Vetting Horses

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Berry and Des

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Hello Everyone,

Over a week ago now I viewed a horse with my friend for her to buy, upon calling after the weekend with a date for the vetting the dealer explained that the horse she wanted was lame after getting out of the field. It is now a week later and we saw it sound yesterday but as it turns corners it seems unsound. I noticed that the horse was not 100% when i rode it on the trial, but i only noticed it once he seemed pretty sound to me. Now we are prepared to get the horse vetted again we are all very worried that the horse will not pass the flexion test, he is going to be a family horse happy hacker and maybe do a little more when his rider is more confident. I would really like to know peoples opinions on the situation, any advise is appreciated, i'm looking to do my own flexion test tomorrow just to see if he does come up lame, are there any other tips anyone has before we vet this horse to check it is 100% sound.

Sophie xxxx :o
 
Personally, unless there is a valid and known reason for the horse to be lame (ie it's had a kick or something obvious) then I would be inclined to leave it well alone. Certainly if it didn't seem that sound to you when you tried it either.

There are plenty or horses out there that aren't lame and, after all whether you only want a hack or a competition horse, a lame horse isn't capable of doing either!
 
Remember dealers dont usually get them vetted before buying them themselves and they sell them for inflated prices. There are many other horses out there and if you arent happy (which you sound like you arent) then walk away. If it is lame in your opinion, have you mentioned this to the dealer?
 
Personally i would not have said he was lame just stiff, the horse is not very well schooled and has previously been ridden by an 8 year old his whole life. The dealer explained she found him cantering on the road when he got out, but is now sound according to her we just believed him to be a little off / stiff? Still stay clear you think? :)
 
IMO I would think very carefully about this horse, its bad enough your horse going lame but buying on is not too cleaver!! :o If you decide to go ahead [and buy it] see if you can have it for a week or two on loan. With the market as it is, I can't see the buyer minding if it's ligit. Good luck whatever you decide. :)
 
We have been offered a 7 day money back and 18 day swap the dealer is very happy to have the horse vetted as she believes it to be sound, it was my friend that said he was stiff on the turn after we trotted him up to see if he was lame, on the straight he is sound but just turning i think he has problems with? xx
 
B&D - as it's a dealer you have significant buyers rights which you don't have when buying from a private seller. They have their reputation to watch, if you know [of] them, go for it - sounds like you will anyway!!! Do you know anyone (with a good horsey knowledge) who would go along and see it and give you a second opinion?
 
I dont personally know her but i have not herd anything bad about her and she does not have any bad rep from what i know of, she is happy for the horse to be vetted and seems like she knows her stuff, I've had horses over 10 years and know a fair bit like i said i dont think he is lame but i did feel that he was stiff when i was riding him, i have only seen him twice and yesterday we were with him for all of 10 mins. He is sound, i should have worded my first question better he's 8 and is showing signs of stiffness that is the main problem for my friend at the moment. i'm goign back tomorrow with my friend who wants him to make our decision but the horse is not for me and i dont want to say go for it if i'm not 100% sure.:(
 
Get it vetted and see what the vet says. Weigh up what the vet advises with what the dealer is asking for the horse and make your choice. You have the 7 day trial period to put it through it's paces, if it's still lame (and you haven't become too attached to it!) send it back. The 28 day swap is a bit dubious - what will you get in return?? :confused:
 
The other issue that no one has mentioned, is that it will cost you £250 or thereabouts to hear a vet tell you it is not sound. That is a lot of money to lose. If the dealer thinks it will pass, ask her to pay for the vetting if it fails. That way you do not waste money on a horse that is a bit suspect.
 
Haven't a clue - I don't think flexion testing is an exact science so I don't hold much store by it. My 19-year old (had since 5-year old) has never passed it and has never been lame in his life! But he's just a big girl's blouse and thinks the vet has lamed him!
 
That is a brilliant idea and that is my friends main concern, that she will loose that money on a horse that vet might say not to buy. He is perfect in everyway just this worry with the vetting now do some dealers offer that??? :o
 
I dont think my old boy would pass a flexion if im honest, but he has again never been lame (touch wood) but then how can a vet give an accurate judgement if the horse does not pass, i dont see how they can say yes buy it if it does not pass???? :)
 
Will they not make her pay for the whole thing, if he fails that then? this is why i wanted to do my own to check do you think that is wise im quite competent with horses and i would feel quite happy trying it out? do you think that is an option? xx
 
TBH you have a number of options but it depends on a few things.

