Would you buy this horse?

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mariaandefe

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Hi,

I’m a bit confused and genuinely I cannot think about this anymore as I am going insane.

There is a horse that I am looking into buying. 11yo gelding jumped up to 140cm, he has significant issues riding wise (scared of oncoming horses in the arena, insanely strong when jumping, scared of every tiny noise and move of a branch, has zero flatwork skills).

Ok fine, I can manage this.

However, yesterday the vet came for a vetcheck. He found a problem in his RH on his stifle, exostosis as he said. Which makes him stiff on the right rein, he also gave him a + on a flexion test on the right hind. There are also some minor tiny things, but the stifle problem bothers me. What do you guys think?

I’m only looking into this horse because my first horse is injured and I need to move on in the sport, and he’s the only horse in my budget right now. If anyone knows any good horses for sale at the moment please let me know too :)
 
mariew said:
I just read a brief Google on hock spavins. If you are after him to jump then no. Tbh from your description id take him for free only and potentially be prepared for another one who can't do it's job.

Why not something like a sound ex racer if your budget is tight and you are capable to work with issues?
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My first horse is a sound ex racer with absolutely nothing in his xrays and ultrasounds, sound on flexion tests any test possible. Yet, he is the most ill horse of them all :) Unfortunate, but he has so many problems as of now. My budget isn’t exactly tight in general, it’s tight for the type of horse i’m after :)
 
A number of thoughts in no particular order:

Your posting history shows you want a young rider horse. I have extrapolated that to mean you are still learning at the higher fence levels. A horse with the way of going you describe will just teach you how not to ride well.

The behaviours of the horse make him sound quite unhappy/stressed. Which could well be linked to unsoundness.

The horse is to all extent and purpose lame on stifle. To what extent do the current owners know about this? Has the horse been medically managed to date. If yes, it doesn’t sound like it’s working - getting over a big jump (badly) because the horse is genuine is not a good thing. If no, there could be an argument that treating and managing the stifle could improve the overall way of going and happiness/comfort of the horse. But it’s a huge gamble and a money pit for no guarantee.

If you want to compete at a level but don’t have the budget to buy the horse you need then there will always be a compromise and that is most usually vet management. BUT you need to select a horse with history of the management clear and not showing distressing behaviours - this minimises the risk. You also have to look at these horses as an investment to give you short term experience, if you get a couple of years before they need to step down or retire then this is the pay off.

Nothing about the horse you have posted about (although granted limited info on his background) would put him in this latter category.
 
Tiddlypom said:
This.

Aren’t you the young poster currently living in Turkey who seems to have real problems accessing decent vet and farriery care, or even wormers?
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Yes.
1) our vets are good, best in the balkans.
2) yes my current farrier is terrible, but our yard doesn’t allow other farriers. there are good farriers in istanbul and farriers coming from europe. this is the reason why i am moving my horse in 10 days.
3) we have the same wormers as you guys in the uk have, we just dont have the spring wormers i believe (forgot the ingredients).
4) i posted this not to be dragged, but for people’s opinions. i do the absolute maximum for my horse, he lives like a king. i am moving to istanbul for 2-3 months just so that he gets shockwave, ha injections, and extra prp therapy needed for his injury, because the vets cannot come often. also for rehab.
 
mariaandefe said:
4) i posted this not to be dragged, but for people’s opinions. i do the absolute maximum for my horse, he lives like a king. i am moving to istanbul for 2-3 months just so that he gets shockwave, ha injections, and extra prp therapy needed for his injury, because the vets cannot come often. also for rehab.
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I don't think anybody is 'dragging' you as you suggest. They are offering their opinion based on information you have not given on this thread, but is readily available on your previous threads. That information is entirely relevant and crucial to give you a realistic and informed opinion on the horse and situation you have described in your first post above.

I hope this helps clarify why background information is always necessary and helpful for very experienced forum members to try and assist you as best they can.
 
ihatework said:
A number of thoughts in no particular order:

Your posting history shows you want a young rider horse. I have extrapolated that to mean you are still learning at the higher fence levels. A horse with the way of going you describe will just teach you how not to ride well.

The behaviours of the horse make him sound quite unhappy/stressed. Which could well be linked to unsoundness.

