vettings!!!!!!!

[NooNoo59]

What are peoples opinions on Flexion tests? Is a horse is reactive is it a no go or could it just be an off day? Horse looks and rides sound, and lunges sound.

 

[Kirstd33]

They form 1 part of a vetting process that can help decide whether the horse is deemed suitable for its purpose. Coblet failed his hind flexions as part of a lameness workup that went on to identify his issue with his annular ligaments BUT to be honest at 15 and having jumped a fair bit in the past I'd have been surprised if he'd have passed anyhow?

If the horse was perfect in every other way and was doing the job I wanted it to do I'd probably take a chance.

 

[eggs]

I am not a big fan of flexion tests and if the horse took a couple of iffy steps during a vetting I wouldn't be too concerned but would have a chat with my vet to get their opinion.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Get someone to hold up your leg higher than is comfortable for 2 mins and then try and run and see if you're sound....
I'm not a lover of flexions, I think they're OTT... Anything can be incidentally a diagnostic tool, but I don't think they provide much value and it wouldn't put me off

 

[Bobthecob15]

I think a lot of horses can show a positive result to flexions....I would discuss with the vet as it depends what you want them for (low level vs competition etc) and how bad they are. I wouldn't discount a horse because of it, put it that way!

 

[ihatework]

It depends what vet is doing the vetting and how much faith I have in them.
Any horse can be made lame on flexion, if done hard/long enough.
I look for consistency between limbs in a flexion response.
I put priority on the hard and soft lunging soundness.
If I had one suspect limb on vetting even if the horse was sound and performing I’d want scans/xrays - wouldn’t necessarily be a dealbreaker if something was found, but I’d want to be prewarned on what I may be dealing with

 

[Birker2020]

Flexion test on horses for pre-purchase vettings and lameness exams

The flexion test on horses is used to help identify any areas of concern during pre-purchase vettings and during lameness examinations

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[dapple_grey]

I am not a big fan of flexion tests and if the horse took a couple of iffy steps during a vetting I wouldn't be too concerned but would have a chat with my vet to get their opinion.

Get someone to hold up your leg higher than is comfortable for 2 mins and then try and run and see if you're sound....
I'm not a lover of flexions, I think they're OTT... Anything can be incidentally a diagnostic tool, but I don't think they provide much value and it wouldn't put me off

I thought every horse takes a couple of lame steps after a flexion, but the point of it is to see how quickly the horse goes sound again? I'm pretty sure my vet said they allow for X amount of unsound steps.

I don't think the argument of comparing it to a human is helpful, most of us aren't athletes like we expect our horses to be. I'd be lame too but I don't need to run miles round a XC course, or do repetitive movements on an arena surface every day.

The flexion tests I've seen have exacerbated a subtle problem which later turned out to be a much bigger underlying issue, so I wouldn't buy one. Everyone has different experiences so that's just my two pence!

 

[rabatsa]

My RDA group gained a pony that had been up for sale for a five figure sum. During the vetting a front flexion test lamed the pony, who was sound the next day. The pony was sold to us for £5 and never had another lame day in the 10 years he stayed with us.

 

[NooNoo59]

vet has said that horse is fit for purpose so is that pass or fail? this horse is perfect in every way apart from this arghhhhhh!!!!!!!

 

[ihatework]

vet has said that horse is fit for purpose so is that pass or fail? this horse is perfect in every way apart from this arghhhhhh!!!!!!!

I suppose it comes down to what the purpose is, what current job of horse is, what the flexions showed, what the price is.

The vet will likely have to indicate a positive flexion on the certificate so even if, in their clinical opinion, horse is fit for purpose - you may well get an insurance exclusion.

Is this a private seller? If so I’d pull vet records for last couple of years as a minimum

 

[Bonnie Allie]

The challenge with flexion tests is they are a manual process and the variation in how they are conducted between different vets creates a testing processes that feels unreliable.

 

[ester]

Vet said fit for purpose so from the sellers POV he’s passed.

It goes both ways I’ve known horses fail flexion and be fine forever, and those that fail flexion and it’s indicative of an early problem starting.

If you’re bothered you could X-ray the offending limb.

