Urgent - Where do i stand??

[Storminateacup]

head on block here, but if you were concerned about his action, and yet wanted to show him at county level, why did you buy him?
am prepared to be shot at. tin hat on.

Have to agree with the above too, surely we all take some responsibility for checking conformational faults when we view a horse for a specific job and, if there are signs that the animal has a shortfall in the very significant area that he/she is required to perform, then to rule it out. After all would you buy a Dressage horse that moved badly or a show jumper that had a bad technique over a jump?
I always check conformation for myself, and make it clear I am aware of the limitations within that animal. for example my new horse has rather straight hocks, yet he moves well, he has a low set on tail and flat powerful rump, I want him for low level western and hacking , he has most of the characteristics needed for western. soo...........I bought him

You may have some redress with the vet, but quite honestly I think it more an ommission on your part - sorry if this offends

 

[prorider]

Sorry - I agree with Storm above (and other similars). It is up to you to check that.

If you seriously believe YOU are ready for county level showing then you should have developed a good enough eye to have noticed this yourself when viewing the horse. If you don't have that eye then you are not ready for county level showing.

 

[R2R]

head on block here, but if you were concerned about his action, and yet wanted to show him at county level, why did you buy him?
am prepared to be shot at. tin hat on.

Was going to say the same thing.

If he had changes to his hocks, I am very surprised he didnt fail on flexion?

 

[pricklyflower]

... my current horse has a slight toe out conformation and the vet at the time commencted on it and pointed it in case it would be a issue for me but did not write it on the vetting certificate, whether that is normal I'm not sure.

The vetting I had done on my new horse mentioned to me that he was close behind and slightly pigeon toed but he didn't write anything on the report. Not the first time it's happened with vettings I've had done either.

 

[eggs]

Have you had a physio to check your horse? My horse tends to swing his off hind in under his body when his back gets tight (an ongoing problem) and a visit from the physio sorts him out.

I haven't had to have a horse vetted in many years but the last time I did, the horse was about 150 miles away and I paid my vet for her time to travel and do the vetting as I trust her judgement completely. I have certainly had horses 'fail' a vetting as they have slight conformational fault that MAY cause a problem later.

 

[dozzie]

I brought my new horse on 10/07/10 and had a 5* vetting done as i brought him for County Showing and explained this to the vets.

All the vetinary report showed was he has a lump which is a possible sarcoid and throws his front feet at a trot which im not bothered about as sarcoids can be treated and hes a heavy horse so throwing his feet is nothing really.

Anyway the 2nd week i had him we started having lessons, loads of walk and max of 5 mins trot as hes unfit and unbalanced as hes never been schooled and we were just getting to know each other.

Anway at the end of the 2nd week he went lame and has been lame ever since, the vets have diagnosed significant changes to the lower joints which indicates spavin caused by a conformational fault on his back end.

Basically he walks one hoof in front of another (my vet says he has a walk better than cindy crawford!)

Anyway this means that he will never be able to be shown and at the moment im not sure if he will ever become sound!

I cant go back to the old owner as they are no longer in the country (they were selling cause they were emigrating) so have just called up the vets who did the vetting and they are calling me back.

Where do i stand with this? please help

Out of interest, what part of the country did he come from?

Was a blood sample taken?

 

[Luci07]

I think you are being a little hard on OP. Take out the desire to show at county level - this horse is showing a high level of lameness in a very short period of time. I hope the vet took bloods ( I am not sure if this is a requirement for 5* or not or you pay extra) I have always asked for it ever since hearing someone I know boast how she buted up a mare for sale to pass the vet.

As for the vet talking to you but not writing it on the report - the reason is that if the vet writes it on the report, this could be then excluded by the insurance company whereas the vet might simply wish to point out certain shortcomings to you for your consideration. That is actually fairly standard practise. Something major would be put on but pigeon toes etc would not for most equine requirements.

Last time my vet vetted a horse for me - he spent best part of an hour going through the pro's and con's in great detail - and I ended up asking my YO to help translate! Vet passed my mare to event upto Novice but not beyond (fat chance of me ever going beyond that anyway and even less with current horse!)

 

[ducktails]

people are giving you a very hard time :O( unfortunately a vetting is a "is the horse sound on the day and fit for purpose" Now I think that is the tricky part here, if the horse has poor conformation then it was never going to be fit for county showing, whixh you state as its purpose.

However it is VERY hard to sue a vet I tried, my own practice was saying the horse should never have been passed but was un willing to stand up and say that for me (vet's really do not like to slate each other) however there are places you could get some advice fairly cheaply but choose a law firm that has experience in equine law, alternatively you could ask your insurance company for legal support it might be included as part of your policy. Although be careful as the whole pre existing conditions clause could make any claims against the spavin void..

On the spavin, I am not convinced that sounds like spavin, x rays are needed to show changes to the bone.. to be honest there are a few conditions that lend there selves to big heavy young horses. I wonder if you use the same vets as me as you are not far away PH??? if so please pm me, I may be able to help here, I honestly don't think you have a chance at suing the vets and getting a correct diagnosis is what you need to sort now.

 

[ducktails]

whoaaa, do you speak to people in real life like this? If so I imagine you do not have many friends. Its easy to sit behind your screen and pretend your an expert but with 'advice' like that I really doubt you are

 

[Natch]

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

If a horse moves 'wrong' - it is wrong. Doesn't matter weather he's a baby or not.

Yes, that would be how I understand it. Not moving "straight" on a circle due to being green is one thing, its another thing to plait with forelegs and have bad confo behind - one would be evident on a straight line, the other whilst stood still.

I presume the OP got confused on that point. I think she is actually pursuing the vets because they did not state that the conformation could lead to injury and/or breakdown of the joints.

The vetting I had done on my new horse mentioned to me that he was close behind and slightly pigeon toed but he didn't write anything on the report. Not the first time it's happened with vettings I've had done either.

If you have insurance, I'd count yourself lucky! If the vets had mentioned it on the report, chances are the back half of your horse wouldn't be insured

 

[Stinkbomb]

Sorry - I agree with Storm above (and other similars). It is up to you to check that.

If you seriously believe YOU are ready for county level showing then you should have developed a good enough eye to have noticed this yourself when viewing the horse. If you don't have that eye then you are not ready for county level showing.

Ditto, sorry but this says everything i wanted too!

 

[cundlegreen]

I've got to ask this, because nobody else has.... What County showing are you planning to do with an 18 hand Percheron?? I assume that he is for in hand heavy horse classes, in which case the movement may have been alright for a vetting. Surely you weren't thinking of showing him under saddle as a hunter??

 

[charmeroo]

Going back to your original question of where do I stand? - I guess you really want a legal opinion on your position with the vetting and the advice/information given to you. If you have gold BHS membership (and possibly BRC membership) then you will have access to a free legal helpline. If you're not a member - do you have a friend who is? You could then speak with them with regard to the redress that you may or may not have against the vetting vet. At least you would be informed on your legal position.

Good luck with the horse tho - I am a fan of heavy horses!