Would you buy a horse with indications of arthritis?

HollyB66

HollyB66

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Thank you all who replied to my request re Horse Dealers in Kent.

I have a new question now.

5 weeks ago I viewed a horse which had scored 3/10 and 5/10 on its flexion tests - hind legs (0 is good, 10 is bad). I know flexion tests are notoriously 'dodgy', however, I spoke to the vet that had performed them and he said:

"There is an indication of arthritic changes in his hind legs, currently in his fetlocks, poss later in his hocks. Future changes will be dependant on use - lower use slower advance." He was not my vet so could not advise re purchase.

At that point I walked away, however, the owner has contacted me to say the horse is now on glycosamine and is 'doing well' - happy to have me view again and have the horse vetted.

I know the owner has not been trying to sell him over these 5 weeks as was too upset over the flexion test results.

The horse is 12, does not appear or act arthritic (to the untrained eye - me), has a lovely nature and is probably the right level for my daughter and I - he is happy to canter and do small jumps and hack out.

This would be our first horse so we don't want to over horse. If we were to buy this horse and needed to 'upgrade' in 3 to 4 years time - do you think we would be able to sell him? Or even just move him on if he is showing more signs of arthritis?

Would really appreciate any suggestions/comments.

Holly B
 
I would say it depends on the price and whether i would be happy to loan rather than sell in a few years as to whether i would consider buying. if your daughter is unlikely to do much more than you say and the horse fits the bill and is cheap i'd be tempted, though selling on in a few years may be an issue. if you look at most school master riding school ponies alot of them will have arthritic changes but go on forever and doing alot higher work loads than they would with a single owner. you've just got to weigh everything up.
 
Hm.

Unlikely to get insurance to cover arthritis, so depends on your financial situation; though may be worth calling NFU, etc. for their view (before purchase).

In four years time you may well be trying to sell a sixteen year old with arthritis, at whatever stage it may be by then
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. If you were going to be offering him a home for life then that would be different.
 
mrs mozart, good point about the insurance. I never think of it as i don't usually insure, just have a savings account which i put in to each month for emergiencies.
 
I bought my horse when I was suspicious he had the start of bone spavin aged 9 because I knew him for a year before that, he was not lame and I loved him to bits and knew he was the horse for me.

In the 7 years I have had him, his BS has been medicated and the joints fused themselves, he has developed side bone due to his door kicking, his breeding and the hard life he had before me.

He has also split his DDFT due to an injury in the field.

Most horses have some kind of changes in the joints aged 9 and over and most horses will be sore with flexion tests. I know if somebody held my leg up for 30 seconds and asked me to jog afterwards, I would appear lame too.

A horse can easily injure itself in the field or out being ridden, its the nature of the beast. For big strapping creatures, they can be extremely delicate.

A friend had a horse vetted and was shown to 'fail' flexion tests and 5 years on the horse is doing x-country etc without problem and doing very well and she wished she had bought him.

If you really like the horse and think it is the right one, feel able to cope with any possible and remember possible arthritis, and the price is reasonable it is worth considering.

On the other hand the horse will need to be worked considerately and sympathetically and it can be expensive and emotionally trying, but personally, I would not swap my horse or sell him for all the money in the world.

Despite my horse's conditions, the vets did not think he would be field sound following his tendon split, he is able to be ridden and lightly schooled.

I think with my heart.

Do you think with your head or your heart? Only you can make the decision.
 
I agree you would need to take the longer view - I think once a horse gets past the magicial age of 13/14 they are harder to sell and you do face the possibility that the horses activities will be reduced.

I have had older horses who have been with me for a while and when they started to show changes, it was managed with supplements - and another friend (under vet advice) had injections into the hocks which really helped. My oldest boy kept going till well into his mid 20's, just wasnt up to jumping the big fences he had been when younger or hunting as long.

So I think it really comes down to the fact that if you buy this horse, you need to think that it would probably be for his life.
 
No I wouldn't, and I wouldn't advise buying a first horse that is showing signs aged 12 either. I've got 2 arthritic geriatrics in my care now, having owned 1 for 16 years and the other for 10 years or so. They take far more care, money and emotion than my 2 younger horses - both of whom are totally sound at age 13. 12 is young to be showing arthritic symptoms and I would keep looking for a more suitable horse.
 
Personally I wouldn't do it. 5/10 on a flexion test is bad
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Tbh, horses have enough lameness problems (as I'm sure you'll find with almost any horse) without buying one with an already known problem. If he is showing arthritic signs now, he is likely to have got a lot worse is 3/4 years, and I definately wouldn't be wanting to sell on a 16 year old arthritic horse
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I would say that there are a lot of horses out there so why buy one with possible problems that you know about? They can all develop problems as we know but give yourself a fighting chance to begin with. It's a lot of money and hopefully a lot of happiness for a long time.....but could also be a lot of misery.
 
No in short! There are plenty of sound horses out there, its too much of an unknown, and as said 5/10 is pretty serious! I have known plenty of horses be vetted and pass the flexion tests with no problems, so its not the case of flexions making the horse lame but it will be fine normally
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Thank you for your advice, you've helped me make up my mind to hang on for the right one.

He/she must be out there somewhere.

Holly B
 
Oh that's good, because I read the title and thought NO don't do it!

There are a lot of horses out there without problems, and quite frankly there is plenty enough to go wrong without having started with problems!

Good luck in your search!
 
I agree NO do not go there. It is different when a horse you own and love develops something but why take on one with a problem and selling on a 16 year old will always be a problem.

Good luck in your search!
 
in short no. mine is arthritic and i have to do so much to keep her fluid and sound -she has spavins and now navicular too
just dont go there
 
Personally no!
Find yourself another horse and give yourself a chance to start off without problems where you can help it
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Selling on a 16 year old with arthritis (if/when the time came) would be immensley difficult, personally I wouldn't like to feel responsible for the fact the horse may be passed around from then on.

My boy was diagnosed with arthritis about 2 or 3 years ago now.
The vet said we could either effectively have a jolly good summer but be hammering him into the ground, jumping him, doing fun rides etc and make the most of it and be prepared to retire him at the end of that summer.
Or take it gently, don't jump, just gentle hacking and schooling. Until this summer he has done very well on this, still being ridden 4 or 5 times a week (not hard work mind you) but now you can tell his feet/hocks hurt and we only potter about once or twice a week. If all you want is to potter then fine, but it is costly (in bute, supplements, time off etc) and from the sounds of it you want a horse who will carry on doing more than that for a while yet.
 
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