Vetting when buying a known horse

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LHIS

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I'm on the cusp of buying my loan pony, it's likely it'll be the spring before I buy but I'm 95% sure I will.
By then I will have had him on loan for 9 months.

My question is, would you have him vetted? I have never had a horse vetted before, I didn't have my old horse vetted (silly I know now, but I was 20 and was swept away in the whole 'first horse' thing - I was lucky and she was fine).

This may be an entirely silly question, but I have zero experience with vetting so am looking for advice please.
 
I had my lad on loan for 6 months before I as able to buy him. During that time, we did pretty much everything i'd want to do with him and he was fine, so I didn't have him vetted. I thought a problem would have shown up in that time. If you've not had any issues with your loan pony, I probably wouldn't bother tbh .....
 
I would personally never ever buy a horse without having it vetted, its just not worth the risk in my opinion.
For the cost of having it done against the cost of a problem that wasn't spotted pre purchase it makes sense.

You need to use your own vet and not the vendors vet which is a conflict of interest. If you or someone you know can be present at the vetting this is sensible (although I never have with any of mine as my Dad was). Make sure the vet knows what you intend to use the horse for. Even though you can't imagine wanting to compete having only ever hacked out your load pony, five months down the line you may feel entirely different. Have a five stage vetting although you won't need a drugs test as you already know the horse so this would be pointless. A drugs test just rules the horse hasn't been doped prior to vetting so it seems quieter or painfree.

It is a very useful tool to have and I would make a decision based on the result of the vetting. TOP TIP - Make sure you have it insured from midnight before you legally own the horse too.
 
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tatty_v said:
The only point I'd check is if you're planning to insure him whether the insurance company require you to have a vetting. x
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Yes am planning on having him insured, don't want any surprise bills! He's a hardy sort, but he's also a WelshX, so he is silly and I suspect any injuries he may pick up will be entirely self-inflicted! :D
 
applecart14 said:
I would personally never ever buy a horse without having it vetted, its just not worth the risk in my opinion.
For the cost of having it done against the cost of a problem that wasn't spotted pre purchase it makes sense.

You need to use your own vet and not the vendors vet which is a conflict of interest. If you or someone you know can be present at the vetting this is sensible (although I never have with any of mine as my Dad was). Make sure the vet knows what you intend to use the horse for. Even though you can't imagine wanting to compete having only ever hacked out your load pony, five months down the line you may feel entirely different. Have a five stage vetting although you won't need a drugs test as you already know the horse so this would be pointless. A drugs test just rules the horse hasn't been doped prior to vetting so it seems quieter or painfree.

It is a very useful tool to have and I would make a decision based on the result of the vetting. TOP TIP - Make sure you have it insured from midnight before you legally own the horse too.
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This does make sense to me, though I was originally erring towards the 'I know him so I won't get him vetted' school of thought. I would hate for him to have something lurking that I might not have seen, or that might not have shown itself yet. That being said, I'd be gutted if anything damning was found - I have my little heart set on this boy (getting carried away again..)

I have no idea about costs for vetting - what's the going rate for a 5 stage vetting (less the drugs test) approximately?
 
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It depends what you plan to use him for. I probably would have him vetted but wouldn't base my whole decision on that. I have had horses that would have failed vettings but they have turned out to be amazing all-rounders. You just want to make sure nothing bad is going on. I would just get the vet to check his eyes, heart and lungs and have a look at him move.
 
Llee94 said:
It depends what you plan to use him for. I probably would have him vetted but wouldn't base my whole decision on that. I have had horses that would have failed vettings but they have turned out to be amazing all-rounders. You just want to make sure nothing bad is going on. I would just get the vet to check his eyes, heart and lungs and have a look at him move.
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Thank you - he will be used for hacking, some light schooling, and then we'll try some fun rides and depending on how all that goes and once I'm feeling brave enough, I'd love a crack at the XC course at Somerford (the tiny jumps of course :D )
 
Personally I would, and as another poster has said, you might need it for insurance purposes so worth speaking to insurance companies now. Often you don't need it if you're insuring for less than £2,500 or so, so it does also depend on the purchase price of the horse.
How old is the horse?
 
Micropony said:
Personally I would, and as another poster has said, you might need it for insurance purposes so worth speaking to insurance companies now. Often you don't need it if you're insuring for less than £2,500 or so, so it does also depend on the purchase price of the horse.
How old is the horse?
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The price is TBC - he's probably worth about £1500, but I hope to pay closer to £1000 given that it's me that's brought him on. He's a 5yo Welsh X Cob (we think - sire is blank on passport - but breeder lives locally and I intend to find this out if I can before I buy).

