vetting

landyandy

landyandy

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i'm just curious to know, as anyone had a horse vetted and it as failed, then had a second vetting done on the same horse and have it pass?
i've just had one that failed on the flexion test, and was wondering if it is worth having a second opinion, the horse in question is 5 years old. thanks
 
If you got a diff vet to vet it even on the same day it would poss pass the flexion. Most horses fail, its usualy just the vets covering themselves against sueing. I would get the horse if its passed everything else
 
Did you attend the vetting, tbh I think this is a good idea, as you can see just how hard vets try to make them fail rather than pass IMHO, but the flexion test should be taken in to consideration with all other lameness tests, I would rather see a horse lunged on a hard surface at the trot, to me this is a hard but more definitive test.
 
i didn't attend the vetting, it was on thursday afternoon, i have another vetting booked for monday morning with a different vet, and will be there this time.
my heart says to buy him anyway but my head says to take notice of the first vetting.
i am totally in turmoil, as the horse is perfect.
i've been told it's just luck with flexion test, as they can fail one day and pass another.
but still not sure what to do
 
sooo many horses fail on the flexion tests and are fine. Firstly think how you would feel if someone held your leg up above your head for a decent amount of time and then asked you to sprint off (nearest human equivalent I can think of) I dont know about you but I would be lucky if I wasnt off for the entire run let alone my first couple of strides being balanced. Secondly as previous posted vets are trying to cover themselves entirely and so will be very very tough so a slightly imperfect stride on a horse that is usual for it or for instance if it hasnt been ridden straight one bum cheek may be more muscular than the other and so may not be 100% square and might be failed.
I would consider buying a horse that didnt pass on flexions but passed everything else after discussing it with the vet. I would definetely buy if I really liked it and it passed second time with a different vet. I would personally have it vetted by a vet ive dealt with a lot and trust and be present at the vetting. Hope that helps :)
 
If he's sound on a circle on a hard surface, I'd buy him anyway. The outcome of flexion tests depends a lot on the technique and it's very easy to make a horse appear lame. There is even talk of ruling flexion tests out of formal vettings and going with lunging on a hard surface instead. Good luck :)
 
becca1305 said:
I would personally have it vetted by a vet ive dealt with a lot and trust and be present at the vetting. Hope that helps :)
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the first vetting was done by my own vet. whom i do trust.
the horse was still slightly lame after while been ridden(10 meter circle). also the horse had an old scar on the same leg as lameness, maybe i should just walk away.
 
if its slightly lame on a circle I would walk away tbh :(. or perhaps see if they would be interested in loan with view to buy in the circumstances? they must know if its failed once on flexions and 10m circle they will be lucky to get a sale.
 
If its any comfort, a friend of mine had a mare at Prix St George level and was selling it, it failed the flexion test.

She kept it on afterwards and has it at Grand Prix, no soundness problems at all. The mare was about 11 at the time.

A 5yr old failing would perhaps worry me more than something over 10, but I don't like flexion tests and think that if you're out to make a horse lame then you should expect a lame horse. Lunging on hard surfaces is the way foreward.
 
I think flexion tests are misleading and unfair. Sound horses can react badly to them and many good horses are cast aside because of them. I think vets should only flex a leg with an obvious problem and instead, lunge in a small circle on a firm surface.

Of course, vets are too scared of being sued so they are looking for the slightest excuse to fail a horse, and they still get paid whatever the outcome! They even go up in some peoples estimation for finding faults and failing.

I think it's a brave vet who will pass a horse these days.

If you really like this horse, then negotiate a better price so he's worth taking a chance on. The seller will be ready to talk now I expect. A flexion test is no proof that he will go lame in the future.
 
This is a really interesting thread. I have always been really worried about vettings.
I was talking to my mum the other day about Horlicks and was explaining to her about vettings. She asked if I would still buy her if she failed. I would be very surprised if she passed a flexion test (dont know many horses who have tbh) and this has always been my worry as she is perfect for me and it would break my heart.

Now I have read peoples thoughts on flexion tests, I'm not so concerned.

Good luck for Monday, really hope he passes!
 
MrsD123 said:
My reading of this is that horse failed flexion test AND was lame on a 10 metre circle, so walk away.
Your [trusted] vet spun him and you would now be in a "no insurance on that leg" situation.
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if i'm been honest, this is what my head is saying,think i am going to walk away fron the situation.
Thank you for all your replies.
 
I had done a really long post to answer and ask some questions but lost it:eek:
I think you have made the right decision to leave it,I have sold one that failed first time to a different buyer/vet but it does throw up questions that as a buyer will always be in your mind if you go ahead with the purchase,not to mention the cost of a second vetting.
 
be positive said:
I had done a really long post to answer and ask some questions but lost it:eek:
I think you have made the right decision to leave it,I have sold one that failed first time to a different buyer/vet but it does throw up questions that as a buyer will always be in your mind if you go ahead with the purchase,not to mention the cost of a second vetting.
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these are exactly my thoughts, it will always be in the back of my mind that it failed first time with my own vet, i just thought
that i had found mr perfect.
 
If it was just an issue with the flexion test I would ignore it, but the lame on the circle thing is a worry. Keep looking at other horses - if you don't find anything better, you could always come back in a few weeks and have another vetting. Paying for two vettings is annnoying!
 
MrsD123 said:
My reading of this is that horse failed flexion test AND was lame on a 10 metre circle, so walk away.
Your [trusted] vet spun him and you would now be in a "no insurance on that leg" situation.
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I completely agree with this.

landyandy said:
these are exactly my thoughts, it will always be in the back of my mind that it failed first time with my own vet, i just thought
that i had found mr perfect.
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Sorry to hear that. I went through something similar last summer. In fact, due to the horse injuring herself then we waited and re-vetted quite some time later. The whole hoo-ha lasted most of the summer. My vet still had concerns so we xrayed and sure enough there were problems and we didn't buy her. She was perfect and I'd really fallen for her (and wasted a lot of money!!), BUT, the disappointment was nowhere near as bad as when my beloved girl had to be retired as an LOU case age 8, and I would do anything to avoid that heartache again.

There's one out there with your name on it; you're just going to have to search a little longer :)
 
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