Vetting... who gets x-rays?

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Kacey88

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As title really.

My budget is €2000, and many cobs I'm interested in are falling under that price (ah the joys of Ireland!). I was pricing the various types of vetting and they asked if I want anything x-rayed too. Anyone x-ray? Is it usually for pricey competition animals?
 
I thought it was necessary from an insurance company's point of view for a horse valued at £12,000 and over. Happy (and pleased !) to be corrected though.
 
I wouldn't x-ray for that budget tbh.

I don't think you would even been required to have a vetting for that price either, not that I am saying not to have a vetting though!

Horses would generally speaking have x-rays if you wanted it to compete at a decent level, to see if anything got flagged up to prevent this.

Good luck with the horse shopping :)
 
With my last competition horse, we only had x-rays done when we went to insure him but with my latest (vetted this week), we had them done during the initial vetting. These are both £35k+ though - we didn't bother with the other horses.

I don't think I would bother with x-rays in your position, personally.
 
The only time I got x-rays done was (1) for a horse who had a high value and I needed them to get insurance and (2) for a horse that had been lame for the first vetting but was sound for the second vetting.
 
Oh ok so a definite no then! Thanks everyone. Is it silly getting them vetted at all for my budget? My vet said a 5 stage vetting is €120, seems like its worth it.
 
I have only every had x-rays, scopes and scans done when spending more than £12000. Anything less than that I've never bothered. Definitely wouldn't bother for something under £5k.

But it's personal preference, if you want them, get them done.
 
WandaMare said:
Definitely not silly at any price, its well worth it for the peace of mind.
Click to expand...

And I need peace of mind, I'm a serious worrier! Thanks for the reassurance, it's not really the done thing over here and I'm sure some people will roll their eyes if I ask for a vetting. But anyway, better safe than sorry.
 
Get a vetting, even if its just a 3 stage, just for peace of mind - especially if the cob has a history of hunting or an unknown history. Granted, I didn't vet my last when I got him but I had known him as a three year old through to him being backed and turned away - I knew his sire and dam well too.

In Ireland cobs are often well worked as youngsters - some hunted regularly as 3/4yos (grim but true) so a quick vet check might be no harm - xrays might be over kill though, check with your insurance company as some do require a full vetting for full coverage.
 
It's completely up to the individual tbh. For a £2000 cob I would be doing no more than a basic vetting, but if you need peace of mind then go for the full works.
Good thing is vettings in Ireland are generally cheaper than England.
I had one done on a young event horse last year and it was approx 800 euro - that was 5 stage, xrays of feet, fetlock, knee/hock and stifle plus scoping. The agent boxed the horse to the clinic. Our vet over here read the xrays.
 
I don't get at that price.
However if pony/horse was expensive enough for me to vet I would only have a vetting that includes bloods and X-rays I seen many people pay £500 for a 5 stage and stuff not be picked up on it. Me personally would have X-rays over a vetting!! A lot more clear cut then a vetting.
I've also seen horses pass miserably with one vet to fly through with another days later! It's only a snap shot in time and someone's opinion.
 
If I ever buy another horse, I will have a 5 stage vetting and xrays of feet and hocks. Il never spend more than 1500 on a horse but it will be on livery for life so the vetting will be piece of mind - the 1500+xrays and vetting is the cheap easy bit! Its always a lotto but that's the least I will do to put my mind at ease. I would also only buy a horse already doing the things I will expect it to do, that was advice given to me by a trusted vet when we were discussing vettings. I don't have anywhere I could turn a horse away to so I could buy another horse, and I wouldn't sell something broken even if selling as a happy hacker
 
I would get bloods taken as well. Probably not X-rays although it's so cheap to vet horses in Ireland it might be worth asking how much it costs! Think it cost me about 90euros for a 5 stage vetting and another 20 to take bloods.
 
i had a 5* vetting done, horse approved for hunting/SJ/Eventing, But after some rodeo's i had Xrays done ; Kissing spine. Save yourself the heartache!
 
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