would you buy a horse that dishes?

was it fit? my mare dishes slightly when shes unfit, but not once fit so its never been an issue. if it was then it depends what you want it for and how badly it dishes!
 
As others have said, it depends on how badly, and for what you want to use it for.

If looking at it as a show/dressage horse, then not, but if for a happy hacker or lower level comps, I would certainly consider it, especially if it ticked all the other boxes.
 
Depends why it dishes. My old Welsh D used to dish but I think that's pretty common in those types (he's 15 or 16 now and current owners don't seem to be having any probs with him). But... my big horse dishes when he's feeling his ringbone. Hunting and jumping can be pretty hard work so I'd want to know there wasn't something brewing which will be aggravated with work.

What sort of work is the horse in now? Will you have it vetted?
 
Depends how badly & why. In my teens my friend had an Anglo Arab that would have been way over budget if it hadn't dished so noticeably, she did all the usual teen stuff with it & it was retired late 20s with arthritis in its hinds, with no issues prior to that.
 
My (rapidly, argh) rising six-year-old has improved over the year I’ve had him. I think the extra year of aging and good shoeing probably contributed but as others have said, it may help that he’s fitter now.

It was marked on his vetting but he passed for all-round RC purposes including unaffiliated ODEs (eventually, ha) and lower level dressage (has not seen him marked down at intro or prelim IIRC… so depending on the severity of how the one you’re looking at dishes. No real way to tell on that front without seeing it and I'd recommend vetting).
 
As my vet said ' why would you buy a horse that dishes when there are so many horses out there that dont'.

Any gait abnormality puts pressure on the limbs and horses have glass limbs as it is.
 
I'd agree with others - if it passes fit for purpose despite the dishing then should be fine. Won't suit for higher level showing but RC type stuff etc should be ok for what you're after. I had one that dished quite obviously at the front, vetting was fine, didn't affect him but I wouldn't have been able to show him to any serious extent. If he/she lands unevenly, it could mean increase stress on joints but tbh anything we do puts some stress on em so I wouldn't see it as a big issue!
 
I bought my horse even though he dished really quite badly - but he was a weak 4 year old - my vet said aslong as the foot lands flat on the floor then it shouldn't course issues. Correct work will help dishing a lot. We had other issues unrelated to the dishing which meant he needed time off but even with this he is now 8 and winning at Advanced Medium BD, judges love his paces and he basically no longer dishes.
 
yes i would if it ticked all the boxes and dishing was the only issue:) friend of mine had a hunter that dished, didn't affect her ability at all and when friend sold her on one of the hunt staff bought her. my big girl dishes but only on one leg and that is due to limb abnormality, she can still tank off with me across a field though at 17yrs of age!! ok she runs like Forrest Gump but i don't care;)
 
my smallest one does. But he's incredibly handsome and was champion twice over in small m&m at bsps as a three year old, and now does RDA and hunts and the odd LR / FR class. Never been lame at all. I have a list of people who want him for their tinies. So, yes, I would.
 
My lad does and passed a 5* vetting. He does it less now his fitter but we are never going to be doing anything high level and he suits me just fine . So as others have said, depends what you want him for but I certainly wouldn't let it be a deal breaker especially if you say his perfect in every other way.
 
Friends ex-racer tb dishes very badly. She's now 24 yrs old, looks half that age & just done the 30km pleasure ride at Golden Horseshoe (very tough endurance ride) at over 12kph which is gold award pace. Depends on the horse!

Down side is at other rides when you do the trot up for the vets at endurance rides you have to run ahead of her otherwise she takes your legs out....
 
Have been having this discussion, it depends for me if the foot lands properly square after the dishing as this is often what causes the soundness issues. Primores Pride (Pippa Funnell) dishes really badly but doesn't affect the horse as the hoof lands square with no twist at the fetlock etc.
 
my mares dishing improved with schooling she was very anxious and ran away from herself,once she learnt to carry herself it really improved.She passed 5 * vetting:D
 
My horse dished when I bought him but it improved with exercise and was not noticeable after a year or so. It can be improved and wouldn't stop me buying a horse.
 
Yes I would, funnily enough quite a few show hunters seem to dish and I bought a 4 yo which had been doing showing and dished badly enough for it to be written on the vet's report. After 6 months of encouraging him to work correctly and slowing down his trot, rather than running along on his forehand, its stopped entirely on one foreleg and almost entirely on the other. No-one ever mentions it and I suspect further improvement as he strengthens and grows up.
 
I agree with mithras. Big young horses can grow out of their dishing as they learn to carry themselves correctly and strengthen and mature. Also make sure that you have a good farrier that will take care to fit the shoes well and takes foot balance seriously.
 
Yes, if it's fairly mild. Dishing is often a result of foot imbalance: my friend's highland dished really badly when the farrier shod him to an asthetically-pleasing symetrical front feet. He had his shoes off and worn them really squint but the dishing improved markedly. He was then reshod with the squint feet he's worn and the dishing is much better.

My loan horse dished badly when he was unfit but as he muscled up it almost disappeared.
 
Depends u they dished? And what impact this had on the rest if the body. Is it confirmation, fitness or hoof balance? I trimmed up a horses feet that dished just to balance foot, no special shape etc, and there dishing improved dramatically. X
 
I wouldnt worry about it, dishing can be improved in many ways, fitness, hoof balance etc.

A few years ago I watched a horse win the LW hunter class at the Royal Bath and West Show and that dished for England!
 
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