Vettings

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bikina

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 November 2006
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298
Location
London
www.expeditionequus.com
Hi, had a horse vetted the other day, vet said he was stiff in his hocks, but was characteristic of the type of horse of his age - a 10 year old cob type. This true? Also, friend getting a horse vetted later this week, 10 year old native type, who is quite unfit (most of winter off, light hacking). Current owner says in view of this would be unfair to the pony to do a 5 stage vetting. That true, or do you think there is something to hide?
 
Cob types can get arthriticy in their hocks as they get older yes. And if the owner of the other horse is not happy about having a 5 stage vetting done, then she should have made an effort to get the horse fit prior to advertising. Not a very clever way to try and sell.

Are these horses going to be used as part of the expedition?? If so - stear clear would be my advice.
 
The thing about a vetting, is that it is a general health check. They will look at a number of areas that would not matter whether the horse is fit or not. Eyes, Limbs and Soundness issues.

The problem will come when the vet asks for the horse to worked hard, so he can listen to the heart and lungs.

When they vet an unbroken horse, they don't get to have it galloped around a field first, so they can get around this issue.
 
I'd be wary of someone that said it wasn't fair on the horse to do a 5 stage vetting. I'm sure the vet wouldn't want to see the poor thing run into the ground. Agree with AmyMay about the expedition, too. If it's a bit arthritic in it's hocks it prob won't be up to the job.
 
A few years ago i had a 5 stage vetting done on a pony that was a unfit. it was a bsja pony and the daughter was on to seniors so pony only got hacked now and again. she passed but the vet picked up that there was inflexibility in back die to being unfit. i bought her as he said that this would go as she got fitter. he was right and she is still out jumping now with another young child
 
Not sure about the comment about the cob.... Did it actually fail the flexion test or was it just reluctant to track up when working which is fairly common for cobs as their built on the forehand. If it failed a flexion test I'd be warey...

I would talk to the owner who doesn't want a vetting. Say that you'll talk it through with the vet. We had a horse vetted that wasn't particuarly fit in October. Vet didn't find it a problem, just commented on it. If it was seriously overweight or something, that could be a problem. But if she doesn't want it vetted I'd be passing it by.
 
A horse I was selling failed a flexion test in one leg, although the vet said he would probably pass it tomorrow - just one of those things but, for insurance reasons, he couldnt pass him then and there. The horse was a 12yo who had evented, showjumped up to foxhunter and hunted all his life. He had typical TBx confirmation, so surely a little wear and tear was acceptable? The woman buying wanted him just to do local shows on, and he'd never been lame in the time i'd had him. Flexion tests are just so unreliable I think... Like the vet said, maybe he would have passed it the following day. The woman decided not to buy in the end and the horse was sold a week later to a woman who bought him "as seen" and is now hunting him regularly. No lameness!
 
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The woman decided not to buy in the end and the horse was sold a week later to a woman who bought him "as seen" and is now hunting him regularly. No lameness!




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This exact same thing happened to me. Went to see a BSJA pony and it failed a 5 stage vetting on the flexion test on hind leg. I passed the pony by because I could not get it insured without the 5 stage vet certificate.

So some people may not pass the pony by simply because they are worried about recurring lameness, but because they might not be able to buy insurance.
 
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Also, friend getting a horse vetted later this week, 10 year old native type, who is quite unfit (most of winter off, light hacking). Current owner says in view of this would be unfair to the pony to do a 5 stage vetting. That true, or do you think there is something to hide?

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The only part of a 5 stage vetting which might be 'unfair' to an unfit pony is when the vet tests the heart rate and lungs. The pony will have to be worked until he is blowing, so that the vet can listen to the heart/lungs and compare the rate with when the horse was rested.

I don't see any problem with this, the unfit pony will just start blowing sooner than a fit one!

The rest of the 5 stage should not affect it at all
 
Yes... we did think about that. We offered to have him re vetted the following day as the vet said, tomorrow, he could be right as rain, may jsut have tweaked it in eh field today, but she wasnt interested. Spose I dont blame her!
 
I agree with one the above posts - there is no reason why an unfit horse can't do a five stage - long is it is warmed up properly it will be ok and it will start blowing very quickly
 
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Also, friend getting a horse vetted later this week, 10 year old native type, who is quite unfit (most of winter off, light hacking). Current owner says in view of this would be unfair to the pony to do a 5 stage vetting. That true, or do you think there is something to hide?

[/ QUOTE ]

The only part of a 5 stage vetting which might be 'unfair' to an unfit pony is when the vet tests the heart rate and lungs. The pony will have to be worked until he is blowing, so that the vet can listen to the heart/lungs and compare the rate with when the horse was rested.

I don't see any problem with this, the unfit pony will just start blowing sooner than a fit one!

The rest of the 5 stage should not affect it at all

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I agree. I had a five-stage vetting done on my boy as a 2yo colt! He coped perfectly well and passed with flying colours!
 
Vettings are surrounded by grey areas anyway.... Merlin passes flexion tests all round...... even on the leg with the most arthritic fetlock joint imaginable!!!

Vet even carries his x-rays around to show people what a horse that should be in a pie look like
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So just coz they pass (merlin did) doesnt mean they are not broken
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