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What type of vet check would you do to a 3yo just brought in from the fields, not broken in, barely handled?
Vet check in a 3yo unbacked horse
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ihatework
Well-Known Member
Eyes, heart, trot up, feel of joints, assessment of foot balance, microchip check against passport. If there is an enclosed space a chase around on a circle maybe and another listen to heart.
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So wouldn't you take some x-rays or ultrasound?
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Eyes, heart at rest trot up good go over the horse looking at joints etc and sarcoids etc in a word minimal .
I would give the horse an unpleasant experience and do more .
I would not allow them to be lunged or chased about .
I don’t insure my horses so I have no hoops to jump through in that respect.
I would not X-ray etc .
I would give the horse an unpleasant experience and do more .
I would not allow them to be lunged or chased about .
I don’t insure my horses so I have no hoops to jump through in that respect.
I would not X-ray etc .
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In which case would you take x rays?
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
I only do X-rays if the vet wants them for a reason .
At that stage I would either walk away or get them done .
I would not buy a unbroken horse where the vet felt the need to X-ray I would just move on and find another .
At that stage I would either walk away or get them done .
I would not buy a unbroken horse where the vet felt the need to X-ray I would just move on and find another .
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Would you take x-rays in a ridden (but still young) horse? Like a 5yo?
Or if you buy a 3yo unbacked would you take some x-rays after the breaking in?
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Why the second degree on the requirement for x rays?
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
No, only the vet felt the need.
I usually X-ray front feet after they have been shod once or twice by my farrier that so we have a reference point for future .
teddypops
Well-Known Member
If you are having a vet check, do a 2 or 5 stage vetting then X-ray if there are any concerns? However this might not be possible if it’s not handled.
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
Depends on how expensive the horse was. If was top breeding and wanting £20k plus for it then yes would need x-rays. Especially for insurance. If under £5k then no I wouldn't x-ray.
tristar
Well-Known Member
i would always prefer to x ray though especially if you cant lunge
Melody Grey
Well-Known Member
X-rays aren’t always a positive; they can be used as a reference point for now and the future. They could support an insurer in claiming that a condition is Pre- existing/ Pre-disposed. Unless the horse is expensive enough to need them for insurance, I wouldn’t. As others have said, anything warranting further investigation in an unbroken three year old is too much of a gamble- find another.
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In my country it's quite common to do all the check up the other people already said plus x-rays on all legs and in older horses even ultrasound on the tendons
It was just a curiosity, when I bought my 3yo the vet took all the x-rays in the legs even if he was lunged and sound, just to be sure nothing could've been of concern, my vet even checked the navicular
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
When I had my youngster vetted, we didn't do a trot up. The horse was barely (not) halter broken, and it was during that long period last winter where everything iced up and didn't thaw for weeks. Even if you had been able to get the horse trotting (LOL) there was no place to do it. I took a punt. The horse was rising three, not that expensive.
Also did a 2 stage with the Highland. Trot up and flexion tests, but no x-rays. If the vet had found something that warranted an x-ray, I would have walked away. But I wasn't buying a 30K competition horse. With higher value animals, it's SOP to get x-rays.
Also did a 2 stage with the Highland. Trot up and flexion tests, but no x-rays. If the vet had found something that warranted an x-ray, I would have walked away. But I wasn't buying a 30K competition horse. With higher value animals, it's SOP to get x-rays.