Vettings WWYD (also in NL)

Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted Chestnuts

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 July 2008
Messages
8,745
Location
Scotland
Visit site
Ok out of curiosity how many of you would have a horses tendons scanned at the vetting??

Also how many of you haven't and found issues later on causing heartbreak and frustration??

And once more how many of you would have a youngsters legs scanned at vetting or have a 5stage done on an under 4??

Curiosity is niggling at me here :)
 
I have not had legs scanned as part of a 5 stage vetting although might if a vetting threw up a concern. I don't think there is any way to mitigate risk completely with horses and any part could be fine one day and a problem develop the next.
 
Never had scans during a vetting.

Never had an issue from not doing it.

Haven't bothered vetting anything in the last 8 years (mainly youngsters) and definitely wouldn't bother to scan in a youngster.

I have bought 1 horse with a previous tendon injury (3 years before purchase) but it never caused him another issue- he went on to hunt and event and the scar tissue was so minimal you had to look very hard to see there had been any injury.

Maybe if I was spending 10k+ on a horse I would look at scans or x-rays but the likelihood of me having that money to spend is very slim :)

My most expensive horse was 4.5k and he failed the vetting- I still bought him and 8 years later he is still BE eventing with not a day of lameness and since that I have never vetted another horse!
 
I've bever had a horse's leg scanned at a vetting, nor have I been asked to have one I am selling done, I would view it as a slightly weird request although I guess I would have no objection. I don't buy under 4yos but plenty around that age, I virtually always have a 5 stage done, unless I'm buying from a dealer (who I know and trust!) and they've had one done in the last few months when they imported/bought the horse.

I suppose if I was buying a horse just after it had done a three day event I might, just to rule out any nasty surprises. Otherwise I'd rely on clinical signs to highlight any potential problems, you could then scan to investigate further if necessary.

I do frequently have x rays, esp as I'm usually buying to sell on and I suspect ultimate purchaser will have them so I don't want any nasty surprises at that stage. I always dread it though, as they can open a can of worms unnecessarily :( Also, after a very annoying experience selling a (totally sound) pony, I will not allow someone to have X rays taken prior to/in isolation from a full vetting: well known vet failed pony on a bit of pre-existing, totally stable sidebone (we have the x rays from our purchase of him to prove it) mainly I suspect because he hadn't had the opportunity to see just how sound and free-moving this pony was. The galling thing was that it was, purely coincidentally, this vet's partner who had passed the pony with flying colours when we bought him with identical x rays :mad: Needless to say, pony passed subsequent vetting for alternative purchasers with no problem at all. So now I say if you want to buy, you have a full vetting THEN take any X rays you might think necessary. Sorry, slightly off topic but thought it was related.
 
i always ask for tendon scans at a vetting now. never had the request denied. i am utterly paranoid about tendons.
if there is any heat or swelling at any time when i bring a young horse into work, i get them scanned. we have found some very surprising things, incl when i insisted a vet did scans (he humoured me although he was convinced they were fine) and they were very much NOT fine... it is always worth it.
 
Yup - would always request scans now. Although the inital cost is high I have been saved massive nightmares as two horses I had vetted (and looked perfectly OK on the outside) had underlying issues that were picked up through scanning. Both these horses were then sold on to other poor unsuspecting people and they have both gone wrong since...

I often ask for x rays to be done too. However, all my horses would be required to event and so need to stand up to hard work.
 
Haven't in the past and had never really thought about it but when current horse injured his tendon 18 months ago, the vet mentioned it to me when he advised my boy "not to do the big XC tracks any more". He said that if and when I went looking for another competition horse he would happily scan the tendons as part of the vetting. I will be taking him up on that offer.
 
I was just thinking about all the things that have occurred (on here and other forums) despite passing a 5 stage vetting but then tendon/Ligament issues that seemed to opccur within the first few months or new ownership that have struck me as odd :)

Also with my mare having had her tendon issues then finding out that she had probably done the tendon BEFORE I had got her (old adhesions etc found) and obviously this hadnt been picked up its making me think that If i do go for another horse (will be a youngster and probs connie or welsh D) should I get it scanned???

or would this be folly spending a little extra for peace of mind :)
 
Everybody will have different views, but mine is that if you are buying a lightly worked youngster there really shouldn't be any need, especially the type you are talking about, ie tough native types. Although it is possible for a baby to have tendon issues, and I'm sure there are people on here with cautionary tales to tell (Kerilli is one) it is very unusual - these injuries are usually caused by us doing work with horses that they aren't physiologically designed for ;) So personally in the situation you describe, I wouldn't bother: thing is, where do you stop?? X rays? All feet, joints and spine? Scope for ulcers? See what I mean? Just my view, and undoubtedly others will differ...
 
I haven't but very likely will discuss having xrays and/or scans next time round. I'm a bit disillusioned after having a couple pass 5 stage vettings only to discover problems very soon after.
I'm too old now to have another gentle hack/ field ornament. I'd see the additional cost as a worthwhile investment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top