Would you buy a horse with old suspension injury for hacking?

[louemma]

Hello, just wanting some advice. There’s a ex race horses that I’m thinking of buying that had a suspension injury 2 years ago and has since recovered and ready to start work. I will be mainly hacking with a bit of schooling, would you buy? I will get a vetting done if I decide to go ahead

 

[Red-1]

For a hacking horse, I would buy a front one, if it had recovered and was in full work that I wished to do.

A lame horse still costs a lot to keep, so I wouldn't buy one that hadn't proved it could do what I wanted.

But who am I to speak? I bought my Rigsby when he was just finishing a 3 month box rest!

 

[ycbm]

Hello, just wanting some advice. There’s a ex race horses that I’m thinking of buying that had a suspension injury 2 years ago and has since recovered and ready to start work. I will be mainly hacking with a bit of schooling, would you buy? I will get a vetting done if I decide to go ahead

I would only pay meat money if the horse hasn't yet done any work to speak of. I would also be very concerned if the injury was so bad that the horse took 2 years to start light work.
.

 

[Equi]

No. My horse had a suspension injury I didn’t know about and I spent 4 years in a state of anxiety and eventually it went and he was pts rather than recovered because it was never going to be sufficient.

 

[conniegirl]

Depends which suspensory, where on the suspensory and how much damage was done.
Ive had 2 with suspensory issues 1 put a hole in a front suspensory, 18 months of rest, treatment and recovery he came back into full flat work.
my current pony did his hind suspensory branches a few years ago. Only very mildly but it was hell getting him through it.
he was back in work before i fell pregnant.

personally i would want the horse back in full work before i would look at it. The bringing them back into work slowly and carefully is hard and is where they are most likely to reinjur themselves

 

[Wishfilly]

Maybe I've misunderstood but it seems like you might be taking two risks here: 1) He won't stay sound when back in work, and 2) if he's not done the job of being a light hack before, it may not suit him mentally.

I'm assuming you're interested because he's very cheap? But I'd potentially look for something older who's looking to step down- but has a history of successfully doing the job you want.

 

[louemma]

Thanks for your all your responses. I've turned him down, not willing to take the risk.

 

[ihatework]

Yes provided the horse has shown to be sound doing the type of workload you want to do for a period of time post rehab

 

[Goldenstar]

You have made the right decision .