Vetting Records

[Northern]

I thought this might be an interesting discussion. I’ve just had a vetting done on an unbroken youngster. Full exam with complete set of X-rays. It wasn’t cheap, approximately £1k. I’ve walked away due to findings in the back (KS).

Now the owner is requesting all reports and X-rays from me (they originally asked the vet who did the check for me, without asking me first). Would you send the records? Or would you ask them to reimburse the cost before sending the records?

Obviously I was intending to absorb the cost if there were risky findings. However I don’t see why I should carry that cost if the owner will use these records to treat the horse or forward on to further prospective buyers. Essentially they’re asking for a free comprehensive vet work up from me.

Am I being unreasonable? Not something I’ve come across before!

The vet did the right thing by asking for my permission first, luckily!

 

[Amymay Again]

Tell them they can have them for £1k less the vetting fee.

 

[TheMule]

I would offer them for half the cost of the vetting. If they just want x-rays then I'd offer for the cost of the x-rays

 

[little_critter]

Now that’s a tricky one. You would have spent that money whether the horse passed or failed. So you are not actually any worse off.
I suppose the owner is now seeing the opportunity of getting a free vetting. Or maybe they aren’t even thinking of the money and would like more information on what’s up with their youngster. You have that information so they’ve asked you.

You could reasonably go either way; share the information for free for the benefit of the horse, share the information and recoup say half of your costs, or say ‘no, get your own vet out’
I don’t think there is a correct answer and I think I’d go with my gut feel.

 

[ycbm]

I think I'd let them have them, since the cost was sunk for me anyway and the seller now has a presumably almost valueless horse that was worth a lot of money before it was x rayed.

As long as I didn't suspect that they knew all along the horse wasn't right, but that seems unlikely in an unbroken youngster.
.

 

[Marigold4]

Yes, I would just send the vetting notes over. I have done this with a failed vetting in the past. The notes aren't any use to you and the seller, as YCBM says, now has a nearly valueless horse. Perhaps the notes will help the seller get the horse the right treatment, so in the horse's interest. A difficult situation all round and I'm sorry you have lost the money. Also, sorry for the seller as this must be devastating news.

 

[Birker2020]

I thought this might be an interesting discussion. I’ve just had a vetting done on an unbroken youngster. Full exam with complete set of X-rays. It wasn’t cheap, approximately £1k. I’ve walked away due to findings in the back (KS).

Now the owner is requesting all reports and X-rays from me (they originally asked the vet who did the check for me, without asking me first). Would you send the records? Or would you ask them to reimburse the cost before sending the records?

Obviously I was intending to absorb the cost if there were risky findings. However I don’t see why I should carry that cost if the owner will use these records to treat the horse or forward on to further prospective buyers. Essentially they’re asking for a free comprehensive vet work up from me.

Am I being unreasonable? Not something I’ve come across before!

The vet did the right thing by asking for my permission first, luckily!

I used to work in conveyancing. If a buyer's solicitor had searches carried out on a property and a seperate reason made the buyer pull out of the purchase then the buyers solicitor would either offer the searches up for sale to the sellers solicitor at a fraction of the price or inform them that they were available should a new buyer wish to take advantage. The incentive being that they were available immediately thus saving a great deal of time with the added advantage of being slightly cheaper to purchase. They had a resale date of 3 months from memory.

So I'd offer to sell a set of xrays at half price, the incentive being that the seller has them a lot cheaper than if he was going to go down the route of getting them done by his own vet and quicker too.

 

[sollimum]

TBH I would let them have the xrays. If they are using the x rays to treat the horse, that is a positive and I would hope that's the case.

 

[Northern]

Interesting, thanks all!

Horse was asymptomatic (well as asymptomatic as you can get for a basically handled, unbroken young horse). I know the sellers intention is to have her started under saddle and offer her back on the market if she goes well. The vetting was open - they were informed at the time what was found (another finding in a hoof as well). There isn't really anything to "treat" at the moment. If they had indicated that, I probably would have just shared the reports.

I have offered her the two reports and full x-ray series for the price of the x-rays only. I shall report back!

 

[ihatework]

They can buy them off you at a price to be decided!

 

[Dam1]

I too would ask for at least half.
Think it's a bit cheeky they haven't offered anything (even a token amount) to be fair .

 

[dougpeg]

I'd let them have them. They are no good to you now and it might help the horse.

 

[Fransurrey]

I think I'd be inclined to send them to her vet and thus ask for their details, but this comes too late, now, as you've already offered them directly at a price. I don't think it's an unreasonable ask, as whatever they do now will depend on those X-rays and as pointed out, they're of no use to you. If they were being dodgy, I can't see that they'd bother to request them at all. I can only assume that they want their vet to look at them or show a new vetting professional the X rays, so they can make an informed choice. It's an expensive game, this horse lark, so I'm all for saving someone a few quid in the hope that they 'pay it forward'.