Vettings - do you regret getting/not getting one done?

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CobsGalore

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Seen lots of discussions on here recently about vettings; people who have not have them done, or those who have had them done and then had problems a few months later etc.

Did you get a vetting done when you purchased your horse and are you pleased with, or regret the descision that you made?
 
I had a vetting and was pleased that I got it done as it meant I could insure the horse for his full value, and then had the vets fees covered for all the problems that arose a couple of weeks later!
 
I wouldn't have bought without. What it showed me as well as her not having major health problems was that she was willing to be pulled around, asked to do strange things and even some unpleasantness (such as the gag for the tooth check) without any bad temper. This established my original belief that she was a very nice tempered horse that just needed some bringing on.


Paula
 
I didn't get a vetting for my first girl, she would have failed and it would have saved me a lot of heart ache with surgery and box rest etc, but I dont regret it, I love her more then anything.
When I bought my new boy I did get him vetted to avoid the same happening again :)
 
Never had one vetted. My first owned one was a 2yr old, a very experienced buyer checked her for me, but tbh I was head over heels (and still am) & would have wanted her if she only had 3 legs. Since then I've always had dirt cheap horses, quite often from sales where vetting isn't an option. However I'm ultra picky about projects health wise. There's probably a few I have no'd for petty imperfections, eg slighty sloping pasterns, tiny bit of dishing etc that would have probably sailed through a vetting as fit for purpose. But unvetted I'm ultra careful. And they have all been very cheap, either unbroken youngsters or ones with issues. Only horse I bought as already valuable, I had been his groom for 2yrs & new everything about him anyway, & been present for routine checks, so no point. However while I don't regret at all never having a vetting, if I was to buy an unknown riding horse of decent value I would. And I always recommend others do. If I help someone view, even a cheaper one I'd buy without vetting, I recommend a vetting. But I had a very good teacher in my teens who regularly bought at low end sales, so he taught me a lot about what to look for & avoiding future problems, that the average private buyer probably wouldn't think of.
 
I didnt get my current wee mare vetted as she was cheap as chips and I was willing to take my chances with her.....I have always previously vetted. No regrets not getting current wee mare vetted even if she does now suffer from laminitis and is s super high maintenance pony. x
 
I had my cob vetted and as someone has already said it proved he could be pulled around and had a basically good character. It didn't prevent him from slipping a week after I bought him while riding on the mountain and damaging his hock which was originally thought would put him out of action for good! Having a vetting I think gives you peace of mind more than anything else and even if something is found wrong you can make an informed descision as to buy or not. I would always have a horse vetted just to have that peace of mind.
 
I have had bad experiences with vettings, both that had full vettings and passed ended up with career ending problems (most likely present at the vettings). The one that failed his vetting was the best horse ever!

Horse 1 from breeder - failed vet for splints, bought unseen for much reduced price. Checked his legs on arrival and found tiny tiny splint nodules! Horse of a lifetime. No health issues until old age pts nearly 37

Horse 2 from private seller - full vetting. Passed with flying colours 6 months later pedal ostitis, no recovery, field ornament.

Horse 3 from breeder - no vetting as had been vetted for stallion license. No health issues until old age pts at 29

Horse 4 from private seller - no vetting as already in her 20s, no health issues until old age pts at 30

Horse 5 - full vetting bought from dealer - kissing spine now field ornament.
 
I would always have one done despite them never being much use to me. They can only vet what they see on the day!! At least if nothing else it eliminates so many many things. It also enabled me to insure him for what I paid for him

First horse, vet said 'big strong lad you won't have a days trouble with him' well he was nothing but one ailment/injury after another

Recent purchase vet said 'if he goes lame other than hurting himself I will retire and become a buddest monk' Well I've had him 10 wks and he has been lame twice, vet said he is pretty sure it is just change in farrier?. anyway seems sound again now but there is still something very wrong and at my request he is being scoped for ulcers tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed that is all that is wrong as I know they are often symptoms of something else. I think if he does have them his is stress from being imported then in stable with limited hay
 
I haven't had any of my 3 vetted but my current mare did make me sweat for a while.

She had put her back, pelvis and shoulder out in the lorry when delivered unbeknown to us.

When ridden she became nappy, spinning and rearing and seemed dangerous. She bit me and was generally unpleasant.

Everyone thought I had been 'had' it was very stressful and thankfully was sorted out quickly.

If I buy again, I will get a vetting I think.
 
I didn't have my horse vetted, I kind of wish I had done as he does have one little niggly issue, but I doubt it would have stopped me buying him - actually I'm not sure if it would have made him fail a vetting anyway, can a horse fail a vetting because it has a cankle?!

As it turned out, he spent the first couple of months in and out of work because he is so bloomin' clumsy in his stable and in the field :rolleyes:
I still love him though!
 
1) Vetted, they missed the most important issue which still does affect her. Love her to bits though and wouldn't change her for the world.
2) Not vetted - had been on same yard as the pony for a while, friend had known the pony nearly all its life. Wouldn't have found anything.
3) Not vetted (not backed). Wouldn't have picked up her issues as not apparent until in full work.
4) Not vetted, again not backed. Owner very honest about the only issues there were, which are very easy to deal with.
 
I only started vetting them when I was looking to buy from abroad (i.e from the U.K when I was living in France). I am so glad I did and I think I definitely will have my next vetted when the time comes. I was in love with a little coloured mare I saw, we had her vetted and it turned out she had a heart problem and in the vets own words "could collapse and die at any moment". Needless to say I was gutted, as was the owner, who had had her from a foal.
 
Never had a horse vetted in my life had over 10. I mean if I was buying one for more then 3k I prob would all mine were fine
 
4) Didn't get a vetting as my boy is from a reputable stud and I knew the guy wouldn't sell me a dud, also, he had a stallion licence. He was quite cheap too so I thought I'd risk it. Have had no problems.
3) Didn't get him vetted. No problem with him till much later in his life when he got RAO, and eventually cancer. PTS after 17 yrs of owning him aged 21
2) Ex racer TB - got him vetted, he failed it, but I bought him anyway
1) I was 12 and didn't even know vetting was an option - my parents knew nothing about horses.
 
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