Should I buy....

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KT88

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Some advice needed please...

I'm looking at buying my first horse and have found one that I am hopefully going to see this week. When speaking to his owner I found out that when rolling as a youngster he pulled his SI joint and so will always be a bit stiff behind on one leg as a result. He is apparently fine and its not noticeable as long as he is properly muscled on his back-end but will never be a high level competition horse or anything.

I have no intentions of competing at anywhere near a high level and just want something I can have some fun with and do a bit of everything really (RC, fun rides, hacking etc).

Does anyone think this is a total no-go horse or is it worth working around it if he is good in every other way?

Thanks
 
Does she mean that the SI joint slips if he is not fit?

Alarm bells would be ringing a bit. It would depend on the price and what level/type of competition at local level you want to do. I would definately take someone experienced with you if you're not, and have it vetted. Perhaps discuss it with your vet first?

Have a look at others too - don't just buy the first one, especially if there is an if...
 
She just said he feels stiff and uneven if he hasnt been worked and doesnt have the muscle coverage on his bum!
Apparently her vet has assured her it wont be a problem as long as he stays fit and keeps the muscle.
I was definitely planning on several viewings and at least a 3 stage vetting. I'm only planning on RC type activities and am unlikely to be jumping much over 3' as im a wimp!

Oh and hes less than £1500 including tack and rugs.
 
Just remember that stiff and uneven is another way of describing a lame horse. 3' jumps are 3' whether at rc or affiliated, and he may not be up to it. I would be wary.
 
Honey08 said:
Just remember that stiff and uneven is another way of describing a lame horse. 3' jumps are 3' whether at rc or affiliated, and he may not be up to it. I would be wary.
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Yeah i definitely wont be rushing into anything! Will get him vetted for certain before making any decisions.
 
KT88 said:
She just said he feels stiff and uneven if he hasnt been worked and doesnt have the muscle coverage on his bum!
Apparently her vet has assured her it wont be a problem as long as he stays fit and keeps the muscle.
I was definitely planning on several viewings and at least a 3 stage vetting. I'm only planning on RC type activities and am unlikely to be jumping much over 3' as im a wimp!

Oh and hes less than £1500 including tack and rugs.
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Don't let the price sway you into wanting it! A few vets bills and you'll soon be wishing you had paid a higher price to start with for a horse with no issues. It's a buyers market at the moment so make sure you are 100% sure it isn't going to be an issue. I have too many friends with horses that can't be ridden for one reason or another which are very expensive pets!
 
hmmm I would be wary of this personally, I have a horse that had an SI injury, he isnt and has never been lame and after treatment was cleared for any level of work in the future as long as correctly muscled. He shows no sign of uneven muscling on his back end and isnt stiff. Granted, his injury was relatively minor as SI injurys go, although not minor enough to heal without invasive treatment. I understand what the vet has said and at least she is being honest but it requires more delving and a convo with the vet I would say. I would be concerned if the horse is always going to be stiff on one leg, this doesnt sound right to me. Be aware of what you could be getting into, he will always need keeping fit and if let down for any period of time will need bringing back in very slowly and working long and low. He should always be worked through and correctly to keep his back and hind end strong. I'm personally slightly disgusted someone could sell this horse on but there you go!
 
Vizslak said:
hmmm I would be wary of this personally, I have a horse that had an SI injury, he isnt and has never been lame and after treatment was cleared for any level of work in the future as long as correctly muscled. He shows no sign of uneven muscling on his back end and isnt stiff. Granted, his injury was relatively minor as SI injurys go, although not minor enough to heal without invasive treatment. I understand what the vet has said and at least she is being honest but it requires more delving and a convo with the vet I would say. I would be concerned if the horse is always going to be stiff on one leg, this doesnt sound right to me. Be aware of what you could be getting into, he will always need keeping fit and if let down for any period of time will need bringing back in very slowly and working long and low. He should always be worked through and correctly to keep his back and hind end strong. I'm personally slightly disgusted someone could sell this horse on but there you go!
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Yeah thats basically what she said to me, he needs consistent work to stay fit enough. As long as he is, he is completely sound but needs working slowly to build up fitness for an increased workload.