Firstly how much are you paying? I bought an ex race horse from the trainer for £500 - was not going to spend £300 on the vetting as I knew he prob wouldn't pass (has a partly metal leg!!) but that's not why I was getting him.

Had my connemara vetted as I was paying quite a bit more for him and over a certain value insurance companies won't insure them with out a vet report.

My old SJ pony was cheap as he was unwanted by the dealer. She bought him in on a lorry load from Ireland and he turned out to be the 'duff' one with very bad COPD. We knew he wouldn't pass the vet as a PC pony but asked them to come out and do a 'mini' vetting. Vet's quote when told how much we were paying - 'I'd better make sure it's actually got 3 legs!'.

Also, it sounds like you are quite taken with this horse - would the vets report make a difference if he just failed on flexion test?

I'd def see if the dealer would cover the cost if he failed vet - gives you a bit of reassurance.

Also may be that he stiffness is not leg lameness but related to a back / neck problem? Especially if he has escaped from his field recently - he may have slipped? One of my friends ponies who I now have I always thought looked stiff. When we bought him (no vetting as he has sarcoids and I already knew he had a heart murmur) we got our physio / chiro to see him and he's been fine and not looked stiff/lame since.


Just re read this and have realised it makes me sound like I have loads of decrepid horses!!! They are all lovely really!
 
lol dont go there about decrepid horses my baby was going to be put to sleep he was so evil to everyone, but he loves me and i've never had a problem lol.

We have an amazing back lady who is currently away on a corse this week but she was happy to come and see him just got let down by the dealer when we were all going to go up. I am a true believer that horses back must be done and i said the same thing that it could be his back that is the problem.

He is up for £1295, and temperment wise you cannot fault him, do you think it is worth getting him vetted at that cost as he will be insured, and as long as we really test him out during that week then we can see for ourselves.

I've never had my horses vetted one i got free and my welsh i got for 700 with a 3 month trial. I bought a youngster once and got him home then got the vetted and he had cataraks, i dont want my mate to make the same mistake as me, i feel so involved in the situation and just want her to be happy but she does not know a great deal and is just after a fun horse for her and her family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Berry and Des said:
lol dont go there about decrepid horses my baby was going to be put to sleep he was so evil to everyone, but he loves me and i've never had a problem lol.

We have an amazing back lady who is currently away on a corse this week but she was happy to come and see him just got let down by the dealer when we were all going to go up. I am a true believer that horses back must be done and i said the same thing that it could be his back that is the problem.

He is up for £1295, and temperment wise you cannot fault him, do you think it is worth getting him vetted at that cost as he will be insured, and as long as we really test him out during that week then we can see for ourselves.

I've never had my horses vetted one i got free and my welsh i got for 700 with a 3 month trial. I bought a youngster once and got him home then got the vetted and he had cataraks, i dont want my mate to make the same mistake as me, i feel so involved in the situation and just want her to be happy but she does not know a great deal and is just after a fun horse for her and her family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Agree with you on the vetting front, eyes and heart we always say as you cant tell yourself.
 
As your friend is not experienced maybe worth phoning the vet and talking to them. See whether they would recommend a full 5* vetting given the stuff your friend wants to do but a full vetting would give you a bit of peace of mind.

If it was me then I prob wouldn't bother with a vetting for £1250 but for some people that's a huge amount of money to risk.

It's a very personal decision - I know several people who have spent £10k plus on horses and not had vettings and those that have had free horses vetted.

Sorry not being more decisive!!
 
i'm sure she will make up her own mind, but i just want to help her, shes a good friend and just want her to have summit perfect. Ive got my opinion about him but its not my money nor will it be me thats stuck with the horse if t goes all wrong?


THANKS FOR THE ADVISE EVERYONE IT'S ALL REALLY APRECIATED!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Anything backed I'd have vetted - even if paying minimal money. I have seen far too many people not bother because the horse is under £1000, then have years of vet bills/unrideable horse to keep as a result. In my area just outside london 5* vettings are only £180 - well worth it. You could save money on the vetting only to find that the horse is never sound for more than a month at a time if that because it has navicular/tendon problems/sidebone/other issues. Better to spend the money.
 
For that price, and for a happy hacker, I wouldn't be remotely worried about whether the horse passed a flexion test! Have a chat with your vet, tell them what you want the horse for, hope that they're sensible, and see if they could do a two star vetting - basically I'd want to know eyes, heart and legs were sound... I've not had our two that were less than £2k vetted, and had no problems with them...
 
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