Would you buy a horse with suspected spavin?

[Cubbini]

Would you buy a youngish horse with suspected (but not confirmed) spavin? (For hacking and low level activities including occasional riding club clinics and lessons?)

 

[TPO]

Probably not.

Why aren't they confirmed or not?

How young is young? I'd want it to be doing whatever I want it to do soundly. If it's young long-term soundness wouldn't be known..

 

[IrishMilo]

Suspected spavin? No. Because it could be any number of things like suspensory issues or SI problems. Actual spavin? Possibly, at the right price.

 

[Cortez]

No. I might think about it if it was free, deemed treatable, and worth investing in surgery - this is for bone spavin or bog spavin.

 

[ycbm]

Suspected spavin? No. Because it could be any number of things like suspensory issues or SI problems. Actual spavin? Possibly, at the right price.

My thoughts exactly.
.

 

[Birker2020]

No. Not knowingly.

I spent £ks getting Bailey fixed and although ethanol fixed her in the end it was a long, long road of treatment to go down. They can't all be maintained on steroid injections unfortunately although I think the vast majority.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Only if it was confirmed to be just hock arthritis and nothing else,.and horse was currently sound and in full work.
I wouldn't buy one with a suspected anything.

 

[EllieBeast]

Absolutely not, my (now retired)14yr old was diagnosed as a 9 yr old.
I’d never knowingly put myself in that situation, she’s a fabulous field pet but I’d had much higher hopes for us!

 

[Birker2020]

Absolutely not, my (now retired)14yr old was diagnosed as a 9 yr old.
I’d never knowingly put myself in that situation, she’s a fabulous field pet but I’d had much higher hopes for us!

Did steroid, children or ethanol not fix her? Sorry.

 

[EllieBeast]

Did steroid, children or ethanol not fix her? Sorry.

Unfortunately not. Steroids didn’t work for long enough, not a candidate for the other suggestions due to severity. Her X-rays are awful, massive bone spurs, and the bone itself looks like Swiss cheese in places.

She’s incredibly stoic, the vet couldn’t believe how sound she was for the state of the joint- the main reason she went in for investigation 5 years ago was issues with left lead canter.

She was still lightly hacking up until last year, but there’s always some heat in that joint now, despite her being fairly sound.

I have no interest in riding her if I’m likely causing her pain, she now has a lovely life living out with friends which keeps her moving and I essentially just have a an extra dog instead of a horse .

It’s a massive shame, as she was everything I’d ever wanted. I’ve had her since a yearling and always been careful to take everything slowly in the hope of avoiding issues like this. I’d never knowingly put myself in this situation again, far too much heartbreak.

 

[scats]

No.
I took a chance on a project with unknown hind end issues and it seemed to go well at first, then the wheels fell off. I don’t regret trying as I knew I was buying a project, but I wouldn’t do it again.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Would you buy a youngish horse with suspected (but not confirmed) spavin? (For hacking and low level activities including occasional riding club clinics and lessons?)

Sorry - another "no".
I wouldn't buy a horse with a suspected anything. "Roll up, roll up for a lucky dip, there is something wrong with this horse, the buyer gets to find out what!"

 

[Winters100]

A definite no from me. It is one thing to have a horse with problems, but buying one with problems is another thing entirely.