 

[nutjob]

I thought every horse takes a couple of lame steps after a flexion, but the point of it is to see how quickly the horse goes sound again? I'm pretty sure my vet said they allow for X amount of unsound steps.

This is my experience and I have had a couple of very recent vettings. I've been looking at 4/5 yo's and vettings have been done by experienced senior vets. No horse has failed on flexion although one failed for other reasons. I wouldn't buy one at this age which failed as I am spending what is for me a lot of money and I want to compete. For an older horse who was currently out competing at that level or for hacking only I wouldn't be so bothered.

vet has said that horse is fit for purpose so is that pass or fail? this horse is perfect in every way apart from this arghhhhhh!!!!!!!

That's a pass for the purposes you declared when you requested the vetting, although it might not be a pass for everyone. You should discuss the significance with the vet and likely causes of the failure. Depending on the joint you might want to get xrays or ultrasound done if you are concerned. I always attend the vetting so I can see for myself how significant an issue is and discuss at the time whether further investigations are warrented before the certificate is generated.

 

[splashgirl45]

Talk to your own vet about the result, if it wasn’t your vet was it someone you selected or the seller? If the seller I would be cautious

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Fit for purpose is a pass.

 

[NooNoo59]

Talk to your own vet about the result, if it wasn’t your vet was it someone you selected or the seller? If the seller I would be cautious

vet recommended by my vet

 

[Tarragon]

I am another who does not like the use of the Flexion test. I am convinced that it was a flexion test, done as part of a lameness workout I had done on my pony, that tipped him from being barely noticeably lame (hence the vet call) to being hopping lame and on three legs within a few hours! It came on so quick the vet suspected an abscess, but there was no abscess. He actually never became fully sound after that and is now a companion pony for a friend as field-sound. I think that there had been an underlying issue, no doubt, but the flexion test did a huge amount of damage. It is, in my opinion, too extreme.

 

[blodwyn1]

On the two stage vetting I had done my mare passed clear on all four legs on flexions and then went 4/10ths lame on lungeing on a hard surface. However the vets assistant was totally inept at lungeing and I was running towards her to stop it so I discounted it as did the vet! Gut feelings count for a lot also using my own skills of observation as well as the vet discussion afterwards.

 

[Bobthecob15]

vet has said that horse is fit for purpose so is that pass or fail? this horse is perfect in every way apart from this arghhhhhh!!!!!!!

That’s a pass! They don’t do pass or fail as such anymore

 

[splashgirl45]

vet recommended by my vet

That’s good , I would think you are safer than with sellers vet. Looking forward to pictures of your new horse

 

[maya2008]

Fit for purpose = pass.

If it's perfect in every other way, and it's passed, I'd buy!

 

[Zoeypxo]

Fit for purpose is a pass.
How old is the horse?

 

[spacefaer]

Very dependent on who's done the flexion.
Sold a hwt hunter a few years ago. The female vet was about 5' and older. I dont think he noticed her on the end of his leg and he flew through! We bought a horse who'd failed the week previous for someone else buying him. We took the gamble and he never took a lame step in the following 10 years of hard work. I'm not that fussed about minor reactions - hopping is a different matter!

 

[NooNoo59]

Fit for purpose is a pass.
How old is the horse?

9

 

[NooNoo59]

Fit for purpose = pass.

If it's perfect in every other way, and it's passed, I'd buy!

My thoughts exactly!

 

[ester]

if that's your thoughts what's the problem?

 

[Puzzled]

Any vet can make a horse lame on flexion…and lots go lame as it feels so strange to them. If it was sound on a circle I wouldn’t be too bothered and if not 100% on that and I really liked him I’d X-ray for peace of mind.

 

[Goldenstar]

I like flexions many horses show reaction and I have bought many of them .
It’s all about interpreting what they are showing .
So I/10 lame on one leg 3/10 on the other is probably a leave for me unless it was an older horse where I was buying it’s experience for example a horse for my OH .
Then I would negotiate the price and send him for a work up .

I tend to be much less forgiving with the young horse .

 

[NooNoo59]

if that's your thoughts what's the problem?

Because I have had 2 years of hell with a horse that is now permanently lame and a large tumour removed last year so don't really want to make a mistake and thought I would get unbiased opinions from all the varied experiences on here. Nothing wrong with that