Seller not vaccinating horse-would it put you off?

[savia]

Hi guys, another horse buying question from me.

Unfortunately the two horses in my previous thread didn't work out, for various reasons, so I've been back to the drawing board for the past few weeks.Recently found a horse on preloved that I'm interested in and, having asked some questions, it turns out that the seller doesn't vaccinate any of their horses, including the one I'm interested in, because 'it's a waste of money'.Now, apart from possibly finding it difficult to find a yard that would accept a horse without vaccinations, would it put you off, or would you still be interested, with the view of getting vaccinations done, if and when you got it home?

 

[Deseado]

If the horse is presently healthy then it wouldn't put me off at all, but I would vaccinate immediately - perhaps before accepting delivery/picking up the new horse. The horse would need the full course of two injections before it had immunity.

 

[lelly]

No, it certainly wouldn't put me off. If you are having it vetted you should be Ok health wise.

 

[hayley.t]

I don't know, if the horse was perfect in all other ways I might still go for it but I can't help feeling that it is perhaps a bit of an indicator. Has the horse been wormed regularly, teeth done etc. I might be barking up the wrong tree and i'm not saying if you don't vaccinate that you don't look after your horse properly but it would perhaps make me a bit more wary.

 

[MissChaos]

You'll normally be able to have the first one done immediately after a successful vetting if you choose, ie prior to getting it home. Not uncommon so no, wouldn't and hasn't put me off but I've factored it in to price negotiation previously as IMO (and my sellers') it's not an unreasonable expectation but of course that comes down to the seller's attitude plus what you're buying it for.

 

[Goldenstar]

Would not bother me at all.

 

[PorkChop]

It wouldn't put me off, yes is it an extra cost which is a pain, but I personally think we over vaccinate our animals.

 

[Polos Mum]

Not too bothered but I'd probably double check she didn't use crystals to worm them, self trim (unless trained!) and only call the dentist when a tooth falls out!!

 

[savia]

You'll normally be able to have the first one done immediately after a successful vetting if you choose, ie prior to getting it home. Not uncommon so no, wouldn't and hasn't put me off but I've factored it in to price negotiation previously as IMO (and my sellers') it's not an unreasonable expectation but of course that comes down to the seller's attitude plus what you're buying it for.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Price wise, it's already quite low, as it's a youngster that hasn't been backed yet, so not sure there would be much to haggle on with that.

 

[chestnut cob]

No, not at all. If you bought from a dealer it would be unlikely the horse would be vaccinated. When I bought mine last year he wasn't vaccinated. He came from a dealer in Ireland via someone I know who is what I'd call a small time dealer. Not vaccinated because a) he'd come from a dealer and b) he wasn't going to be with them long, he was for sale before he even boarded the boat to come here.

I had asked the vet who did the vetting to start his vacc's but due to something (else) that came up during the vetting, some discussions were needed afterwards with both vet and seller, so it wasn't done. Agreed to purchase and brought horse home a couple of days later, still not vaccinated, and had vet out a week or two later to do it. I was on a fairly big livery yard at the time and they weren't bothered about him not being vaccinated. Everything else on the yard was and they knew I was going to get it done ASAP.

ETA - in fact, in all the years I've had horses and yards I've been on, I've not once been asked if my horse is up to date with either worming or vaccinations!

 

[texas]

None of mine were vaccinated before I got them.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

You can start the course when you buy, but as others have said, I'd use that as an indicator that other things might have been neglected.
I wouldn't take the buyers word for having wormed and having had regular farriery and dentistry or correct saddle fitting with a ridden horse.
Of course, some will have, but it can be a clue to be aware that the horse is kept on the cheap.

 

[Cortez]

It is simple enough to vaccinate, and worm, if you decide to purchase. I always worm as a matter of routine whenever I get a new horse anyway.

 

[claribella]

No it wouldn't put me off at all. I think flu is a great big farce anyway so wouldn't vaccinate for that. Tetanus is different though lthough I know lots of people that dont do either though and horses are all fine despite having cuts and one horse In particular having a huge chunk ripped from the leg. Does make me wonder how much we are conditioned into thinking that we need it for the sake of the vets pockets.