She has had him since he was a baby and is only selling him as she is moving out of the country!
 
some si problems can be treated and kept in check and sometimes even fixed but not all. Some will never get better and can cause problems throughout the whole rest of the horse.
Do you have a friendly equine chiro/physio that could go look at him with you?
 
cuppatea said:
some si problems can be treated and kept in check and sometimes even fixed but not all. Some will never get better and can cause problems throughout the whole rest of the horse.
Do you have a friendly equine chiro/physio that could go look at him with you?
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All my contacts are unfortunately in Hampshire and the horse is over in Surrey over an hour away! Might be tricky to get someone to come with me. Unless anyone knows any in the Surrey area??
(This is my first horse so I'm not really sure how these things work!)
 
Yes definately what she says, at least in part, rings true. I don't think she's lying. I would be concerned that he is unlevel and stiff when not muscled though but am assuming that his injury was more severe than my lads. Did she say he was treated for the injury? What treatment was he given?
 
Vizslak said:
Yes definately what she says, at least in part, rings true. I don't think she's lying. I would be concerned that he is unlevel and stiff when not muscled though but am assuming that his injury was more severe than my lads. Did she say he was treated for the injury? What treatment was he given?
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I don't think she mentioned any particular treatment but she said its been checked over by her vet. The implication was that the joint is just weaker than it should be after being pulled at such a young age so needs the muscle there to support it.
 
Yep thats exactly right, but would be very very suprised if no treatment at all was given. Its almost impossible to build the muscle correctly whilst the horse is in pain and the joint unstable as they cant/wont lift their backs properly and work through from behind. Especially in this case where the horse was noticeably lame on one leg.
 
Vizslak said:
Yep thats exactly right, but would be very very suprised if no treatment at all was given. Its almost impossible to build the muscle correctly whilst the horse is in pain and the joint unstable as they cant/wont lift their backs properly and work through from behind. Especially in this case where the horse was noticeably lame on one leg.
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Ok will definitely ask about what treatment he has had when I go up there then! Thanks :)
 
Sorry didnt read all the responses but I am looking(& doesnt everyone on here know it)! If you have a doubt your instinct is telling you NO! Thats what it sounds to me.

If a vet can reassure you that this will not be a problem no worries but what if the horse gets another injury and loses the muscle she is telling you it needs... what a load of nonsense. A vetting is not cheap how many can you afford?

Look for something else. I am fed up with owners telling me what they think I would want to hear and not the truth...here are some classic advert "sad sale"(what for me)? never silly or strong" (which means it is)etc etc

Go and look at a few horses you will soon see what I mean unfortunately! Its an experience and a minefield (or bombproof ).

I know you will know when you have found the one!
 
indie999 said:
Sorry didnt read all the responses but I am looking(& doesnt everyone on here know it)! If you have a doubt your instinct is telling you NO! Thats what it sounds to me.

If a vet can reassure you that this will not be a problem no worries but what if the horse gets another injury and loses the muscle she is telling you it needs... what a load of nonsense. A vetting is not cheap how many can you afford?

Look for something else. I am fed up with owners telling me what they think I would want to hear and not the truth...here are some classic advert "sad sale"(what for me)? never silly or strong" (which means it is)etc etc

Go and look at a few horses you will soon see what I mean unfortunately! Its an experience and a minefield (or bombproof ).

I know you will know when you have found the one!
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I will definitely not let myself rush into things! However tempting it may be!
Thanks for the advice, I will get the number of her vet to hear from them what the situation is before going any further than looking :)
 
Definately speak to the vet that dealt with the horse. If she is geniune she wont have issue with this and from what you have said she does actually sound truthful in what she is saying. First thing to look at when you view this horse before you have even watched it trot up is whether its hind end is built evenly.
Good luck.
 
Vizslak said:
Definately speak to the vet that dealt with the horse. If she is geniune she wont have issue with this and from what you have said she does actually sound truthful in what she is saying. First thing to look at when you view this horse before you have even watched it trot up is whether its hind end is built evenly.
Good luck.
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Thank you. Have requested the vets number so I can hear first hand. Its also not unheard of for people to hear what they want to hear from the vet rather than the truth im sure... ;)
 
Indeed but actually the way you have relayed the information does sound true to me as it is similar to what the vet said to me. Although mine was cleared to do 'whatever at whatever level as long as fit enough and correctly muscled to do so, he can go round a 4* if you want him to.' Whereas this horse sounds like he hasnt completely fixed like mine. Also important to find out WHEN the horse had this injury, when it was fixed and how, how long has he remained sound since and what work is he in now. If he's been let down for a while currently and isnt rehabbed, fit and correctly muscled atm then my advice would be to steer well clear.
 
