Would you buy a horse whose had suspensories done?

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chaser81

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Friend is going to see a horse on Sunday that had a suspensory operation 18 months ago on both hinds. She's been sound since and done some low level sj and dressage. It rings alarm bells for me because I've heard so many horror stories about PSD.

Horse is 7 years old and priced at £2500 and did not mention neurectomy in the advert but disclosed it on enquiry.
 
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no.

I don't see why you can't buy a sound horse capable of low levels for that money :eek3: and neurectomies don't always last.
 
No. I wouldn't buy one with sarcoids or dodgy feet/conformation either (well, I did - but never again - lesson learned). That way heartbreak (and a considerably depleted bank account) lies.

P
 
Personally no!! To me that seems a lot of money for a horse with problems. Plenty of horses around the country fit & well to choose from.
 
Would you genuinely feel safe riding, let alone jumping a horse that can't feel his feet? Enough good horses out there (2500 not cheap for damaged, low level horse), why go for this one?

My mare damaged a hind tendon 8 years ago. Whilst she does do fun rides (never jumping now), I have to be very careful what I ask her (no schooling, no circles, no lunging, no jumping, only walking up hills etc) as it is a permanent weakness. I'd never forgive myself if I worked her so she broke down and had to be pts. You ride the whole time with it in the back of your mind, what you can do safely, is the ground okay, what pace is best for her etc.
 
pip6 said:
Would you genuinely feel safe riding, let alone jumping a horse that can't feel his feet? Enough good horses out there (2500 not cheap for damaged, low level horse), why go for this one?

That is an interesting analogy! Horse isn't for me but is for a friend. i've told her what I think and that I think she is being swayed by the mares looks but just wanted other peoples opinions out of interest really.
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pip6 said:
Would you genuinely feel safe riding, let alone jumping a horse that can't feel his feet? Enough good horses out there (2500 not cheap for damaged, low level horse), why go for this one?

My mare damaged a hind tendon 8 years ago. Whilst she does do fun rides (never jumping now), I have to be very careful what I ask her (no schooling, no circles, no lunging, no jumping, only walking up hills etc) as it is a permanent weakness. I'd never forgive myself if I worked her so she broke down and had to be pts. You ride the whole time with it in the back of your mind, what you can do safely, is the ground okay, what pace is best for her etc.
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They only cut the nerve around the suspensory so it's only a small section of the leg they can't feel, their feet are unaffected :)

However no I wouldn't buy one, plenty of other horses without problems and that price seems over the top!
 
just in ref to above point re affil dressage-horses that have had the op are allowed to compete bd you know?

but no i wouldnt, maybe if it was confirmed GP and i loved the breeding and it was £250 but not for any less talent or any more money, no way in hell!
 
No way.

Also suspensories op only deaden a short branch just below the hock so doesn't affect how safe the horse is on his feet as he feels feet fine
 
I'm not even sure I would take it if it was offered to me for free to be honest. I assume your friend has thought through the implications of what would happen if she were reinjured and how she would deal with/resource it (bearing in mind her hind legs are probably excluded from insurance).
 
Nope! And I speak from experience of PSD, as Alf has had a lot of treatment for it. If I'd known then what I know now - would I still have taken him on? Probably not. In a way I'm very glad I did, because I adore him, and I wouldn't be without him,but PSD is probably one of the most depressing, difficult, heartbreaking conditions to deal with. You will never watch your horse trot across the field without neurotically analysing every stride. You won't feel confident riding on any terrain other than the road or an exceptionally good synthetic surface, and every time your horse has a party in the field, instead of thinking "Aww - what fun", you'll have a sinking feeling of dread that he/she is going to pull up lame.
The chances of nerve regrowth are fairly high.
I smile wryly every time someone says "Oooh - you're so lucky to have a horse like Alf". He has competed to Inter 1, has all the GP moves installed, and is a complete star (if a rather naughty one) - but I can't risk putting any significant work into him in case it makes him lame. He's essentially a very very special happy hacker - who I occasionally do a few party tricks on just for fun. He's terribly fragile though - and I'd never forgive myself if my selfish urges to ride him properly and exploit his many talents made him break. I haven't ridden him off road in years, because he chucks himself around like a fool and I worry about his legs. It's pretty soul destroying tbh
 
chaser81 said:
You can compete unaffiliated but not BE, not sure about BD.
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All the disciplines are off limits! So hence any unaff that is run to aff rules is as well . There is a moral argument as well in that the neurectomy is used to mask the pain caused by an injury!
 
chaser81 said:
Thanks for the replies, Auslander your story is so sad but Alf is very lucky to have such a considerate andpatient owner.
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It's not THAT sad, because I love him to bits. A proper dressage horse as a happy hacker is pretty fab as well - we play around with lateral work and a bit of piaffe/passage to break up the dullness of walking round the roads! He's essentially a large pet, and I'm happy to be able to give him a nice semi-retirement
 
No way from me as well. and to give you or your friend some perspective I am someone who would seriously consider buying and have bought both a windsucker or a horse with sarcoids
 
Auslander said:
Nope! And I speak from experience of PSD, as Alf has had a lot of treatment for it. If I'd known then what I know now - would I still have taken him on? Probably not. In a way I'm very glad I did, because I adore him, and I wouldn't be without him,but PSD is probably one of the most depressing, difficult, heartbreaking conditions to deal with. You will never watch your horse trot across the field without neurotically analysing every stride. You won't feel confident riding on any terrain other than the road or an exceptionally good synthetic surface, and every time your horse has a party in the field, instead of thinking "Aww - what fun", you'll have a sinking feeling of dread that he/she is going to pull up lame.
The chances of nerve regrowth are fairly high.
I smile wryly every time someone says "Oooh - you're so lucky to have a horse like Alf". He has competed to Inter 1, has all the GP moves installed, and is a complete star (if a rather naughty one) - but I can't risk putting any significant work into him in case it makes him lame. He's essentially a very very special happy hacker - who I occasionally do a few party tricks on just for fun. He's terribly fragile though - and I'd never forgive myself if my selfish urges to ride him properly and exploit his many talents made him break. I haven't ridden him off road in years, because he chucks himself around like a fool and I worry about his legs. It's pretty soul destroying tbh
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This . . . and Pops is nowhere near as talented as Alf (but no less loved) . . . I still stare at that leg and obsess about it - and he first presented with the lameness nearly a year ago and has been sound for a good four months. It's beyond heartbreaking.

P
 
No chance. I had my 5 year old with suspensory issues (amongst other stuff) put to sleep almost 2 years ago (some will remember). The year I had to deal with it I dreaded working him everyday incase he felt off, I now look at every horse and see a dodgy stride and panic!
 
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