Vettings...

Lippyx

Lippyx

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So, after the last horse I looked at failed on lameness (which I believe was down to the vet trotting a young unshod horse up and down the road), I am now so worried about the same thing happening to the next horse I get vetted.
Most of the horses I am looking at have no shoes, as are young, and just started ridden work. The one which failed, there was no other hard surface, so the vet suggested using the road. I wasn't there at the time.

I am thinking about letting the owner and the vet doing the next vetting, aware of my concerns and worries, and seeing what they suggest.

I hate the idea of flexion tests and trotting unshod youngsters up and down on hard surfaces continuously, but what can you do???
 
None of my horses are shod and any who have been vetted for potential owners, have passed their vettings. For the road trotting, I always make sure to trot on a surface that does not have loose sharp stones. Being unshod for a horse who has never worn shoes should not be a problem for them to be trotted up. Most of my buyers are buying youngsters unseen so x-rays and scans are almost always taken.
 
I'm having this discussion at the moment with someone who's buying my youngster. They've had 2 previous horses vetted, they passed and bought them and both were subsequently put down due to problems with joints and kissing spine which wouldn't have necessarily been picked up on a vetting. I've also seen a yearling being vetted as though it was a 10 year old competition horse in training - flexion tests on hard surface, poor thing went lame for about a week afterwards!

i think it really depends on what you're looking for and how much you're spending. If you're buying a broken-in horse for a lot of money I'd think about getting it vetted, but I always buy unbroken youngsters and not for huge amounts, so I'm happy to go on my and/or experienced friend's 'vetting'. For a competition youngster a 2 stage vetting would be good.
 
How about swapping some of the hard ground racing or tight circles for some xrays? Might not add too much to the cost but would give you the piece of mind that nothing nasty is going on with joints/ feet?
 
Polos Mum said:
How about swapping some of the hard ground racing or tight circles for some xrays? Might not add too much to the cost but would give you the piece of mind that nothing nasty is going on with joints/ feet?
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I didn't even know this was an option?? How does this work, they leave out flexion and trot up, and do x-rays instead?

The horse I had vetted was a lightweight "show" cob type, feet were probably a bit long and due for a trim, but I was still shocked by the results.
The one I am looking at is a cob cross, so again lightweight, no shoes, but has done a bit of hacking on the roads, and started doing a little bit of competing. Any horse that is in ridden work, I would always prefer to have a 5 stage, rather than a 2 stage.
 
Lippyx said:
I didn't even know this was an option?? How does this work, they leave out flexion and trot up, and do x-rays instead?

QUOTE]

I'd talk to your vet and see whats possible, I believe flexions are not a requirement of 5 stage so you could ask for these to be left out (some vets don't do them anyway) then ask vets to bring xray equip with them.
Then if trot looks a little iffy vet can do xrays to rule out many of the nasties (and TBH lots of things that wouldn't show on a trot up anyway)
it's also worth asking sellers to get feet trimmed etc so they horse is presented to the vet in best possible condition - I've no idea why seller loose a sale over a failed vetting to save a £20 trim !!!!
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Lippyx said:
I didn't even know this was an option?? How does this work, they leave out flexion and trot up, and do x-rays instead?
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I don't allow flexions to be done on my weanlings or yearlings but I suspect you are talking about older horses here? I have no time for flexions myself but our older youngsters do have them done for sales vettings and they've always passed just fine. Digital xrays and scans can be done at the vetting, you just ask the vet to do them. Digital xrays can be emailed over to your own vet who can talk you through what he sees. An older youngster (3 or 4 years old) will still have flexions done unless you ask the vet not to bother with them. At a vetting the vet is working for the buyer therefore you, as the buyer, say what you want doing.
 
Op. I think you did right walking away from the last horse. IMO a horse should stay sound for a vet to watch it trot up and down a road half a dozen times. They are not hammered, it's just a steady active trot. If a horse didn't stay sound for that I would be worried. If they are going lame because of the flex ion then that's a different problem and one to talk to the vet about whether time/trim/ x rays are an option. But i would never buy a horse without seeing it trot a short distance on a hard surface a few times.
 
I would never buy a horse without a vetting, definitely. I am going to speak to the owner at the weekend about my previous vetting experience, and if I like what I see and go ahead with a vetting, I will just ask her to make sure he is 100% ready for the vet, with things like trimmed feet.
 
An experienced vet will know what a young horse is capable of and trotting on a hard surface shouldn't be a problem. Don't forget, the vetting isn't meant to pass a horse with problems but to help you find a horse fit for the job you want it for.

I'd strongly advise you to be present for the vetting if possible, you'll get more information, be able to discuss things as they occur and a good vet may advise against buying if its unsuitable for you, even though it might pass.
 
horserider said:
An experienced vet will know what a young horse is capable of and trotting on a hard surface shouldn't be a problem. Don't forget, the vetting isn't meant to pass a horse with problems but to help you find a horse fit for the job you want it for.

I'd strongly advise you to be present for the vetting if possible, you'll get more information, be able to discuss things as they occur and a good vet may advise against buying if its unsuitable for you, even though it might pass.
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Yes I want to be at this vetting, if I like the horse of course!! Its something I find really interesting, and also to see the process.
 
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