However, these prices are based on a conversation back in April, it may be that the owner will have changed their mind since then. I'm hoping the months and months of work that I've put in to him will be recognised, but we'll see.

A quick google search tells me a 5 stage vetting will cost £250 ish? Is that about right?
 
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It's not a problem using the vendor's vet - sometimes this is a really good thing as you will (if vendor agrees) be able to have all his vet notes so you will know what he's been treated for, I'm not sure at that price that insurers will require a vetting, it might be worth checking. I might think about having a 2 stage vetting rather than a 5 stage (but not sure there's much price difference in which case have the 5) as at the very least you will get his heart, eyes and lungs/breathing checked.

Would I have him vetted possibly not as hopefully you'd be aware if he was sound etc.... and at that price it would add a lot to the price.
 
LHIS said:
I'm on the cusp of buying my loan pony, it's likely it'll be the spring before I buy but I'm 95% sure I will.
By then I will have had him on loan for 9 months.

My question is, would you have him vetted? I have never had a horse vetted before, I didn't have my old horse vetted (silly I know now, but I was 20 and was swept away in the whole 'first horse' thing - I was lucky and she was fine).

This may be an entirely silly question, but I have zero experience with vetting so am looking for advice please.
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Depends on how your paying and what use

maybe just a 2 stage vetting which is what I did for my new mare My first mare i had on loan over a yea before i brought her and did not get her vetted when i did.
 
SEIB will only insure up to £3000 vets fees without a vetting, not the usual £5000 cover. Not sure if they require a 2 stage or a 5 stage vetting, though.

(Was advised this recently when I went to reinsure my homebred 4yo prior to sending her away to be backed, despite being able to supply her entire vet history).
 
dornrose said:
It's not a problem using the vendor's vet - sometimes this is a really good thing as you will (if vendor agrees) be able to have all his vet notes so you will know what he's been treated for, I'm not sure at that price that insurers will require a vetting, it might be worth checking. I might think about having a 2 stage vetting rather than a 5 stage (but not sure there's much price difference in which case have the 5) as at the very least you will get his heart, eyes and lungs/breathing checked.

Would I have him vetted possibly not as hopefully you'd be aware if he was sound etc.... and at that price it would add a lot to the price.
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Thank you - the cost for the vetting, though I'm sure I could find something else to spend it on, isn't an issue. I will look into what's included in a 2 stage vetting also.

Whilst I have known him, and to the best of my knowledge he's never required any vet treatment and whilst I've had him hasn't presented with any issues. He's had a few scrapes here and there, but without consequence. I have a fantastic relationship with the owner, and if I do buy him we will be staying on the private yard he's on at the owner's home, so I'm not worried about anything being undisclosed to me.
 
Tiddlypom said:
SEIB will only insure up to £3000 vets fees without a vetting, not the usual £5000 cover. Not sure if they require a 2 stage or a 5 stage vetting, though.

(Was advised this recently when I went to reinsure my homebred 4yo prior to sending her away to be backed, despite being able to supply her entire vet history).
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They do cover up to £ 5000 if you have a 2 stage vetting to get loss of use you must have a 5 stage vetting
 
If you have been present when the vet does the annual check up pre vaccination then I wouldn't bother. My vet comments on suspicious lumps and bumps and checks heart and lungs then. Only additional benefit I would routinely expect from pre purchase vetting is lameness and eyes. As you have been riding the horse for 9 months anyway chances of them picking up anything there that you wouldn't live with are fairly slim. For me the benefit in vetting a cheap horse (c. 1/4 of your purchase price) is to stop me getting attached and then finding issues. Given that you are already attached I would probably not in your circumstances unless you are really clear what you expect them to find that would change your actions.
 
gnubee said:
If you have been present when the vet does the annual check up pre vaccination then I wouldn't bother. My vet comments on suspicious lumps and bumps and checks heart and lungs then. Only additional benefit I would routinely expect from pre purchase vetting is lameness and eyes. As you have been riding the horse for 9 months anyway chances of them picking up anything there that you wouldn't live with are fairly slim. For me the benefit in vetting a cheap horse (c. 1/4 of your purchase price) is to stop me getting attached and then finding issues. Given that you are already attached I would probably not in your circumstances unless you are really clear what you expect them to find that would change your actions.
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Thank you - yes I am quite attached to this little lad, though I would like to think sense would prevail should anything be found. I think I will have at least a 2 stage vetting for peace of mind, and will discuss a 5 stage vetting with his current owner and gage her thoughts as I trust her to give me an honest opinion.
 