Vizslak said:
Indeed but actually the way you have relayed the information does sound true to me as it is similar to what the vet said to me. Although mine was cleared to do 'whatever at whatever level as long as fit enough and correctly muscled to do so, he can go round a 4* if you want him to.' Whereas this horse sounds like he hasnt completely fixed like mine. Also important to find out WHEN the horse had this injury, when it was fixed and how, how long has he remained sound since and what work is he in now. If he's been let down for a while currently and isnt rehabbed, fit and correctly muscled atm then my advice would be to steer well clear.
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Well she said he had been out previously on loan where he had ended up skinny with no muscle but since she has had him back he has been building the muscle up and he is now supposedly fine. She has done some jumping/XC/fun rides etc with him but mostly hacking. She did mention tho that if he gets tense the stiffness is noticeable again (ie when new people ride him) so not too sure what to make of that....
 
Hmmm, ring her vet and speak to them. So should mean he is fine with her on him? So from the ground should look 100% sound. I would be concerned he is stiff (read LAME) at all when muscled up and supposedly ok. A sound and strong horse doesnt go lame because its tense!
 
Vizslak said:
Hmmm, ring her vet and speak to them. So should mean he is fine with her on him? So from the ground should look 100% sound. I would be concerned he is stiff (read LAME) at all when muscled up and supposedly ok. A sound and strong horse doesnt go lame because its tense!
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Yeah she said he is fine with her on... I will speak to the vet, watch her ride, have a go and see how he feels! If its going to be a problem then I won't go any further. I'm working on the principle that it doesnt hurt to look!
 
When I was looking a very knowledgeable owner of top show jumpers in my area who I was chatting to about a horse I had looked at who was a windsucker said 'why buy something with a known problem when there are so many good ones out there without a problem'. Good advice which has always stuck in my mind when looking and so true of any price range. Good luck in your search but you can never be too careful x
 
Good luck you will get some good advice on here as I know I have. Sometimes we need to check ourselves. The horse I bought 13 years ago I knew pretty much as soon as I clapped eyes on him he was possibly the one!The owner let me have a computerised print out of all treatments he had direct from the vet.She was true to her word and had nothing to hide.

They do exist but are hard to find!
 
No doubt I will end up being branded a time-waster but as this is my first horse I want to make sure I get something that's completely right for me! Will probably end up trying loads before I find it, but you dont know until you try!
 
KT88 said:
Some advice needed please...

I'm looking at buying my first horse and have found one that I am hopefully going to see this week. When speaking to his owner I found out that when rolling as a youngster he pulled his SI joint and so will always be a bit stiff behind on one leg as a result. He is apparently fine and its not noticeable as long as he is properly muscled on his back-end but will never be a high level competition horse or anything.

I have no intentions of competing at anywhere near a high level and just want something I can have some fun with and do a bit of everything really (RC, fun rides, hacking etc).

Does anyone think this is a total no-go horse or is it worth working around it if he is good in every other way?

Thanks
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Having one with SI I wouldnt knowingly buy one with SI. It can lead to lots of other problems even at low level. So it is a "no" from me.

But up to you in the end. Mine is still rideable but i have to limit what I do to preserve her riding life and keep her sound.
 
KT88 said:
No doubt I will end up being branded a time-waster but as this is my first horse I want to make sure I get something that's completely right for me! Will probably end up trying loads before I find it, but you dont know until you try!
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Couldn't agree more! That's not timewasting, that's wise. Let us know how you get on, its not easy but worth all the hours and miles when you get it right x
 
Pebbles said:
Couldn't agree more! That's not timewasting, that's wise. Let us know how you get on, its not easy but worth all the hours and miles when you get it right x
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I will do! I have had 2 other people offer me horses to look at so will see everything i can before making a choice! Fingers crossed it doesnt take me too long to find the perfect match tho! I've only been waiting about 12 years....!
 
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