Vetting or not

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Crazylittlemaisey

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Hi all. Not posted in a while, so hello again 😊

New horse on trial, bought for hacking and maybe 2 sponsored rides per summer. She’s 16 yo, Arab. Seems sound and sane. Legs and feet look even and clean.

Would you have vetting done?
 
depends on the price, and your appetite for risk. At age 16 if she's still sound and hasn't had any major issues til then, I wouldn't bother if the price was right. But I haven't vetted any of mine for 25 years! :D How long is your trial period?
 
How experienced are you at judging soundness? What is your attitude to risk? How would you feel if you bought a croc?

Vetting a 16yo might well flag up some issues. But it doesn’t mean the horse won’t have a useful job.

Would I vet the horse, probably not. Would I advise someone else to, probably yes if they felt the need to ask the question
 
milliepops said:
depends on the price, and your appetite for risk. At age 16 if she's still sound and hasn't had any major issues til then, I wouldn't bother if the price was right. But I haven't vetted any of mine for 25 years! :D How long is your trial period?
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She’s £1250 and trial is for a few weeks/loose arrangement. I’m inclined not to bother and obviously won’t do a 5 stage due to her value
 
Having seen so many fly through 5 stage then be dog lame within 6 months (2 recently with arthritis!) - no I wouldn't bother, save the £300 for either insurance or vets fees fund.

I would do 2 stage - heart and eyes, the things you can't obviously judge yourself
I'd get your farrier to have a good look, they are often a good judge of even wear on feet/ stiffness and ditto your instructor or most experienced horsey friend.
 
ihatework said:
How experienced are you at judging soundness? What is your attitude to risk? How would you feel if you bought a croc?

Vetting a 16yo might well flag up some issues. But it doesn’t mean the horse won’t have a useful job.

Would I vet the horse, probably not. Would I advise someone else to, probably yes if they felt the need to ask the question
Click to expand...

All good points. Tbh I have my own land so livery isn’t a problem. She’s a hardy breed and I have a couple of friends who can judge lameness well. One is a horse chiropractor/physio.
 
Polos Mum said:
Having seen so many fly through 5 stage then be dog lame within 6 months (2 recently with arthritis!) - no I wouldn't bother, save the £300 for either insurance or vets fees fund.

I would do 2 stage - heart and eyes, the things you can't obviously judge yourself
I'd get your farrier to have a good look, they are often a good judge of even wear on feet/ stiffness and ditto your instructor or most experienced horsey friend.
Click to expand...

yes, I was going to say the people I have look at horses I am interested in are my farrier OH and my physio friend.

The activities you're planning for her aren't likely to cause an issue if she's essentially doing OK. If you were looking for a competition horse then the advice might be different ;)
 
To be honest, I wouldn't bother if it was me.

I'd probably get her seen by your physiotherapist for a check, but not a vetting for a 16 year old that is already doing the work I want them to be in.
 
Are current owners happy to disclose her full veterinary history? Personally I wouldn't vet if I was buying for myself but it might set your mind at rest to get a 2 stage vetting done.

My view tends to be that if they have stayed sound during their working life and have reached a decent age and are still sound then there is a good chance that they will remain sound.
 
depending on the purchase price. Would not want to spend have the amount I am spending on a horse on vetting but when it goes above £3000 or so I would most certainly vet. You may just be using her for hacking but you would still get attached to them and if you can avoid heartbreak by knowing all you can health wise I would always do so.
 
No I wouldn’t bother. Put the money aside into a separate account if she does ever need the vet or use it towards insurance.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. I don’t think I will have her vetted having considered things. When I tried her she was nicely forward and kept trying to take me over jumps that were in the field I rode her in, I hacked her out today and she was forward and lovely. My horses are at home so I don’t pay livery, she has good feet and is a good doer with a kind temperament so wouldn’t cost a fortune or be a pain to keep as a companion. On top of it all, of a vetting shows issues up, they’ll be excluded from insurance and given she’s 16 I’m sure she’ll be a little stiff, etc. Christ, I am in the morning and I just pop a couple of pills and crack on! ��

Thanks for replies x
 
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