Vets in Spain - vetting before buying a horse

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Hug

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Hi all i am seriously considering buying a PRE stallion in Spain, just wanted to ask anyone who has been through a similar situation, can you please recommend a reliable and reputable vet (town is 2 hours away from Madrid) that could perform the vetting? Many thanks...
 
A friend of mine has imported 2 such horses. She has viewed SCORES, and is of the opinion that there isn't one single Veterinary Practice which is to be trusted. That's NOT ONE!!

Proceed with extreme caution would be the advice of many.

Alec.
 
Its disappointing that you can't trust them.

If the town isn't far from madrid- why don't you get a cheap flight and go over there yourself and give the horse a thorough going over? I know you're obviously not a vet, but if you're experienced enough you might be able to do the basics- feel all over for lumps and bumps and get an idea of conformation/soundness.

Then if you still like the horse and think they're worth taking a risk (depending on price) then go for it? Then again its a stallion (Do you want him for breeding?) in which case I'm sure a thorough vetting would be important.

Do you know any vets over here that are friends? you could always pay for their flight and take them with you?
 
Get an FEI vet. Every country has them and they have more professional standing to lose. Plus they speak English. If he's TRC you're off to a good start with some guarantees through that.
 
I have seen the horse myself but would still go with full vetting, i will try and find an FEI vet but if not possible i could always pay the flight costs etc and send my vet over...
 
Hug said:
I have seen the horse myself but would still go with full vetting, i will try and find an FEI vet but if not possible i could always pay the flight costs etc and send my vet over...
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Bloods etc may not be eligible to bring over for testing and they'd have to use a laboratory over there plus access to x-ray machines etc. Could be fraught with difficulty. (Also I know if I asked my vet to take a couple of days off to fly to another country they'd want serious recompense for their labour).

If the stallion is good (and there's little point importing one that isn't) offer to sponsor his TRC grading. Doesn't matter if he fails (for this purpose), he has to have x-rays/ bloods done and tested by accredited labs. Will cost less than flying a vet out there.
 
I agree with the caution !

My only experience is knowing a horse which was imported from Spain, having been bought unseen but vetted, supposed to be at least sixteen hands PRE mare, and arrived newly branded even though about eight, 14.2 at best, and well in foal.


I wouldn't, personally trust that he would arrive with testicles!
 
My only experience is knowing a horse which was imported from Spain, having been bought unseen but vetted, supposed to be at least sixteen hands PRE mare, and arrived newly branded even though about eight, 14.2 at best, and well in foal.

OMG this is terrible, at least I have visited the yard, rode the horse, and have a general impression of its soundness etc, I just wanted an experienced eye to point out things that may have not been visible to me...
 
Hug said:
OMG this is terrible, at least I have visited the yard, rode the horse, and have a general impression of its soundness etc, I just wanted an experienced eye to point out things that may have not been visible to me...
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Unfortunately I have also heard tales of the horse arriving not being the one which was seen. In this particular case the buyer had ridden and agreed to buy another horse. The vet failed her on the confirmation of her vulva (!!) and he agreed this replacement over the phone. It was a complete scam, of course, and he was a gullible novice.. I would need some good references if I was you. I hope you get him home safely and have great fun with him.
 
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