gnubee said:
If you have been present when the vet does the annual check up pre vaccination then I wouldn't bother. My vet comments on suspicious lumps and bumps and checks heart and lungs then. Only additional benefit I would routinely expect from pre purchase vetting is lameness and eyes. As you have been riding the horse for 9 months anyway chances of them picking up anything there that you wouldn't live with are fairly slim. For me the benefit in vetting a cheap horse (c. 1/4 of your purchase price) is to stop me getting attached and then finding issues. Given that you are already attached I would probably not in your circumstances unless you are really clear what you expect them to find that would change your actions.
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This. If you're going to buy the horse regardless of the vetting I wouldn't as if it does throw up anything then all that will happen is you will get an exclusion on the insurance. If you feel that finding out something would change your mind and it would be a 'head over heart' decision then go for it.
 
I had mine on loan at a rs for 3 years but still had him vetted. All that was bought up was one thing I knew about. But wanted to be sure there was nothing else there. I am no professional and he was my first horse. Still bought him as a knew him.

Some might say a waste of a vetting.

Turned out I needed it for insurance anyway!!
 
Has he been lame at all in the time you've had him? Has he shown any signs of heart disease or breathing problems (fit, no 'funny turns', gets his breath back after cantering, no coughing etc.)? If the answer to either is yes, then yes, I would get him vetted. If the answer is no then I wouldn't bother - what are you going to gain from it? Unless you need a vetting for him to be insured (which as far as I know you don't, unless you're insuring them for over a certain value or loss of use - and I would never bother with the latter!) a two stage - and potentially even a five stage - isn't going to tell you any more than you probably already know.

I didn't have either of mine vetted - knew the pony would fail(!) and the horse would have passed.
 
All the horses / ponies I have had over the years I have known and bought from friends so never had any of them vetted - 9 in total over 20 years. (I have never bought on "the open market").
 
sarahandwilby said:
Has he been lame at all in the time you've had him? Has he shown any signs of heart disease or breathing problems (fit, no 'funny turns', gets his breath back after cantering, no coughing etc.)? If the answer to either is yes, then yes, I would get him vetted. If the answer is no then I wouldn't bother - what are you going to gain from it? Unless you need a vetting for him to be insured (which as far as I know you don't, unless you're insuring them for over a certain value or loss of use - and I would never bother with the latter!) a two stage - and potentially even a five stage - isn't going to tell you any more than you probably already know.

I didn't have either of mine vetted - knew the pony would fail(!) and the horse would have passed.
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He's never had any issues like lameness or breathing problems :)
 
el_Snowflakes said:
I would, definitely. A vetting will pick up things which yourself or the owner might not be aware of, ie. Sight & heart problems.
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If in doubt get a two stage vetting as a minimum, BUT, if something is found this may make your insurance more difficult, eg if he has a slight stiffness or flexion "failure" this might lead to a blanket exclusion, so you may be worse off.
You will find it easier to get better insurance if he is not vetted [ask Michen]
Even if the vet points out something, you may still want to buy it. The vetting is "fit for purpose", if you currently want it for happy hacking, then the vetting will be assessed differently than if you want to [insure] to event, hunt etc etc.
 
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Bonkers2 said:
If in doubt get a two stage vetting as a minimum, BUT, if something is found this may make your insurance more difficult, eg if he has a slight stiffness or flexion "failure" this might lead to a blanket exclusion, so you may be worse off.
You will find it easier to get better insurance if he is not vetted [ask Michen]
Even if the vet points out something, you may still want to buy it. The vetting is "fit for purpose", if you currently want it for happy hacking, then the vetting will be assessed differently than if you want to [insure] to event, hunt etc etc.
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Thank you - there's a lot to consider with this. He is due a check-up so I will attend that and see what the vet says. Like I've said I've seen absolutely no signs of any issues (that I would be able to spot), he has no lumps or bumps, the only things he's ever had are scrapes and scratches from being a teenager whilst in the field.
Sense dictates I should get him checked over, but I don't expect them to find anything. My buying him at the moment is based on my bond with him, the fact that I've made some real progress with him since I've had him, and I believe he could cope with anything I'd want to do (low level competing at the most!) - he's a smashing pony with the heart of a lion, and I believe him to have the sort of temperament I would want to have him as a family pony when that time comes. I'd be buying him with the full intention of giving him a forever home.
 
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