Vetting Help

[Miss_Millie]

I've found a horse that I would like to buy. The problem is that she is on a smallholding with no arena or level surface that she could be lunged on. So owner says she doesn't think it would be possible to do a 5 stage vetting for that reason. The horse is a long drive from me - I don't know the area well so I'm not sure how easy it would be to get her boxed and taken somewhere for a 5 stage/what the logistics of that would be. She is only going to be a 'happy hacker'. Would a 2 stage suffice or should I try to somehow arrange a 5 stage?

 

[Starzaan]

I would arrange a 5 stage. Surely there’s a car park and a field? That’s all you need. If you would rather have an arena then you could arrange transport to one.

 

[Red-1]

Most equine vets nowadays have a base where there are basic facilities (as a minimum) for a vetting/ lameness diagnostics. I would google for vets in the area, or ask your vet for a recommendation.

With the current owner saying a full vetting would not be possible, it would be a red flag for me.

 

[Miss_Millie]

Most equine vets nowadays have a base where there are basic facilities (as a minimum) for a vetting/ lameness diagnostics. I would google for vets in the area, or ask your vet for a recommendation.

With the current owner saying a full vetting would not be possible, it would be a red flag for me.

Thank you. I probably worded it badly - she didn't say I can't do one, she just said she doesn't know where it could be done. The smallholding is not hers - she is a livery of the lady who owns the house. It is a really small yard, just 6 or so stables. Maybe I would be better talking to the owner of the house to see if she thinks there would be an appropriate place to lunge her.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I would arrange a 5 stage. Surely there’s a car park and a field? That’s all you need. If you would rather have an arena then you could arrange transport to one.

There is a car park, but it is gravel and on a slope. There is a driveway by the house which is flat tarmac, but it isn't very big. I rode across the field when I viewed the horse and it was very rough/churned up.

 

[cauda equina]

Depending on her price and veterinary history I'd be happy with a 2 stage, unless you think the seller is really trying to cover something up
Passing a 5 stage is no guarantee of continuing soundness

 

[Caol Ila]

You still need a flattish place to trot them up and lunge for a two stage. Foinavon's owner didn't have facilities, either, but she had a flat field. As he wasn't going to be jumped extensively (if ever) or asked to do dressage at anything higher than Prelim (if ever), so I reckoned a two-stage was sufficient. We did all the trotting up on a flattish field. Vet made a note that we hadn't trotted up on a hard surface, but the only one within a mile of the yard was the town centre of Aberfoyle, which would not have been ideal!

Owner and I had discussed taking him to a neighbour's, who had an arena, but seeing as it was dry, we decided to not bother because it would have involved more cat herding -- arranging things with neighbour as well as us two and vet.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I’ve had five stage vetting done with circles on hard surface done on the drive/hardcore area and lunging for lung tests and recovery rates done in a field..it is possible..so I too would wonder if a) the seller knows wha5 a five stage vetting involves and b) if the don’t want one carried out…why?

 

[Miss_Millie]

You still need a flattish place to trot them up and lunge for a two stage. Foinavon's owner didn't have facilities, either, but she had a flat field. As he wasn't going to be jumped extensively (if ever) or asked to do dressage at anything higher than Prelim (if ever), so I reckoned a two-stage was sufficient. We did all the trotting up on a flattish field. Vet made a note that we hadn't trotted up on a hard surface, but the only one within a mile of the yard was the town centre of Aberfoyle, which would not have been ideal!

Owner and I had discussed taking him to a neighbour's, who had an arena, but seeing as it was dry, we decided to not bother because it would have involved more cat herding -- arranging things with neighbour as well as us two and vet.

This is really helpful, thank you!

 

[criso]

I know several people who bought horses that were on yards with no facilities who had the horse taken to the vets for vetting. It didn't cost any more for the vetting but there could be one for transport unless the seller would take them.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I have spoken to the lady who owns the smallholding and she sold a horse not that long ago, she has another flat field where the horse can be vetted. So should be able to do a 5 stage. Thank you everyone

 

[Lady Jane]

I would strongly advise 5 stage vet. A gravel drive with a slight slope will show anything up even more.

 

[HashRouge]

I'm glad you've found somewhere OP! I was going to say if not, get creative! When we bought my mare (20 years ago now) the owner hade no facilities and I had to hack along a canal tow path with the vet in tow to get to the common, where I could trot and canter her round. Trot ups and flexions were done on a dirt track by the yard.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

Most equine vets nowadays have a base where there are basic facilities (as a minimum) for a vetting/ lameness diagnostics. I would google for vets in the area, or ask your vet for a recommendation.

With the current owner saying a full vetting would not be possible, it would be a red flag for me.

It was a red flag to me, told seller that had booked 5 stage vetting & they said wouldn’t be possible to hold one despite having arena. They didn’t want to have him transported to the vets so I asked for my deposit back on the basis they wouldn’t let me 5 stage vet

 

[nagblagger]

I will want an update - with pictures when you buy him!

 

[southerncomfort]

Keeping everything crossed for you MM!

 

[rara007]

They should box her up to the vets (or a yard). Very routine when X-rays are involved so shouldn’t seem odd to the vets.

 

[Miss_Millie]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it. Really hoping that she passes the vetting. My only concern is that she is very overweight. Her owner rarely rides her anymore due to owner's poor health, the horse has been fed a lot despite this and she is a cob. She has a very cresty neck, big tummy, is generally a lot larger than she should be. Her gentle demeanour and the fact that she is bombproof on the roads makes me happy to overlook this and look at the bigger picture of helping her lose weight over time, with a good diet and exercise. I'm just worried that she will fail the vetting based off of her weight alone. Her owner says she has never had laminitis in the time she has owned her. Is there anything I should particularly look out for in the vetting? Like I said, happy to see the weight issue as a project, so long as I'm not buying a walking vet bill in the long run. Would they be able to test for EMS or see signs of it in a vetting?