Sickle hocks - buying a horse

[tinker88]

Hi, well I've been to view a horse at a very well known and highly recommended dealers and he's perfect and v well priced . He's a 16hh ISH x , 7 yrs that's hunted and done low level competitions he's forward and works nice in the school. Before viewing him I saw the videos and noticed he looked looser and almost that he pushes under himself from behind but not like a highly trained dressage horse but just naturally. Anyway the dealer said of good you spotted it , and when I went to view him him he was everything and more I wanted and I spotted he's sickle hocked. Now I've worked on countless yards and dealed horses myself so of course I'm used to buying/selling. The horse has been on the said yard for ages basically they owner is v rich and the horse has kind of stuck around because he's sensible and useful for hacking out with the other highly bred scatty babies! And my friend works there too , they have all confirmed he's had no lameness and try have hunted him a lot too and he's fine and basically the yard favourite and tech price he's at compared to the other horses u can see why they haven't been in any rush if he's been handy to have around. Now I want him as a bit of a work horse to enjoy and have fun on , hunting , xc beach rides etc and to hack with my youngsters .

So basically - has anyone else got a sickle hocked horse? It's not bad at all , but if I fancied doing a low level ODE would he be marked down in the dressage? I've seen in the USA they prefer them slightly like this due to the disciplines they do. If he in later life had a few issues that wouldn't bother me , he ticks the boxes of what I need at the mo and is a lovely chap

 

[Meowy Catkin]

If he does everything you want and this is his only negative (plus it's very hard to find a horse with *perfect* conformation anyway) and the hocks aren't 'that bad' as you said... get him vetted for the level of work you have in mind and go from there.