Vets report help on eventer!

E

Elentil

Member
Joined
3 September 2016
Messages
13
Visit site
I have been looking for an eventer to do Be100/Novice and I have found a lovely mare that is available for a 6 month lwvtb so the owner is hiding nothing. I have hacked her out, schooled and jumped her and after she proved how lovely she was I decided to get a 5 stage vetting done on her. Sadly the outcome wasn't as hoped and there were a few things that came up and I would really appreciate your advice on whether or not I should pursue her.
Here is a list of the findings from the vetting:
-Enlarged lateral splint bones both forelimbs. Settled and non-painful.
-Base narrow in front. Both forelimbs turn outwards from fetlocks.
-Plaits hindlimbs. Lands left hind into midline. Lands left hindfoot lateral wall first.
-Old settled scar cranial RH pasten.
-Small settled scar caudal LF pasten.

Please could someone decipher this for me as I'm embarassed to say I dont entirelly understand, I can see she has two splints and conformational issues but how will this effect her in the future. She is an 8 year old 15.2 trakehner mare with relatively low mileage that has previously had a foal and competed BS british novice and discovery, is schooling up to 1.25 at home ad has established flying changes and lateral work. I am hoping to event up to BE100 and prehaps novice 3/4 years down the line, but this is not a must. The vets report has said she is suitable for pony club/riding club activities. I'm not going to be competing everyweekend and prehaps only 8 events a season and may be going out to another pure dicipline event one a month. I dont want a world beater I would just like a horse that I can learn on and she will do that. Sorry for the long post but please give your opinion on her suitability.:)
 
Usually a vet does the vetting based on the intended use, in this case eventing? So did they 'fail' her for that but say she would be ok for lower level activities?
Do you intend to insure her and would it be for a value where a vetting report would be required?
 
It sounds like her conformation is not ideal but then that could be said of a lot of top event horses. I would call and have a chat with the vet who wrote the report for you, they can give you a clearer view of their opinion on her suitability for the job you want her to do. I take it you were not there at the vetting? If at all possible I try and be present as then you can have these chats as the vetting goes along. Seeing as you have the option to loan with a view to buy then I would do just that. If you didn't then I would be less inclined to buy as she does not seem to have been tested at the level of work you would be expecting of her. If you do take her on loan then make sure that you have a decent period of her working at the level you need before you commit to purchase. That way with any luck if she is going to have issues then they should surface by then, but of course any horse could break at any time. You will be taking a risk with what ever you buy. Even if you generally don't insure your horses I think insuring for the first year following purchase is wise as this is when unexpected issues are most likely to arise.
Do you know why she is low mileage and had a foal. Have you directly asked if she has had any previous injuries?
 
Thank you for your replies and I wasn't able to be there at the vetting but I know it would have been helpful if I was. I have spoken to the vet and he has said as above and im just wanting a bit more detail on it, have tried to call again but with no luck. I'm unsure if she has failed because the owner said she was wanted for low level eventing but the vet has written pony club/ riding club. She would be insured from the day she arrives and I'm aware that she could be a risk, I'm just wondering what exactly are the problems with her conformation, what does the vet mean by the things he has written? The mare was brought when she was 4 and neither the new owner of old owner knew she was in foal, but she has a had a lovely stallion which I have met. She was brought in foal and unbroken so this is why her milage is relatively low. The owner informed me of the splint and conformational issues but I'm just wanting to understand what the vet has written.
 
Most of those findings are fairly irrelevant and should not limit her to PC/RC activities, in all honesty I sometimes wonder what vets are thinking when they make this type of statement, do they think that a PC horse has an easy life and an eventer works harder in some way, most PC/RC horses will be competing over 1m courses, which is what you are aiming to do, another 10cm is neither here nor there if she has the scope, a totally sound heavy cob in theory could pass as fit to event but be limited by lack of talent so for him to do even 90 would possibly be stretching things.

