Should I get my colts vetted before I purchase them?

muckypony

muckypony

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Hi,

I have already put down a deposit down for two miniature shetland colts, and I'm 110% sure ill buy them. They are currently just over 2 months old. They will be used for showing, and maybe driving one day.

Shall I get them vetted? I'm normally very cautious and think that everything should be vetted. But they are 2 months old, what is there to vet as such? It's not like they have been hammered around eventing and might have a spur or anything? I'm considering just having heart and eyes checked as they can be born with problems of that, but what do you think about vetting?

Thanks! :)
 
I'm the same, usually very cautious and get EVERYTHING vetted but rather gone off vettings myself now after I bought a horse 3 months ago that passed a 5* vetting and has been diagnosed with OCD and DJD within the last few months...Don't get me wrong, the horse was strangely completely sound for the vetting...but it just shows that things can be wrong with them even with a vetting, really made me think is it worth paying out so much for a vetting?!

I've just bought a 3yr old, didn't pay too much for her so decided to take the risk. She's clean limbed, 100% sound, eyes look fine out in daylight, strong feet, no obvious problems so fingers crossed!

Good luck with your colts x
 
It's easy enough to say vet everything but it's not that straighforward. I've bought different horses for vastly different amounts and for different purposes. One horse I was given as a rescue and was 18 years old at the time turned out to be the most fantastic horse I could ever have hoped to care for. I didn't vet her as I wasn't sure she would last 3 months, let alone 4 years. She had first-class care while I had her of course, but I didn't vet her.

My most recent horse was purchased off the track with the intention of turning him into a showjumper. He cost quite a bit and because of this I made sure he was vetted and had blood samples taken etc. He's also got insurance while my old mare didn't - she wouldn't have qualified for cover at her age anyway.
 
Personally I would get them vetted, at such a young age it would not be a full 5-stage vetting anyway but it is useful to have heart,eyes,lungs etc checked over by your vet especially as you wish to drive them in the future.
 
i bought a 4 year old and rising 2 year old - both unvetted....

4 year old gets regular colic/ulcers - nothing a vetting wuold have found.... but restricts her ridden career.

2 year old has since been checked bya vet (heart/lungs) all fine... !


personally i dont vet anymore unless im spending over 3/4k like i plan to next year.
 
Thank you

Having read this I don't think I will... There's no point in me having legs etc checked as they have done nothing/wont be asked to work hard. And what I will be having vetted (eyes/heart/lungs) isn't likely to show up or be a problem now....

I'm told that shetlands are incredibly healthy little buggers so it would be massively bad luck for mine to have something seriously wonr after the year I've had... I think I'm due my good karma now lol!
 
when I bought my first two foals I had a 2 stage vetting on both - it is helpful to know about their heart and lungs, vet will also check their eyes, give them a look over for anything obviously bad re conformation etc...nothing major and they don't have to run about for it or anything. It can also help to have had it done if insuring them.
 
Miss L Toe - What about them? I'm not gelding them. They are being weaned at 5 months.

HBM1 - Thank you, how much roughly does this cost?
 
muckypony said:
Miss L Toe - What about them? I'm not gelding them. They are being weaned at 5 months.

HBM1 - Thank you, how much roughly does this cost?
Click to expand...

well I bought those two in 2005 and it cost just over £100 but it was, as it turned out, a rather expensive vet practice. Not sure what it would cost now. The foals were both £3500 so was worth it to me to know they were ok, though to be honest, I would have bought them anyway as they had me at hello, so to speak!

Re testicles, vet will check them as part of a 2 stage, out of interest why won't you be gelding them?
 
I have to say I never get anything vetted, especially a young animal that I am already confident about their conformation and I have done basic checks myself. On that basis I have never bought a young horse with any problems. If I was buying an established older or performance horse then I would, but probably just a basic vetting not the five stage vetting, (depends how much the horse cost and insurance issues). I ve know so many friends buy horses and had the advanced vetting only to develop problems a little later. Remember you are really only vetting for that day, no guarantee for the future, whether its two weeks or 18 months ahead.
 
That's my only problem, I know I'll still buy them anyway haha!
I'm not gelding as I want them to show so want them to mature as much as possible - if they get too colty/don't pass a grading, I will geld them then.

Mine are no where near that price, so I'm sure ill still get insurance, but ill check anyway in case I need a 2 stage.
 
Not all insurance companies ask for a vet check to have been done. Don't worry about gelding them stunting their growth, I had my first gelded at 6 months and he grew lovely and huge. Some breeders feel that they put more energy into their growth if they are not having testosterone rushing around their systems - some say the opposite though.

If you are thinking of getting them graded though, and then possibly using them for breeding, it is important to get their testicles checked..some do drop late but some don't - if they don't and you want to geld later it can be a hugely expensive operation for the vet to go in and find them. If they aren't there at grading, they don't get graded (well, sports horses don't anyway).
 
I don't want to breed from them - they are very well bred but I don't think anymore shetlands are needed! Lol.

Thank you I will bear the 2 stage in mind and contact my vet!
 
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