chantal1989
Member
Just interested whether you think it would be advisible to get a foal vetted before buying or whether not to as you only have a rough idea of what they may turn out like. Any views and opinions?
Would you get a foal vetted before buying?
- Thread starter chantal1989
- Start date
Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
Other than eyes, lungs and heart, there isn't much else you can check for to be honest at that age; the heart would be tested at rest, you wouldn't in the normal state of affairs, be able to test it after exertion. It also depends how well handled the foal is too; if you can't get near it, you've got no chance of getting a vetting done!
Obviously it would depend on how much you plan on spending; it also depends on how experienced you are in assessing horses anyway, whether you have experience of youngsters and their different rates of growth, whether you know both sire and dam and how good and decent types they are themselves (certainly not a guarantee you will not be buying a donkey though!). The best way to assess a foal is to watch it for as long as possible before you make up your mind and make sure you are happy with it completely before you take the gamble.
Obviously it would depend on how much you plan on spending; it also depends on how experienced you are in assessing horses anyway, whether you have experience of youngsters and their different rates of growth, whether you know both sire and dam and how good and decent types they are themselves (certainly not a guarantee you will not be buying a donkey though!). The best way to assess a foal is to watch it for as long as possible before you make up your mind and make sure you are happy with it completely before you take the gamble.
Fahrenheit
Well-Known Member
Vets only do a mortality certificate on foals very basic literally covers eyes lungs and heart as MFH says. I would say less than 10% of people that have bought foals that I know of have got the mortality certificate done.
severnmiles
Well-Known Member
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Other than eyes, lungs and heart, there isn't much else you can check for to be honest at that age.
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Agreed, ask if they had the vet out to check it over when it was born, the vet won't be able to tell you anymore than when he first visited so it could be a waste of money to have him out again.
Other than eyes, lungs and heart, there isn't much else you can check for to be honest at that age.
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Agreed, ask if they had the vet out to check it over when it was born, the vet won't be able to tell you anymore than when he first visited so it could be a waste of money to have him out again.
Peasfriend
Well-Known Member
I had mine vetted when I bought him and the vet pointed out two main things - his umbilica hernia (which I had spotted) and a slight turnout of one foreleg (which I hadn't). The resulting conversation (bearing in mind me and said foalie and therefore vet were a couple of hundred miles apart) was very helpful and informative to me both as a purchaser, and as a future owner with respect to the things I had to keep an eye on. Worth it in my humble opinion.
severnmiles
Well-Known Member
At a very young age the farrier should have been able to have corrected the leg.
Peasfriend
Well-Known Member
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At a very young age the farrier should have been able to have corrected the leg.
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It was incredibly slight - he has had regular attention from my farrier and if you didn't know now, you wouldn't notice
At a very young age the farrier should have been able to have corrected the leg.
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It was incredibly slight - he has had regular attention from my farrier and if you didn't know now, you wouldn't notice