Would you walk away?

[Hamlet]

Another vetting, another fail, another horse I really like.

Horse 3/10ths lame on right fore on the soft. On closer inspection right knee has fluid on, vet would need an X-ray to see what’s going on with it but thinks it’s an old injury.

Horse is ex-racer, 6 year old 16.3hh.

The other horse I had “fail” is in a new home and hasn’t looked lame on any videos they’ve posted since but then it’s hard to know what’s going on behind the scenes.

Am I right to walk away from this one too?

 

[Starzaan]

Absolutely walk away.

 

[Birker2020]

Am I right to walk away from this one too?

Yep. That's what you pay all that money for, the opinion of the vet.
You might choose to accept a sarcoid, or maybe a flexion test if the vet fails it but not something this important.

 

[milliepops]

I'd also walk away.

 

[dixie]

What did the owner say about the injury?
If they think its new, you could ask them to let you know when he comes sound and have another re-vet?

 

[ihatework]

I’m a poster that has a more open mind on vet failures than some, but this would be a walk away for me.

 

[Annagain]

A big knee due to an old injury but sound is one thing. A big knee and lame is very different. As others have said, definitely walk away.

 

[MissTyc]

A big knee due to an old injury but sound is one thing. A big knee and lame is very different. As others have said, definitely walk away.

Esp in a 6yo. Walk away, unless you're taking on a project horse for very little monies and have the emotional energy to deal with it

 

[Prancerpoos]

Walk. You don’t need to start out with issues.

 

[IrishMilo]

Walk away. Don't be sucked into a sunk cost fallacy.

 

[Squeak]

Agree with the others, I'd walk away.

If the owner is willing to do the investigations then I'd keep in touch just in case but I would still be looking for other horses while that was going on.

 

[irishdraft]

I would walk away x

 

[Hamlet]

Thanks all, I spoke to the seller and they heard what the vet said and agreed they wouldn’t buy him either! She’s just been looking after him as the owners moved away so she’s going to relay the vet info.

Sad but I’ve bought myself some cake to cheer up. The hunt continues for an ex racer, generally whose a nice person if anybody knows of anything.

 

[Sprig]

What a shame but definitely the right decision. I take it that you have tried approaching trainers directly?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would have walked away as well.

 

[Ali27]

Thanks all, I spoke to the seller and they heard what the vet said and agreed they wouldn’t buy him either! She’s just been looking after him as the owners moved away so she’s going to relay the vet info.

Sad but I’ve bought myself some cake to cheer up. The hunt continues for an ex racer, generally whose a nice person if anybody knows of anything.

My friend is selling an ex racer and he’s a really nice boy!
https://www.horsequest.co.uk/search

 

[I'm Dun]

not all ex racers break, but a fair few do. You need to tip the balance in your favour. Go for one that raced a fair bit and retired soon. If they stood up to racing and training theres a reasonable chance they will stand up to work. And go for something smaller. Bigger horses struggle enough with soundness and then you add on the strain of being an ex racer and its just not worth the risk

 

[[153312]]

not all ex racers break, but a fair few do. You need to tip the balance in your favour. Go for one that raced a fair bit and retired soon. If they stood up to racing and training theres a reasonable chance they will stand up to work. And go for something smaller. Bigger horses struggle enough with soundness and then you add on the strain of being an ex racer and its just not worth the risk

I kind of agree with this but the caveat with "raced a fair bit" is look at how old it was when it was retired and try and find out why it was retired as well.

 

[Melody Grey]

3/10 lame is more than a little niggle. As others have said, it’s one thing in an ex-racer to have a few lumps and bumps, but totally another to be unsound.

walk away, there are plenty of OTTBs without problems (or at least less obviously!)

 

[Sossigpoker]

No point in paying for a vetting and then buying a lame horse! 3/10 is not that minor anyway.
Yes I would walk away for sure.

 

[horsimous]

The horse is lame so I’d walk away. The one for you will come along in the end.

 

[Goldenstar]

Walk away .

 

[Hamlet]

Thanks all, I’m hoping to go and see a bunch at a race yard on the weekend, fingers crossed the right one will be there!

@Ali27 the link just goes to the search page! ?

 

[Leandy]

That is a fairly major fail. If it was thought to be a new injury then you could say you would be interested to see it again when it is back sound and see what happens, but if it is thought to be an old injury run away!

 

[Ali27]

Thanks all, I’m hoping to go and see a bunch at a race yard on the weekend, fingers crossed the right one will be there!

@Ali27 the link just goes to the search page! ?

Just looked and she has sold him!