I would probably get my physio to take a look at her backend to see if they can find any reason for her moving incorrectly then take it from there depending on their findings, as you have the chance to have her for 6 months I would go ahead, you have nothing to lose other than time and emotional attachment, if all is well by the time you have to buy then go ahead, if not send her back but do insure her fully, for RC activities which will cover you for the first 6 months as there will be little chance to BE then when you are ready to affiliate increase the insurance that way you are covered if she does not stand up to work while she is on trial/ loan.

It is hard enough to find a horse you like, even harder to find one that passes a vetting with no reservations and almost impossible to have a 6 month loan, the odds are in your favour.

I have just remembered a conversation I had with a vet, he said the horse was unlikely to event, when I questioned him on this as the horse was out picking up good placings he said it probably would struggle to get to Badminton, the horse was being bought as a Novice/ Int horse to possibly do JR/ YR at best, it was never likely to get to Badminton and was not expected to, having made this crystal clear he then passed it as fit for purpose.
 
Last edited:
Thank you very much for this and i think I've been easily persuaded to go ahead, having the physio take a look is a good idea. She really is very talented and can teach me alot.
 
My question re. insurance is that if that is what the vet has written if you insure her for eventing and they want cert there is probably plenty on there for them to decide to exclude all four legs in the first instance! I'm not sure what others think on that?

As LWVTB I would certainly have her though ;).
 
If she's not very expensive I would buy her if she fits your other criteria and you will insure her. Her conformation sounds exactly like my daughter's pony. We sold her recently age 15 after passing a 5 stage vetting and she's never been lame the two years we owned her. Now she wasn't an eventer but she was a school mistress and taught my daughter so much despite her funny little legs and conformation and she did many many miles on tough terrain with us as well as all PC activities.
 
I would be tempted to take her on loan, get a good farrier to look at her with a view to addressing the left hind not landing squarely and giving an opinion on other issues. Also a good physio to have a look too. If after a loan period you are happy perhaps have her re vetted stating clearly what you want her for. My main concern would be the front limb conformation but as others have said many horses have less than perfect conformation and still do a job.
 
Base narrow horses are prone to strain of the inside branch of the suspensory ligament. I've had one, and she did it. If I had known and been warned on the vetting I would not have bought her. The fact this mare has a pair of splints shows that there may be a problem with the base narrowness.

I would possibly loan the mare but I would only buy her if her price reflects the risk and she stays completely sound for the loan under a full workload.
 
None of those things would worry me, my best horse was base narrow and pigeon toed and developed 2 massive splints as a 3 year old a vet actually told me once that was the best thing she could have done as they actually strengthened the inside of the legs from an early age. She eventer to novice and dressaged to adv medium and never had a days lameness in her life and was only retired because she became a head shaker she's still sound now.
 
Is she currently (last few months) competing at discovery? You say you want her to event, but has she ever evented previously? If so, what does her record tell you?

The things that make me prick up my ears are that she tracks the LH to midline AND that it lands lateral wall first. These two together would make me think that there may be a reason higher up the limb/body that leads her to do this UNLESS her shoeing and foot balance is diabolical.
 
If you loan her for 6 months and she breaks down or develops an injury would the current owner have her back? So much can happen in 6 months entirely unrelated to any of the issues identified by the vet. Just a pondering.
 
ester said:
My question re. insurance is that if that is what the vet has written if you insure her for eventing and they want cert there is probably plenty on there for them to decide to exclude all four legs in the first instance! I'm not sure what others think on that?

As LWVTB I would certainly have her though ;).
Click to expand...

That's what concerns me. My insurers excluded one leg on my horse just because of a cut injury so it's likely you won't be able to insure most of her.

I would be wary considering it is mainly front legs and she is going to be in a job where there is a lot of heavy impact on the legs. I don't know if I would chance it as I imagine she isn't cheap being an eventer. But as she is a 6 month lwvtb you have nothing to lose by trying her and seeing if there is a way to improve the legs. No idea if there is but maybe there is.
 
