would you buy a horse whos had a colic op.

Sprocket123

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Just a ponder really!

My mare had a out of the blue colic attack april 2011, ended up at vets, just the gas squeezed out of colon. No part of it removed/cut away. Since then been in full work, jumps 3ft6 at present, no colic since (touch wood) is fed a simple diet.
If i did decide to sell her i would be honset and tell callers (as even the vet cant see the scar anymore! Plus i couldnt be dishonset!)

So what im asking would that put you off buying a horse?
Im just being nosey and interested in seeing peoples thoughts :D
 
Only if it was a proven competition horse and exceptionally cheap.
In that instance then yes and would accept PTS and risk the loss should another attack happen.
 
If it did what I wanted, good temperament etc. But would have to be very cheap (meat money). I'd have uninsured for vets and have pts cost banked away for as ihw says.
 
Are people saying no because the chances of it happening again are high?

Sorry for numpty question.

There is a proven and significant chance of a horse having a second bout.
Only a fool would operate twice, sucessful op stats reduce as frequency increases.
 
I don't know much about it but I would talk to owners then my vet.
Get all the pros and cons.

But it wouldnt necessarily put me off as you say it was an out of the blue attack and hopefully not likely to happen again.
 
I did for a proven competition horse with full disclosure but I did talk it through with my insurance company and knew that the colic would be excluded. I didn't end up buying the horse as my serious interest and moving along was enough to kickstart someone else who had been prevaricating!
 
The risk of it happening again yes but as well of the fact it would not be covered under insurance in the future. I would have to way up the pros and cons of horse with the potential to lose the horse and moneyinvested in it had a second attack.
 
Yes, it would put me off. When there are so many horses out there for sale, there's bound to be another one that's similar who has not had a colic op.
 
Not unless it was the most incredible competition horse and being almost given away.

There is always a lot of chance with horses. I don't think I'd take on such a known risk though.
 
No I wouldn't, not only is there the risk of further colic, but there is also the question of how the rehab was done, are there any lesions/adhesions from the original op/are the abdomial muscles as strong as they were previously etc?
 
Hi all! Thanks replying :) was interesting reading all your points of view about it
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YorksG - she had excellent rehab, aftercare, shes exactly the same as before you wouldnt know shes had it done, cant even see the scar now
 
Any horse can get colic, they really are no more susceptible after an op. Than before. Mostly it's down to management, all horses are less susceptible to colic, if their diet is consistent and their gut is not left empty for long periods.
 
no never, have lost one to colic and would rather not go through that again. Also disagree its purely a management issue the horse I lost lived out 24/7 and no routine change one day he was here and the next he was gone.
 
Sorry I wouldn't be given one for free - too much heart ache if it happens again and they are more prone to it once they've had it before.
Maybe if they had it as a yearling and I was looking at them as 8/9 year old with absolutely no reoccurance and they were a bargin - but it would have to be extreme.
 
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