To re-vet or not to re-vet...

GLW

GLW

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Longtime lurker, firsttime poster. I had hoped my first post would be "woohoo my new horse is arriving", however...

She was vetted today and trotted up lame in stage 5. Having read both SKW's and loverly's threads over the last couple of days, I was nervous about the vetting, but not really expecting anything to come up and now I too am absolutely gutted.

Vet can't see any reason for it and she was totally sound throughout the rest of the vetting. He has been her vet for 3 years and has never seen her go lame. In fact, he's never seen her except for vaccinations. His instinct is that it is something silly and temporary and not an underlying problem.

So... I'm really tempted to give her a week to see if she comes sound, then re-vet her. I really want this horse! Is this a terrible idea? Also, would it be very cheeky to suggest that the current owner pay for the second vetting (or at least share the cost)?

All thoughts appreciated. Also, hello! I'm new!
 
It sounds like you really like the horse. Definitely wait and re-vet. You can always ask if the owners will share the cost - the worst they can say is no. Still will probably work out cheaper than fuel etc of driving round trying to find another one.
 
GLW said:
Longtime lurker, firsttime poster. I had hoped my first post would be "woohoo my new horse is arriving", however...

She was vetted today and trotted up lame in stage 5. Having read both SKW's and loverly's threads over the last couple of days, I was nervous about the vetting, but not really expecting anything to come up and now I too am absolutely gutted.

Vet can't see any reason for it and she was totally sound throughout the rest of the vetting. He has been her vet for 3 years and has never seen her go lame. In fact, he's never seen her except for vaccinations. His instinct is that it is something silly and temporary and not an underlying problem.

So... I'm really tempted to give her a week to see if she comes sound, then re-vet her. I really want this horse! Is this a terrible idea? Also, would it be very cheeky to suggest that the current owner pay for the second vetting (or at least share the cost)?

All thoughts appreciated. Also, hello! I'm new!
Click to expand...

my vets wont vet horses that their clients are selling because of any possible comeback, if you re-vet i would get a different vet to do it
 
My horse came up lame following a flexion test last year, the vet carrying it out said he was sure it was suspensory ligament. My vet wasn't in agreement, following scintigraphy, thermography,etc, it turned he needed osteopath treatment for tightness around poll area.
I would probably go for a re-vet if you really like the horse.
 
Thank you all for the replies! I'm relieved that the sensible objective opinion is the same as my "blinded by horse love" one.

jools123 - by coincidence the vet used by my yard is also used by current owner (not complete coincidence I suppose, as they are relatively close together) he seemed happy to vet her, and my YO didn't think it would be a problem. I wasn't sure as instinctively you think a vet who isn't connected to the owner would be best, but followed YO's advice...

littlelegs - that's a great idea re: cost, thank you

sprig - you are completely right about petrol, etc, I've driven hundreds of miles already!
 
GLW - if the vet who vets the horse is the horse's regular vet then they should have got consent from the owner to reveal the entire veterinary history to you.

The cost should be lower than a full 5 stage since there are certain things they won't need to redo.
 
well good luck whatever you decide to do
personally i find the whole buying a horse for myself rather scary as well as exciting
 
I think it you really love the horses, get it re-vetted next week. Otherwise you'll always be thinking 'what if...'


Good luck!!
 
Oh, loverly, I'm still really sad for you! You've had it a lot worse than me. I'm just really hoping it will turn out to be nothing.

And Jools, agreed - buying is terrifying!
 
definitely re-vet. It's so hard to find the right horse, if you think you've found it then it's worth it. Definitely worth asking whether you can start with just the flexions. When the horse I was having vetted failed the flexions he stopped and just charged an examination fee rather than the full vetting, so that might be an option? Sorry if I made you nervous!! This whole vetting business is a nightmare isn't it.
 
SKW - to be honest you and loverly just made me think about the possibility of failing. Until then, I'd just assumed this girl would pass! It is a nightmare. I keep thinking, if I'd only had 2-stage she would have passed! I know that's not the point...
 
SpottedCat said:
GLW - if the vet who vets the horse is the horse's regular vet then they should have got consent from the owner to reveal the entire veterinary history to you.

why should they have to do this? it would be nice but by law they cannot divulge any information the owner does not want you to have-vettings are exempt from this because by allowing one the owner gives consent that the person paying/requesting it can be given full information on the findings

The cost should be lower than a full 5 stage since there are certain things they won't need to redo.
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they will have to do everything the same as a vetting states the condition of the horse on the day.
 
I'd definitely go for a re-vet in about a week, it sounds like you really like her and as SKW said, you don't want to be thinking "what if..." if you didn't have it redone!
Keep us updated - oh, and welcome to HHO! My fingers are crossed for you x
 
jools123 said:
they will have to do everything the same as a vetting states the condition of the horse on the day.
Click to expand...

This is true, although at least if you start with the flexions first then if it stops there you might not have to pay the full amount. If flexions are ok then you can repeat everything else knowing that there shouldn't be a problem....
 
You're actually better having their own vet do the vetting nowadays as they have to disclose history! No place for seller to hide!

If the vet thinks it's something minor then i'd be inclined to re-vet. Hope it all goes well. :)
 
Current owner has just called to apologise (!) and offer to pay for the next vetting. She seems really genuine and has been lovely throughout.

So I'll be waiting to hear from owner how the horse is over the next few days and hopefully re-vetting next week. Fingers crossed everyone! Thanks for all the responses.

Re: own vet/other vet it seems there is a range of opinion and I think I'll probably stick with the same one. Owner has consented to full veterinary history being disclosed.
 
hope it all goes well, and she does sound like she is geniune

a word of warning though its unlikely to apply in your case due to the fact that this seller is close to your yard and you would have heard bad stuff about her

i know of a few people that use one vet for vaccinations and another for everything else so that when horses are sold they can offer full vet histories because it raises the confidence of the buyer that it is an honest sale!
 
Well my answer has more or less been covered... but my experience.

Went to look at a horse for sale quite a few years ago, and really like her. Visited a couple of times over the space of two/three weeks. Decided to get her 5 stage vetted, as I didnt know the seller.

Horse then proceeded to fail the vet. I am 95% sure this was due to the shoes practically hanging off the hooves. I was rather annoyed that the seller hadn't had the horse re-shod when it needed doing, and nor did they offer to put a new set on, and pay/contribute towards another vetting. In the end it was their loss, as they lost a sale.
 
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