Would you buy this horse?

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indiat

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Hi all,

I am (hopefully)going to view an animal at the weekend that has been recommended by my daughter's RI. He is a 14.2 Welsh section D, 14 years old at the end of the month that has been there and got the t-shirt, good with kids etc. He sounds like he ticks all the boxes but the problem is he recently failed a five star vetting. He failed one flexion test, passed another and then when he was x-rayed and found to have arthritis in one foreleg. The person who was meant to buy him has now pulled out of the sale and his owners need the money to pay for their daughter's new horse so have said I can have him for 1500, all tack included. They are happy for me to see a copy of the vet's report and talk to the vet. The horse is showing no lameness and the RI says most horses of this age would have signs of arthritis and mobility problems. Would any of you take the risk and buy him? The other thing to add is that these people need to sell because their new horse used to belong to the RI and they owe her 1500 for it! I'm not saying she would lie to me, she's not like that, but she does have an interest in getting this gelding sold. I just went through two years of battling arthritis with my last mare and I'm a bit wary, but our budget means that teenagers have to be considered. I'd appreciate any advice.
 
hmmmm a long chat with the vet methinks. Then show the report /pony to YOUR vet. I would think that many horses that age would have arthritic changes, true - but you know first hand what it can be like to deal with.

However, if she's the right pony for you, and your vet (not hers) has read this report/ seen her, I would seriously consider going for it. sm x
 
I would talk to the vet who did the vetting and then take the report to my vet for a second opinion. Then it's a matter of weighing up the risks. Every horse comes with risks and even if they have a completely clean vetting they can break a leg coming off the lorry, so there is always danger in horse buying, the question is how much risk?

Depending on the risk you may want to negotiate more on value.

Another point to remember is that the insurance will probably not insure that leg or possibly that condition, so you may need to pay future vet bills yourself.
 
I think i would go for it at that price, you are forewarned and can hopefully manage the condition even if the horse is showing no symptons yet. Your RI may have an interest but i doubt she would knowingly sell you something dodgy as her reputation is also on the line.
 
A lot of horses fail flexion tests so I don't think that alone should put you off.
Ditto what is said above have your own vet look at the report and the horse itself and decide between you whether it is fit for the purpose you want it for.
Good luck
 
Possibly! However i think it is quite a sweeping statement to suggest that most horses of that age would show some sort of arthritic changes, and would fail a flexion test.

I have an 18 year old who certainly dosnt fall in to that catergory, and know many other older horses who dont either.

Remember that arthritic conditions are generally progessive and there is no way of telling how it will effect the horse in the near future. I think a lot would depend on what you want the horse for. It coudl be they have lead a hard workign life and would now benefit from a quieter life. I understand that your budget is limited, but there are older horses otu there, without issues. I think you need to have a good talk to the vet, and have a good look at the report. Dont let the RI sway you either way. She obviously has an intrest in the sale, and my dubious head would be bareing this in mind.
 
A lot of horses fail flexion tests, and people still buy them. most I would say don't bother getting x-rays either.

I would have a look through the report with their vet and your vet - and go and see the pony, you never know they might not click, even if it is the perfect pony :)
 
shysmum said:
hmmmm a long chat with the vet methinks. Then show the report /pony to YOUR vet. I would think that many horses that age would have arthritic changes, true - but you know first hand what it can be like to deal with.

However, if she's the right pony for you, and your vet (not hers) has read this report/ seen her, I would seriously consider going for it. sm x
Click to expand...

What she said!

We got our old girl as a 13 year old, she was getting a bit stiff a year later and diagnosed with arthitic changes, we feed he cortaflex, she lives out and we are carefull to warm up, cool down and dont pound her on hard ground and she is still goindg strong. Def discuss it with your vet.

A friend of mine got a quality youngster about 18 months ago, recently broken, full vetting . 18 months later she has been diagnosed with arthritic chenges in the spine - prognosis not good art all. I would say if the gelding got to this age without major probs he is worth a shot.
 
I love how fast people reply on this forum! Just to clarify, we would only be using the gelding for hacking and light schooling and as a confidence giver to my eldest at pony club in about four years time. However, my concern is that the arthritis will shorten his working life considerably. Our old lady worked lightly up until two days before she died but the arthritis was the bane of her life for her last two years. I don't mind taking on an older horse, its just so hard to know what to do!
 
Magicmillbrook said:
What she said!

We got our old girl as a 13 year old, she was getting a bit stiff a year later and diagnosed with arthitic changes, we feed he cortaflex, she lives out and we are carefull to warm up, cool down and dont pound her on hard ground and she is still goindg strong. Def discuss it with your vet.

A friend of mine got a quality youngster about 18 months ago, recently broken, full vetting . 18 months later she has been diagnosed with arthritic chenges in the spine - prognosis not good art all. I would say if the gelding got to this age without major probs he is worth a shot.
Click to expand...

The fact that he has been sound up until now is what is swaying me towards him - and you are absolutley right, we could buy a younger animal but its no gaurantee of anything. He's quite the little pony club star and I'm thinking this could be our chance to get a really nice pony within budget. I'm not interested in jumping but I would love to do dressage.

Does you girl still hack out and manage hills etc?
 
No I wouldn’t.

Plenty more out there without known problems that will also tick your boxes.

