To buy or not to buy ? 17 year old …

[Midlifecrisishun]

I have been offered a 17 year old ex show jumper… she is everything I have been looking for however … I have been told she was retired from jumping at 12 due to the start of tendon injuries and has also had laminitis in the past - which she made a full recovery from - has been ridden ever since.

She has a clean bill of health from the vet …. she is hacked out and does dressage.

My heart says yes … my head says red flags …

Can anyone rationalize this with their own experience of something similar positive and negative ?

 

[Red-1]

I would query why she had lami and is she EMS/cushings.

Other than that, if she is cheap and makes your heart sing, is already doing what you want her to do, and you will accept that you may have bills and a hard decision not too far into the future, then follow your heart.

 

[blitznbobs]

Knackered tendons and laminitis? I’d say bargepole personally…

 

[Connemara24]

If you really like her and your gut says yes, then somtimes you have to take a gamble. But I try and stay away from a horse who has had laminitis as I have a laminitic horse myself, and it is a pain a constant worry, with weight, soaking hay ect. But If that doesn't bother you then I'd go for it.

 

[Carrottom]

Do you want to jump? If you do don't buy. If you want to do dressage then worth considering if the price is right and you can manage potential for laminitis.

 

[southerncomfort]

Was the clean bill of health from your vet or the sellers?

Personally I would take on a 17 year old but not one with previous tendons injuries having seen on here the heartache they cause.

 

[JackFrost]

My first horse was 17 and we had 10 very happy years together, ridden till the end. It depends what you want to do. If you are content with hacking and gentle school work or light dressage comps, I would say yes. At that age, you will be the keeper to look after her in her old age so you need to be willing to take on all might go with this.
On the laminits. I had a different horse that had a bout once years before, then never had it again. Ask more about what may have triggered it. I would suggest a PPID cushings test at that age, especially with the previous laminitis, though it is manageable if it's +ve.
I would go with my heart.

 

[Birker2020]

I have been offered a 17 year old ex show jumper… she is everything I have been looking for however … I have been told she was retired from jumping at 12 due to the start of tendon injuries and has also had laminitis in the past - which she made a full recovery from - has been ridden ever since.

She has a clean bill of health from the vet …. she is hacked out and does dressage.

My heart says yes … my head says red flags …

Can anyone rationalize this with their own experience of something similar positive and negative ?

If you do want to go ahead and have her make sure you have a five stage vetting and make sure the vet records what you want the horse for so that he is vetting according to that. But you should have her for a knock down price given her issues even though they are historic.

 

[blitznbobs]

Also if you are buying because its cheap - it will not be cheap by the time youve finished…

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

The age isn’t a problem but medically I would be put off….what advice would you give a friend in this scenario?

 

[horseman1985]

The disadvantages are clear to us in principle, and what advantages do you note for yourself when buying this horse?
My friends from Oklahoma were selling their horse, also on the internet, which was about 20-22, something like that, also had laminitis and I was very, very skeptical that they had something good. But, a miracle! someone liked it and took it away.
Each offer has its own client

 

[Glitter's fun]

I have been offered a 17 year old ex show jumper… she is everything I have been looking for however … I have been told she was retired from jumping at 12 due to the start of tendon injuries and has also had laminitis in the past - which she made a full recovery from - has been ridden ever since.

She has a clean bill of health from the vet …. she is hacked out and does dressage.

My heart says yes … my head says red flags …

Can anyone rationalize this with their own experience of something similar positive and negative ?

I once bought a 20 year old. She had retired from eventing & hunting because of arthritis. She taught me everything I know about dressage & then broke my heart.

I'd say if you are emotionally and financially strong enough then treat yourself to taking a risk on someone who makes your heart sing- with your eyes open & in full knowledge that it is a risk.

 

[marmalade76]

Also if you are buying because its cheap - it will not be cheap by the time youve finished…

This should be reflected in the purchase price, it has to be cheap.

I have bought old horses before, you need to be prepared to provide it with a retirement, accept that you won't be able to sell it on. I would not pay much for an older horse, no matter how much people like to protest these days how they shouldn't be cheap and "if you can't afford to pay such & such, you can't afford to keep them" blah blah blah ? I'm looking to buy ATM and was offered a 19yo for £2700 ? looked a lovely sort but really?

 

[Birker2020]

This should be reflected in the purchase price, it has to be cheap.

I have bought old horses before, you need to be prepared to provide it with a retirement, accept that you won't be able to sell it on. I would not pay much for an older horse, no matter how much people like to protest these days how they shouldn't be cheap and "if you can't afford to pay such & such, you can't afford to keep them" blah blah blah ? I'm looking to buy ATM and was offered a 19yo for £2700 ? looked a lovely sort but really?

deleted. I replied to the reply 15 below on here, but it wasn't directed at you.

 

[Birker2020]

I'd also say that most people keep hold of horses all their lives if they are happy with them, unless they are dealers, fall on hard times or there is an issue with the horse.

There is no way I would sell a 17 or 19 year old unless I was really backed into a corner and couldn't afford to keep it or I was dodgy and knew there was something wrong with it and wanted to get shot of it. Call me cynical and sorry if that offends anyone but that's my take on it.

Its like selling a long standing member of the family.

 

[marmalade76]

I'd also say that most people keep hold of horses all their lives if they are happy with them, unless they are dealers, fall on hard times or there is an issue with the horse.

There is no way I would sell a 17 or 19 year old unless I was really backed into a corner and couldn't afford to keep it or I was dodgy and knew there was something wrong with it and wanted to get shot of it. Call me cynical and sorry if that offends anyone but that's my take on it.

Its like selling a long standing member of the family.

I don't disagree.
Now is not a good time to buy, would be better to hang on for a bit as I suspect the 17/18/19 year olds will soon be meat money again.

 

[cindars]

After my part bred Arab was put down I decided to go for a pure bred,I found The a,she was 19,pure crabbet she had lammi due to sterile treatment for mud fever. Never had a day's illness until she got a twisted gut and was pts.Never regretted it,