew and were no problem whereas another friends turned horrendous. I would say they may put some buyers off for resale.
Don't know a great deal about them but aren't there diff varieties of sarcoids that have varying degrees/chances of spreading? Hope your vet could advise on this?
 
You can also treat sarcoids, there are varying types of Sarcoid. I recently paid a small fortune for a 3yr old horse with sarcoids declared at point of sale. On vetting i got the vet to check them out - he said they were "granolas" no effect on the horse whatsoever - this horse will be showing at Hoys standard in the hunter classes?? Will I be able to sell him, I would hope so the fact he fetched in a sale with the sarcoid declared as much as he did shows that they can sell!
 
I dont mean to sound rude its just my opinion but i think you would be insane to even consider buying a horse you know has sarcoids.
 
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I dont mean to sound rude its just my opinion but i think you would be insane to even consider buying a horse you know has sarcoids.

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You are right it is your opinion, but why would I be insane?
 
I wouldn't buy I am afraid there are too many people that won't touch horses with them and if they do spread and you can't treat them you will struggle to make money. It is a gamble I wouldn't risk.
 
i brought a horse that i found had a sarcoid inbetween his front legs (very small), the vet said ignore it until it does anything ie grow or change as lots of treatment available and now its completely disappeared on its own, so i guess im very lucky, i keep my eyes open if any more crop up, but i do have to say i would not buy a horse if i knew it had them, and i think its a automatic fail for a vetting??!!
 
I'm not sure what you should do.
My vet told us my horse had sacoids, and another vet came for a second opinion and agreed. They were talking cancerous etc and so obviously i was really worried. He was taken to a hospital for a biopsy (the vets there all thought he had sarcoids too). the results came back and we found out that it was a bad reaction to flybites (an acculmination of white blood cells).
I thought i'd share, just in case it helps xx
 
I bought a horse i knew had sarcoids against the vets good advice and they spead from his face to girth and bum cheeks, it ended up costing me over £5000 on top of what insurance paid for his treatment. I ended up selling as i couldnt afford to keep him. The ones on his bum were always bleeding and the one on his nose too, what a mess he was in, i just wouldnt want anyone to have that experience.
 
A sarcoid is not an automatic fail on the vetting. Most vets these days are very sensible about such things and a lot of horses have sarcoids that never give them a moments problem.

The only thing I would say is that it is one more thing to worry about when trying to sell a horse. I find selling very stressful anyway and having to tell buyers that horse has a sarcoid just adds to that as some people react as if you've told them the horse has two heads.

It's your choice and sarcoids are inherently unpredictable but it never bothers me if they are in a "good" place and horse is cheap and nice.
 
No, not unless you don't mind your horse having time off when you have to start treatment, which can be expensive and does take time, if your buying a competition horse then no I wouldnt consider it, its just not practical.
 
One of my horses passed the vet. A few months later I noticed what I thought was a sarcoid between her front legs, it was! I got it treated, it disappeared and fingers crossed it hasn't come back. I wouldn't let a couple of small sarcoids stop me buying a horse if it was everything I wanted.
 
my horse had a sacroid - on his "private" areas. A round of liverpool magic cream then it fell off. He is not insured for vets bills and it didnt cost the earth also he had ZERO time off. I bought him with only a small spot and it didnt develop for three years and there has been no more since.
I think to buy a horse will fully blown sacriods is a major mistake - know some1 who has one who is a fantastic horse but the sacriods are all over and the horse has been off alot for treatment.

I think as everycase is different you have to see each horse to decide.
 
I might consider a horse to keep long term if it was perfect and sarcoids not in a troublesome area BUT I would never buy one with sarcoids to sell on because you'll find your market very much restricted. Your time and effort and his keep cost the same as it would for a horse without sarcoids in whom your money would be more safely invested.
 
I have bought horse with sarcoids for myself, but if you have the intention of selling on I wouldn't do it. It just gives buyers an excuse to walk away or beat your price down.
 
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