The asking price is £4000 but we got her down to £3500 and that was before the vetting, the ower did tell me about all these issues before the vetting anyway but we wanted a vet to tell us to what extent it would limit us. The mare is being sold because the current owner can't give her enough attention and feels that the horse has so much to give but shes not got the time to put into her. My old horse had remedial shoeing and my farrier is fantastic so I will talk to him aswell as the physio and insurance company. She hasnt done Bs that recently but I can't tell because I'm not currently a member and the website is asking for £12 to look at her record, all i can see is that she is a grade c but if someone could tell me about her record that would be much appreciated. Her name is LANDMARK ENYA. The owner is asking for a 40% deposit that will be refunded if she breaks down due to the issues above, or if our relationship isnt compatible.
 
Last edited:
I would continue looking to find something else based on what you've said above.

You want to event - up to Novice you say - horse has never evented, or at least not under the name you give above. It has conformational and gait issues - these will be stressed and exacerbated by eventing which places much greater stresses/strains on the horse than pure show-jumping. Therefore could well break down. You can find better.

It also hasn't show-jumped recently and you don't know what her record is - could be a complete dog. Pay the £12 and find out so you know one way or the other if you really like the horse so much.

I certainly wouldn't be paying 40% of any asking price as a deposit for this horse. Have it on a straight loan by all means if you are hell-bent on it, with a clause in the contract that says horse will either be returned at the end of six months or purchased for the sum of £XXXX.

Out of interest, is the horse in full work now or are you viewing it from the field, so's to speak.
 
Thank you gunnergundog i am continuing to look, yes she is in full work at the moment. The only reason im really considering her is because she has such power and a real engine, and lots of scope, I would have moved on already if i thought I could find somethink else thats more correct around the 3k mark, im trying to be realistic but open minded about her.
 
Has the horse failed other pre sales vettings? That's an extremely unusual sales arrangement and smacks to me of other people having had her vetted, and her failing. If more than one vet has recommended against purchase I would only take her on 6 months lwvtb with no deposit, all vet fees related to movement at owner's expense.
 
What does base narrow mean? Is that the proper way of saying 'it's legs come out the same hole'

I'd probably go for it OP she isn't bank breaking and if you like her...
 
No, base arrow is where the front feet stand on the floor closer together than where they leave the shoulder.
 
Last edited:
Conformational issues can be overlooked. No horse is 100% straight. However, what would concern me is that she has a uni lateral issue behind with 1 leg not acting correctly this suggests to me that there is an underlying issue that may rear it's ugly head when you push her harder with eventing. Lwvtb is a very honest way of sussing a horse out. However this is not what they are offering you. They are asking for a deposit which I would hedge my bets they will refuse to refund to you if u want to return the horse. I would tread very carefully. This screams not quite right to me. As other posters have said you need to pay the £12 to look at her history. £12 paid is better than 3k lost at buying something with no proven record. Good luck
 
The owner is extremely cautious of who the mare goes to because she is very special to her. Several people have tried her and the owner has selected me as being the most suitable one and therefore I was aloud to pursue the buying proccess where as others may have not been able to. This is not a sales pitch and the owner is a very genuine and caring owner, as I have said before she told me all about the problems and revelaed evrerything I just wanted the vet to give her the once over incase there were hidden problems. Thank you for all your replys they have been increadible helpful. Will pay the £12 to see her records.
 
If I were you I would have a assessment from a acpat physio.
The forelegs would trouble me .
The plaiting would worry me as it can indicate some nasty things coming along they could be such showing a poorly muscled horse not using itself in an optimal way and input from a good physio could help you with that .
 
Clodagh said:
Not many top horses are conformationally perfect.
Click to expand...

My experience is that base narrow to any serious extent is a fairly uncommon defect, though. In all the dozens of horse I've owned and ridden I've only had one, and that blew an inside branch of a front leg suspensory ligament, just as her confirmation predisposed her to.
 
My vet said that they always find something when they look for it, every horse has a little bit here and there. I think you should consider her age a little bit as my insurance company said that the biggest pay outs are in 8-9 age range - that's when issues kick in if they are born with something, or has injuries when young. And due to the lower activity level she's had you could bring her to better condition gradually, so you can monitor how she progresses. If they get to 12-13 years without any issues from whatever they have, it is not likely to cause other than normal issues. Sounds like she is worth trying out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top