The cob may be fine and for years to come but 14 is not old and I wouldn’t want a 14 year with arthritis, I'm not in any way shying away from the fact it has some arthritis and thats its all doom and gloom...not at all, but from the sounds of your situation, your past experience, the fact that it's a friend of a friends etc and that there could be pushing it your way.

Disappointing though it may be and yes you feel that its the perfect solution to everyone’s problem but the fact remains, you could purchase something else equally as nice without athristis.

The other person that backed out of the sale, my mind did a sensible thing, personally I would follow suit.
 
No I wouldnt either im afraid...

14 really isnt that old I dont think, also you want the pony for pony club in 4 years time so you need something that has a better chance of being active in to their late teens/20's. My old horse didnt have artheritis and I competed him up to the age of 26. He was my pony club star and he was given to me when he was 16.

I know horses who have very active lives with artheritis but horses are prone to so many problems, why start with a problem?

I think im wary because a vet once advised me to buy a horse that had artheritis, which had failed one flexion by being 2/10ths lame. The vet said it would be fine. It wasn't, horse was crippled once it started proper work.

He does sound a lovely pony and it could be a great opportunity BUT there are many lovely ponies out there without artheritis. Also it wouldn't be insured on that leg. Do you have the funds and the inclination to fork out for scans, steroid injections, expensive cortaflex supplements if it did become a problem?
 
I dont know.

I thnk the fact that you've asked the question obviously means your unsure which if it were me.....would mean I'd walk away.
 
No I wouldnt either im afraid...

14 isn't really that old and you need something that has a better chance of staying sound into its late teens/early 20's for your child to do PC on.

It does sound like a lovely pony but there are lots of lovely ponies sold through pony clubs and riding clubs that do not have artheritis. The older ones won't be that expensive and a sound, older pony can go on for donkeys years.

You also wont be able to get it insured on that leg. That is a major considerion. Would you have the funds and the inclinication to fork out for scans, steroid injections, expensive cortaflex supplments, long-term bute if the artheritis gets worse??

Horses are prone to so many problems, why start out with a problem?
 
You mention that you wouldn’t be doing any jumping but would like to do dressage, all the more reason I’d walk away.

Dressage involves a lot of work, ok so he's not leaping over fences but the muscles and joints still take on a level stress and strain but in different way, not only that but you'd also need to do more schooling, exercise is very good for arthritic horses yes but its the type of exercise you have to be careful with.
 
Everything is if's and but's.....

You mention you are already on a budget, would that budget stretch to medication/supplements/treatment for him in x years time if the arthritis progresses? How old are your children, are they likely to still be riding in a few years? (A friends daughter did ride at 5 but now isn't really interested at 8) If not he'll be harder to sell (if the arthritis has progressed) should you need to. What workload is he currently on? Is this more or less than what you'd be doing? Just things to consider.

I personally think there are that many horses on the market that you should be able to find a suitable horse that doesn't have the health issues, unfortunately it's all a case of time. If nothing else talk to the vet who vetted him and get a second opinion. Do not rely on what the RI says as she is not impartial.
 
It's a tricky one, you're talking about being able to do PC with him in 4 years- will this be more work than you intend to do with him now? Arthritis is a degenerative problem and therefore gets worse with time- I think you'd need to be prepared that you may need a new one in 4 years. Obviously speak to the vets though, they will be reticent to give you a definitive answer at it could come and bite them in the you-know-what though. I'd be inclined to offer £1000 maximum for the pony if you do decide to risk it, that will give you a bit extra for drugs should he need them.

Best of luck with pony roulette! ;)
 
If you dont intend to keep the pony for life I would think that it would be difficult to sell on. As you know it is a progressive problem. Welsh Ds have a high action which means a lot of concussion that can make it worse.
 
I would have to say no as well. If you want this pony for PC then most likely you will want something that can jump. The children will want to do more than just potter soon. As has been said before this is a progressive condition and could be getting worse just as you need more performance. Also there sounds too many interested parties involved to make it straight forward. 14 is not old.
Don't get disheartened in your search the right pony is out there.
 
I would say no as well. My little mare is on loan to me, and is going back to her owner soon as major arthritic changes in both knees mean she can't really work for more than about 20 minutes without going unlevel, even quiet hacking on good ground. She's field sound and perfectly happy, but she isn't the riding horse i wanted, sadly.

After spending the best part of the last year nursing Ella back to soundness, i wouldn't willingly take on a horse with arthritis as a riding horse again.
 
I wouldn't pay more than £500-600 for those problems, truth be told, but you do sound like you already like him a lot ........
On balance though, I wouldn't buy a potential problem
 
For hacking and light schooling i would definately consider him. If you want to do more then no i wouldn't.

My gelding was diagnosed with arthritis at 8 years old. Hes now 12. Touch wood, through correct management he still hacks, schools and competes in dressage. But he doesnt jump.
 
After reading all the replies, I think I will say no to him. Its a shame, he's a cracking pony but no one can say how bad the arthritis will get or how quickly. After battling it for two years with our last mare and being more and more constrained in what we could do I just don't think I've got the heart to do it all over again so soon. And you are right Frazzled, my daughter is going to want to do an awful lot more than he will probably be capable of in four years. But thank you all again for your replies, both yay and nay, it does help sorting it all out in my mind. Daughter has a 30 year old pony on loan with no mobility issues - why on earth can't she be bigger?!
 
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