The horse is to all extent and purpose lame on stifle. To what extent do the current owners know about this? Has the horse been medically managed to date. If yes, it doesn’t sound like it’s working - getting over a big jump (badly) because the horse is genuine is not a good thing. If no, there could be an argument that treating and managing the stifle could improve the overall way of going and happiness/comfort of the horse. But it’s a huge gamble and a money pit for no guarantee.

If you want to compete at a level but don’t have the budget to buy the horse you need then there will always be a compromise and that is most usually vet management. BUT you need to select a horse with history of the management clear and not showing distressing behaviours - this minimises the risk. You also have to look at these horses as an investment to give you short term experience, if you get a couple of years before they need to step down or retire then this is the pay off.

Nothing about the horse you have posted about (although granted limited info on his background) would put him in this latter category.
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I am jumping 110-120 courses at the moment. I have ridden this horse all summer for his owners, jumped him up to 145 (not courses). He is very genuine and usually helps out the rider a lot, however he is scared of fillers.

He is sound in general, he is just incredibly stiff. But yes, he is VERY stressed. He is an angel in his stable and in hands, but immediately as you get on he’s very tense and stressed.

About the owners, the owner is a guy who lives in a different province, as he has a riding school and a couple sport horses there. He gave the ride of this horse to another young rider, who is very ambitious (!). He was jumping an 160 oxer with the horse, and didn’t see a stride to the oxer, which led to a nasty fall and a big confidence knock for the horse (he is now scared of triple bars and wide oxers), and the horse went to another young girl who jumped him to 105 and then to our yard. The owner imported him beginning of 2023 (with the stifle problem), the vet came and diagnosed his stifle problem. However, due to this being technically a ‘school horse’ (because our yard manager and the owner of the horse are partners), he doesn’t get any supplements or decent feed (he is on plain oats and hay). They are all well aware of the problem, no one seems to care. They treated it in 2023, in 2024 the vet said there is no need to treat it, and he came yesterday and said there is still no need to treat it at the moment.

About the compromises, I completely agree with you. Always always will be compromises, I tried looking for a horse with more riding issues than health issues, but they all seem to have their own issues. As of yesterday, there were 3 horses to look at. Now there are pretty much none. One had two bad coffin joints, one had two bad navicular bones, and he has a stifle problem. Another one I was looking at cribs. And yes, these horses will always be an investment unfortunately, which sounds awful to say but it’s the reality of this sport :(
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
I don't think anybody is 'dragging' you as you suggest. They are offering their opinion based on information you have not given on this thread, but is readily available on your previous threads. That information is entirely relevant and crucial to give you a realistic and informed opinion on the horse and situation you have described in your first post above.

I hope this helps clarify why background information is always necessary and helpful for very experienced forum members to try and assist you as best they can.
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There was literally no opinion given in that response. Yes, I have an injured horse. Yes, I live in a country where everything is limited, but I am making the absolute BEST of what I have. I am only looking for advice, not for anything else.
 
I'd be patient and keep looking.

I'd suggest the "insanely strong" to jump is borne out of either fear or pain (or both)
Personally, from your description of him, I'd be unhappy to ride him for free, let alone buy him.
The only reason I'd buy him would be so that I could make sure he didn't have to jump again.
 
spacefaer said:
I'd be patient and keep looking.

I'd suggest the "insanely strong" to jump is borne out of either fear or pain (or both)
Personally, from your description of him, I'd be unhappy to ride him for free, let alone buy him.
The only reason I'd buy him would be so that I could make sure he didn't have to jump again.
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Completely agree. I won’t talk down on the people who rode him, but what I saw when other people rode him was disgusting.
 
spacefaer said:
I'd be patient and keep looking.

