would you have a vetting for this horse

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charmaine

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I want to purchase a 14 yr old gelding for £1500. He is a genuine 14yrs owned by same owner since birth. No obvious problems. Would you have a five stage vetting carried out or take a chance?
 
I have been caught out so often, mainly because I couldn't afford a vetting, and thought that as it was a cheap horse then there was bound to be a reason and so it wasn't really worth bothering with a vetting. Don't make the same mistake as I did! As a result of this way of thinking I have bought more nutters than enough, and probably lost thousands of pounds into the bargain! I bought a 6 yr old cob 3 months ago and this time, decided to do it properly. I bought him from someone who is well known and trusted by my instructor, whom I have known for several years and trust. I arranged for a vetting and when my vet arrived for the vetting I asked him if he thought I needed a 5 stage as the horse was mainly for hacking. He advised me that a 2 stage was sufficient, and so that is what I had. He passed, I bought him, and he has been brilliant. I would never, ever take a chance again, I would rather go without a horse if I couldn't do it properly, I have definitely learned the hard way! Good luck, let us know what you decide to do.
 
I didnt get my horse vetted because I knew him for a year before hand.

I would advise you to get a vetting. What do you want to do with the gelding? If it is hacking and schooling go for a 2 stage, if it is more demanding and competitive go for a 5 stage.

Personally, due to the price and age and the fact that I am a happy hacker, I would go for a 2 stage.
 
2 stage. a friend bought a "bargain" horse in good faith no vetting etc, only cost £1000, but ended up having an eye removed within 3 weeks of ownership. Cost a bomb, stress and loads of upsets.
 
Is the owner a personal friend and have you known the horse/owner a long time? If so, it's worth the risk in my opinion.

I bought my mare at 6 yrs old from her breeder. I had known the horse since she was three and had been riding her for two years before I bought her.

I didn't have her vetted, and ok she got laminitis at eight, but that wouldn't have shown in any vetting and only happened when I moved yards.
 
Personally ive never had a vetting done- i got screwed over once and the second time ive have no problems.

Randomly- it was the expensive horse which screwed me over and the stupidly cheap one that worked out well!
 
I had a vetting done on a grey horse that we bought from her breeder (I'd bought a foal from her the year previous), she had a lump on her thigh which we thought was a sarcoid, turned out to be a benign melanoma. I still bought her but at a much reduced price.
 
I have never had any of my horses vetted although I am the first to admit it is probably not the best idea. My first one has never had a single problem I have owned him for 5-6 years and he was lame once (just pulled himself in the field at 23yro) so I have been extreamly lucky with him.

I probably should have had my TB vetted but he was cheap and everything I was looking for and I didn't think I would find another horse with his temprement, in the height, age and price range as close to home as he was. I had him on a trail to see if he would go lame within a few weeks or not and he didn't so that was it I bought him.
 
I've only ever owned four horses and only one of those I got vetted as she had really bad sweet ich.

Surprisingly the only one that I had a huge vet bill for was for the mare that I had vetted - she went down with a kidney infection a week after the vetting and we nearly lost her
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- but luckly she pulled through
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My last boy, I was told, was in his twenties when I bought him (we felt sorry for him and he was heading for the meat man if we had not have bought him) after research it turned out he was actually 33yrs old
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- but he came fourth out of fifteen in condition and turn out when he was 37 (beat a four year old
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) and I took him out hunting that year too (although only for a short while
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- he was too strong
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) - never went lame or was sorry in the ten years we had him - eventually had to have him PTS @ 43yrs due to his organs decaying. Bless him, still miss him terribly
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Must admit I would not be as reckless these days and would always have a 2 star done at least.
 
Had i 5* i think on my boy. . .Bought him from a dealer and didnt want to take any risks. . .he has turned out to be brilliant. . . nothing wrong atall

I think it depends on what you want to use the horse for if u have 2* or 5*
 
definately! we were just about to buy a horse which we thought was lovely and we got it vetted and it showed to be severely lame after the flexion test, the vet didnt even proceed with the vetting it was that bad! so yes i would always vet, it may seem expensive but its well worth it in the long run. you could end up paying endless vets bills otherwise. =]
 
[ QUOTE ]
definately! we were just about to buy a horse which we thought was lovely and we got it vetted and it showed to be severely lame after the flexion test, the vet didnt even proceed with the vetting it was that bad! so yes i would always vet, it may seem expensive but its well worth it in the long run. you could end up paying endless vets bills otherwise. =]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup - ditto - had a lucky escape!
Unless you know the horse really well and have had loads to do with it, I would always recommend a vetting.
 
Always get a vetting! As people have said above, it will reduce (but not elimianate) the chance of having problems and vets bills later. But also, if they do find something more "insignificant" you may be able to get money off. For instance, mine had a heart murmur which we had checked out and was fine, but we did get some money off the asking price.
 
I'd get some form of vetting no matter what. A cheap horse costs just the same in vets bills as one which was expensive to purchase.
 
Also, are you planning to insure against vets fees / loss of use? I bought a horse and didn't get a vetting, I'd been riding her for a year, knew the owner etc so really couldn't see the point. Five years later she developed arthritis in her pastern and the insurance company refused to pay out for anything, said I couldn't prove she didn't have it when I took the insurance out as I didn't have her vetted when I bought her.
 
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