Vettings

[Ange02]

Has anyone purchased a horse that failed a 5 stage vetting and what was their experience? I had a horse pass a 5 stage vetting who turned out to have extensive soundness issues and has been retired and rehomed. I have been viewing a horse and had a 5 stage vetting. This horse is unfit as out of work for 8 months due to time reasons of owner. The vet report was she was going disunited in canter on the left rein and mild lameness in trot when lunged on soft surface and deemed this does prejudice her suitability. When she was fit there have been no issues. I'm torn as I don't want to turn her down when this could be due to her fitness level nor do I want to get an unsound horse. Has anyone any advice?

 

[Upthecreek]

My advice is do not buy a lame horse. There is little point in paying for a vetting and ignoring the vet’s advice/opinion that the horse is not deemed suitable for what you want it to do. Lack of fitness should not cause lameness. How do you know there were no issues when the horse was fit?

 

[HeyMich]

One of our ponies was very occasionally going disunited in canter transitions and it turns out he's pretty broken. That was the only symptom. Walk away from this one!

 

[ycbm]

Horses aren't lame through being unfit.

And if they're for sale unfit after being laid off, it's more often than not that they've been turned away because they're lame!

Walk away.
.

 

[ycbm]

When she was fit there have been no issues.

Says who?
.

 

[Squeak]

Run a mile - The horses I've known who have issues when unfit have significant issues and although muscle and fitness can help them, they've still had the underlying issues, it's just a case of managing them.

 

[TheMule]

I would absolutely not buy this horse.
If they were giving it away and I really liked it but was prepared to have it put down if it was broken, I might consider taking it on

 

[Fjord]

Surely being unfit won't cause lameness?

 

[Ange02]

I've spoken with the current vet about her history, sorry I should've given more details. I've seen her lunged in canter and she was fine and have videos of her cantering prior and post her time off she's only done a little as the owners don't want to risk an injury. It was going disunited that caused the vet to advise against not the mild lameness in trot. She does lack balance in canter due to her time off and usually is lunged in a pessoa which for the first two lunges at vetting she wasn't. Thank you for your advice.

 

[ycbm]

I'm really sorry, but seeing video of her cantering at some point before she was laid off doesn't mean she wasn't lame when she was laid off, and neither does the vet not having seen her for lameness.

It would worry me a lot that the horse had been laid off and the owners are so afraid that she will get an injury that they don't want to get her fit to sell her.

There are so many alarm bells ringing here, please don't buy her.

 

[View]

I'm really sorry, but seeing video of her cantering at some point before she was laid off doesn't mean she wasn't lame when she was laid off, and neither does the vet not having seen her for lameness.

It would worry me a lot that the horse had been laid off and the owners are so afraid that it will get an injury that they don't want to get her fit to sell her.

There are so many alarm bells ringing here, please don't buy her.

This, with bells on.

There are several posters on this forum with horses for whom the first sign of soundness issues was going disunited in canter.

If it really was rider issues rather than horse issues, I would have though the horse would be on sales livery and in work in order to achieve a better price.

Why pay for a vetting if you are not going to take the vet’s advice? And another thing to consider, if you buy and insure, you will most likely find that lameness and possibly musculoskeletal conditions will be excluded.

Run, and don’t look back.

 

[nagblagger]

I agree with the others, make your head rule your heart in this case. - walk away.

 

[skint1]

I've seen people buy horses that failed vettings and have not one day of a problem. I have walked away from horses that failed vettings and seen them go on to be sound (though one appears to be turning up to for sale a lot, poor thing) I bought one that passed a vetting that I rode for about 3 months and have had nothing but problems with- so I dunno. Anyway, part of the reason I had them vetted was their price, part of the reason I had to walk away was because of the mountain of exclusions that would have followed when I tried to insure them. Probably you should walk away, but if you're struggling- maybe get your own vet or instructor or someone to look at the videos and see what they think?

 

[JBM]

My horse was going disunited in her canter and looked lame in trot and it actually turned out to be a small swelling between her vertebrae due to a tick bite. Very uncomfortable but fixable
But If a horse was showing any lameness during a viewing I would pass as if the horse was lame and they could fix it I don’t know why they wouldn’t do it before selling her

 

[TPO]

Also having bought a horse that was "usually lunged in a pessoa" keep running!!

Horrible gadgets mainly used by people who don't truly know or understand the How's or whys of using them. They create a false "pretty" outline and a pelvis tilt that is easily missed as well as teaching a horse to hide behind the contact to save the pressure from the pulleys.

Would you buy a car that a mechanic told you was buckled and not suitable for what you need? Highly unlikely. So don't buy a horse that a vet has told you is not fit for function.

The onus is on the owners to get a work up done by a vet and get their horse fixed.

Assuming since you've posted in this part of the forum that you’re new to horses/buying horses. It's reads like the sellers are taking advantage of that and filling your head with nonsense.

Also pretty sure that if more experienced folk watch those same "sound" videos they'd likely pick up some things. Having said that do not share private videos on the forum.

Part of learning is the hard lessons and experiences, this is one. Be grateful you vetted and keep getting potential purchases vetted

 

[GSD Woman]

There is always another horse. find one that doesn't send up all of these red flags.

 

[Ange02]

Thank you all for your advice. I knew in my head what was the right decision and it is to pass on this one.

 

[misst]

Lame in trot on soft surface would worry me more than disunited in canter. Glad you are walking away.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Absolutely walk away you will be buying a vet bill and a massive headache, believe me if this horse is lame in trot on a soft surface that is not a good sign

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thank you all for your advice. I knew in my head what was the right decision and it is to pass on this one.

You will find the right one