 

[minesadouble]

To be honest I think it is absolute rot that if someone doesn't vaccinate they may neglect basic care!!
The only horses of ours done for flu are those out competing at a level where it is a requirement. If it were not none of them would be done! Tetanus I agree is a different matter though I have never heard of a horse in our area contracting the disease.
Incidentally not one of our local livery yards ask for horses to have a current vaccination cert.

 

[Capriole]

No, not at all. Granted its a pita getting them started and utd, as I try to get half mine done in summer and half in winter to spread the cost, and figuring out the dates to co-ordinate is a nuisance, but certainly wouldn't stop me buying a horse. I'd have missed out on some crackers otherwise.

 

[AdorableAlice]

A horse with tetanus is not a pretty sight. Providing protection from this dreadful disease has nothing to do with lining the vets pockets. It is basic management. It is also a vac we should think about for ourselves too, given the environment we work in with our horses.

I would buy a horse without a current vac record, but it would be done as soon as possible.

 

[Jane_Lou]

We bought our mare in the full knowledge that she wasn't vaccinated. I was at the vetting and got him to do the first jab after passing her. As others have said, I would routinely worm a new horse anyway regardless of what I had been told.

 

[kerrieberry2]

my youngster wasn't vaccinated when I bought him, just got him done the day after I picked him up and all was fine! but was on a private yard, where I was responsible for things like that!

I do think if there are loads of horses coming and going and they don't do events you don't really need to vaccinate!

 

[AmyMay]

Would not bother me at all.

Nor me.

 

[Spottyappy]

Brought many without vaccinations..
It Does not imply negligence on sellers behalf. There are many reasons people don't vaccinate, although I personally believe you should, but I am also with the poster who said we over vaccinate.
So, do not be concerned about it, just vaccinate as soon as practically possible.

 

[HashRouge]

My mare hadn't had her jabs done in over three years when we bought her. We just started again, no problem. Think we got the seller to knock a bit off the price on the grounds we'd have to pay to start them up again, but that was it.

 

[savia]

Thanks everyone, you've really put my mind at rest.Re, the livery yard thing, it's just that one of the yards I'm looking at has mentioned that all horses/ponies on the yard have to be vaccinated.
Will have to check up on that and see exactly where they stand on it.

 

[SNORKEY]

I only give tetnus as my horses arn't going anywhere, until next year then I'm starting to show so il start giving flu.
If I was buying from a grotty dealers yard it may put me off but otherwise I'd just get them done as soon as you can.

 

[FfionWinnie]

It wouldn't cross my mind to put me off. I would however get it done at least for tetanus right away.

 

[Venevidivici]

Wouldn't put me off but I'd do my utmost best to get the price of starting&completing a whole course knocked off the purchase price. If you weren't able to share the vet visits with someone else (for whatever they needed vet for) you're certainly looking at a minimum of £150/200 for the course

 

[3Beasties]

Wouldn't bother me at all but then I'm not a fan of vaccinations any way. Only one of mine is vaccinated and that's only because she needs to be to compete. I have found that they do more harm then good.

 

[snooples]

I used to keep my horse vaccinated when it was a requirement for competing but he hasnt been vaccinated in a while nor has any of the other horses he is with.
All are wormed regualarly and have farrier out often

 

[dibbin]

Nope, I've just bought one with no vaccination history at all (he's 6). Same as some others, he was with a fairly small time dealer and had only come over from Ireland 4 weeks before I saw him. Livery yard I brought him to knew he hadn't been done, I had the vet out today to start them off. It's a condition of my insurance that his jags are kept up to date so they'll be done regularly now!

ETA - both of my previous horses (bought before mandatory passporting came in) had no vacc records either so were both started from scratch after I got them.

 

[maletto]

would depend on what you were getting the horse for I suppose, and what the seller used it for.

I stopped vaccinating one of mine a year or two before he went on loan because he was never leaving the yard he'd been on for years and it just didn't seem worthwhile if he wasn't coming into contact with other horses. maybe it was careless but it seemed like th right thing at the time.

His loaner started him on vaccs as soon as he got to hers. my other is inoculated because we (try to) compete.

if the horse you're looking at has been out competing or to a host of different yards for lessons or whatever, I'd wonder why the seller hadn't vaccinated as it could be an indication of carelessness.