Vetting of a new horse

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natalieaxford

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I have just made an offer on a horse subject to vetting yesterday! Was just wondering whether to have a 2 stage vetting or 5 stage vetting done? Im not paying big money for her, only £2500 so not sure whether to have a 5 stage or not?
 
I personally would. Regardless of how much you are paying for her, a bad horse costs just as much to keep as a good horse (if not more...)
 
I only had a 2 stage on both my horses that were in the region of that sort of money, 5 stage is very very in depth (obviously all vets are different) but the ones Ive heard of, I think at the end of the day they check all the main things that are most important and could go wrong, its still a very thorough vetting but its up to you.
 
I only had a 2 stage with mine as well.Had I been spendin 5k on a potential eventer then yes I would have a 5 stage vetting,but my vet agrees that the 5 stage is aimed at competition horses whereas the 2 stage is generally sufficient for the average horse owner who is doing no more than riding club stuff. It is still quite a thorough vetting and you can pay extra to add bits to it if you want to(at least down here you can)The 5 stage is more thorough as it detects heart problems before,during and after hard work whereas the 2 stage is only done at rest or after a brief trot up.However the majority of heart problems are detectable at rest anyway.
 
The only thing i find worrying with a 5 stage is the cloudiness around flexion tests. Some horses fail a flexion test and then pass the next day. If you still decided you want the horse if it shows up with slight lameness after a flexion (if you just want a happy hacker for instance), then don't you end up having restrictions on insurance?
 
As far as I understand it, the flexion tests take place in the second stage so would be included in a 2 stage anyway.

The five stage includes everything in the 2 plus exercise, rest and examination after rest.

The horse is always vetted against the proposed activity so you would get a different answer to whether the horse is suitable for light/medium hacking than for high level dressage, and a horse that might pass for hacking might not pass for high level dressage.
 
Yeah my boy had a two stage with flexion's, but that's only after being trotted up. I think flexion's in a 5 stage are after ridden work aren't they?
 
I had a two stage with flexion tests and a blood test with my boys when i paid £2000 partly because i couldnt afford a five stage and knew they would probably not pass as neither were very fit at that stage and i wasnt going to be competing ect for a while. Its up to you really, ask your vet what each entails and decide from there
 
My horse cost that amount and I went for the 5 stage and really glad I did. The vetting was halted as something did show up very mildly, almost imperceptible lameness in one leg, after the flexion tests. Owner I was buying from got a back person in as vet had thought it was something with the back and it was muscular, so had that treated, vet returned a couple of weeks later and he was all cleared. It didn't effect my subsequent insurance in terms of restrictions. I'm a very cautious type and I think it was someone on here in the past that put it best - a vetting is just a snapshot on that day at that time - but personally I like to know what I'm getting myself into in order I can make the best decision so would always go for 5 stage.
 
Well after all of that I spoke to my vet on the telephone today in depth about the 2 & 5 stage vettings & what they involve. After deciding which one I wanted done my vet contacted the owner who decided to come up with every excuse under the sun to prevent the vetting taking place. He said that the horse has mud fever & is stiff & he doesnt think its suitable to do it now & he isnt happy for my vet to take a blood sample etc. So my vet rang me and said he didnt think its going to pass the vetting due to being stiff etc. When I rang the owner of the horse to find out what was going on he went off on a major rant at me swearing etc & told me to F**K off & hung the phone up! So once again I still looking for a horse!
frown.gif
 
That sounds like a lucky escape to be honest-what a nutter! He probably knew the horse was never going to pass a vetting. Incredibly rude though. I had a 2 stage with bloods done yesterday, I did wonder if I should have had a 5 stage but unless the horse was worth serious money or going to be competing lots then I didn't think it was necessary. Luckily mine passed. My other horse I bought off my uncle and never had vetted as I had already known her for a few months.

Good luck looking for a new horse, (with a slightly less crazy owner)!
 
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