would you take on a horse with navicular?

smiggy

smiggy

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Some people came to us to view a pony yesterday, they were absolutely lovely but green as grass horse buyers. They told us their sad story of buying an unsuitable horse from a dealer that turned out to be barely four, dealer then swopped (plus extra money) for a 15.2 welshxtb that they had "owned privately for 4yrs as mother/daughter share", in fact its a full tb ex racer that had been sold cheaply by its owner two weeks before as having navicular and needing an appropriate home!
Horse currently sound and actually working in the livery yard they use (also a school).
they phoned last night to see if we would like said horse as on paper (minus the navicular) it is exactly what we are looking for.we are going to have a look today
my old arab had navic diagnosed at 7 and with careful management was ridden until 19 but I know navicular is such a variable thing
any thoughts?
 
No foot no horse.. And if theres something dodgy down there then at some point your not going to have a horse. You could have it a week, month or maybe longer but it is at somepoint going to be un rideable and do you want a field ornament?
Personally I wouldnt. What type of horse are you looking for anyway?
 
It would seriously depend on the price. A few years ago I would have said no, but know a couple of people with horses with navicular that seem to carry on as normal. It is a big gamble though! It also depends on what you want to do - a happy hacker may be fine. A competition horse wouldn't..
 
Probably not for a couple of reasons

Neither you or the current owner have access to the horses vet records so you have no idea how advanced the navicular is and what the long term prognosis is.
Specialist shoeing is not cheap nor is the like of Rockley Farm even if you can keep it sound long-term.
JMHO but no matter what age this horse is now, with a degenerative condition like this you would have to be prepared to be it's last/final home - horses like this this should only be loaned not sold (Sorry, I know this isn't a popular opinion but think how much heartache could have been avoided if the original owner had done this?)

Also, how do it's present owners know it has navicular? Was it picked up on the vetting and they bought regardless or has it been (re)diagnosed because it's shown symptoms since they've owned it?

Why go looking for heartache?
 
present owners know as once they had passport and realised it was 100pc ex racer, they contacted prev owners who gave them access to vets records and explained why he had sold horse etc
we have our own land and horse would be a gift
just massive gambol I suppose.
 
Fair enough.

I suppose one way you could look at it is that any horse could go lame and end up a field ornament...but even free horses cost the same to keep as sound horses! And no vet insurance cover available :eek:

All you can do is go and look if it's a risk you're happy to take. Despite what I've said I probably would at least go and look :o

Cos I'm nosy, please update!
 
Nope.. ESP not as it's an ex racer as I find these horses tend to degenerate far quicker and usually have damage to the DDFT as well. My old lad had his diagnosis in June and was put down in Sept as it developed v rapidly :(
 
I'd pay meat money for it and take it barefoot. The one I bought last year has now been competely sound, winning at National level showing and regional level dressage, hacking and jumping, for well over a year with no sign of any trouble at all.
 
After going through the heartbreak of losing my gorgeous boy to it then no i wouldn't.
Even if i was offered the most perfect horse for free it wasn't the time or the huge vets bills that would stop me it was the emotional part that took its toll.
 
Well you said that it's free and you have your own land. If I were lucky to be in the same situation as you, I would take it, get it's shoes taken off and get a good trimmer to sort the feet out, but be prepared for heartache if it doesn't work out. My mare is going for x-rays on her feet in a couple of weeks. If there is any sign of navicular, the first thing I will be doing is getting her shoes taken off and going barefoot - I've read so many good things on this forum about horses with navicular doing really well without shoes. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
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