I'd suggest the "insanely strong" to jump is borne out of either fear or pain (or both)
Personally, from your description of him, I'd be unhappy to ride him for free, let alone buy him.
The only reason I'd buy him would be so that I could make sure he didn't have to jump again.
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I’m in this camp. Poor horse.
 
ihatework said:
I’m in this camp. Poor horse.
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My mother says the only reason i want to buy this horse is because i want to ‘rescue’ him :(

I’m moving to europe next year, and my
mother said we can only ‘rescue’ one horse. You’d be surprised how many horses are similar to him. There is a 9yo mare which i absolutely love, she is literally the mare version of him, both small and speedy and have huge hearts, but they are mentally drained and just not ok. One has a stifle problem, one has a fetlock problem. Both in the same price range, but the mare is not in work due to the injury :( I could cry when i see the state of them
 
mariaandefe said:
There was literally no opinion given in that response. Yes, I have an injured horse. Yes, I live in a country where everything is limited, but I am making the absolute BEST of what I have. I am only looking for advice, not for anything else.
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I meant opinions that you have been given on this thread, not just one post. In general all background information is helpful when asking for advice and that is why members might refer to previous information given by you. I possibly didn't word my post as clearly as might have been needed but however, you do you and good luck.
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
I meant opinions that you have been given on this thread, not just one post. In general all background information is helpful when asking for advice and that is why members might refer to previous information given by you. I possibly didn't word my post as clearly as might have been needed but however, you do you and good luck.
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No, i understand what you mean. However my old posts were pre veterinary, farriery inspection. But, none of my old posts refer to this post at all, me posting a thread on hives, ulcers etc (i don’t even remember what i used to post about) have literally no connection to this post at all. So bringing that up in a post where it is irrelevant portrays it as dragging me down as a horse owner.
There are horses everywhere in the world who are actually being abused and neglected. I take amazing care of my horses, and I always get compliments on how my horses live a better life than most people do :)
 
mariaandefe said:
No, i understand what you mean. However my old posts were pre veterinary, farriery inspection. But, none of my old posts refer to this post at all, me posting a thread on hives, ulcers etc (i don’t even remember what i used to post about) have literally no connection to this post at all. So bringing that up in a post where it is irrelevant portrays it as dragging me down as a horse owner.
There are horses everywhere in the world who are actually being abused and neglected. I take amazing care of my horses, and I always get compliments on how my horses live a better life than most people do :)
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Of course its relevant if you dont have a decent farrier or vet. Its not your fault, but it does pay a big part.
 
mariaandefe said:
I’m moving to europe next year, and my
mother said we can only ‘rescue’ one horse.
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Are you taking your unridden horse with you to Europe? Personally if I was you, I would wait to arrive in Europe, settle in (including finding a nice yard that suits you and your existing horse, if he's going too) then start scouting around for a second, ridden, horse. I would guess that prices in Europe will be higher than Turkey / the Balkans, so you are likely to have to compromise somewhere, but if you can find a good and supportive yard, you should be in a better position to find something suitable.
 
I'm Dun said:
So hes got physical issues and ridden issues. Can you not see the link? This horse should not be competing at a high level.
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And I completely agree with everyone who's said this - in an 11 year old fear, inability to concentrate, being hugely strong to jump, are all signs of a horse in pain. I wouldn't take a horse like that for free.
 
Widgeon said:
Are you taking your unridden horse with you to Europe? Personally if I was you, I would wait to arrive in Europe, settle in (including finding a nice yard that suits you and your existing horse, if he's going too) then start scouting around for a second, ridden, horse. I would guess that prices in Europe will be higher than Turkey / the Balkans, so you are likely to have to compromise somewhere, but if you can find a good and supportive yard, you should be in a better position to find something suitable.
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Hi,

No I plan to rehab my injured horse in Istanbul near the vet clinic (where they can look at his leg more often with the ultrasound as well as do all sorts of therapies). Then i plan to move him to Europe, as there is no point moving a horse to Europe who cannot be turned out at least. He is on a gentle treatment (blister in english i think it is) at the moment. He is moving in 10 days to istanbul where he will begin ridden work and turnout (+ shockwave).

Your thoughts are exactly my colleagues thoughts ahah, they say exactly the same thing! Actually, prices here are much higher than in Europe. I was scouting a lot on facebook and auctions etc, and the current horsemarket is insane in europe too
 
Widgeon said:
And I completely agree with everyone who's said this - in an 11 year old fear, inability to concentrate, being hugely strong to jump, are all signs of a horse in pain. I wouldn't take a horse like that for free.
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Yes, but the thoughts ‘If i don’t buy him, he’ll end up in an even worse home than he is now’ constantly play in my head. I feel so sorry for him
 
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