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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

five stage vetting

280 replies

Puppymouse · 01/04/2016 19:37

I posted a while back about buying my first horse and had some very useful advice. I've since found a beautiful boy I want to buy and he's being vetted on Tuesday. I have been warned that many horses don't pass vetting and this is fairly common. The yard he's at are hopeful he will but he's 16...

My question is are there degrees of failing where you would still purchase? So if he fails on X you still go ahead but if he fails on Y you walk away? And will the vet advise whether to go ahead in these circumstances or do they have to just leave you to decide?

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IsItTimeForGinYet · 01/04/2016 19:43

It's not always a straightforward pass or fail. They may just highlight any concerns. Hopefully you will have a good sensible vet doing the vetting as they should take into account the horses age, their price and what you want to do with the horse in the future. A 4 year old horse should be in pretty immaculate condition whereas a 16 year old will show some signs of wear and tear. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Puppymouse · 01/04/2016 19:49

Thanks Isit. I am so nervous. Vet is not my vet but local to the area and comes highly recommended so I have confidence in him.

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IsItTimeForGinYet · 01/04/2016 20:32

Good luck on Tuesday. If the vet does highlight any issues do consider them. Some are far easier to deal with than others. Hopefully he will pass with flying colours!

Biggles398 · 01/04/2016 21:03

I think ISit has covered everything, but agree that a good vet will be able to advise.
While a horse may fail if you want to do x,y and z on him, it may pass if you only want to do x and y.

Good luck!!

WellErrr · 01/04/2016 21:10

A 16 year old is unlikely to pass a 5 stage with flying colours.

Talk to the vet in advance about what you want the horse for. They will assess if he is fit for purpose - for example he may fail as a potential eventer, but be perfectly fine for riding club stuff and hacking. It won't be a pass/fail unless there's something seriously wrong.

WellErrr · 01/04/2016 21:11

That first bit wasn't in reply to you Gin! I hadn't rtft properly..!

Puppymouse · 01/04/2016 21:18

Vet has full details of what I want to do. He's an ex-eventer but has been at a riding school and on part loan for just under a year. I am only a happy hacker type who wants to have regular lessons and maybe do the odd beach ride and cheeky clear round when I'm more confident with my jumping. He's a real school master type.

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Jonathonseagull · 01/04/2016 21:22

Lots of older horses fail the flexion test. If I knew the horse well I wouldn't personally be concerned about this, but I only hack. Good luck!

WellErrr · 01/04/2016 21:23

He sounds lovely

Puppymouse · 01/04/2016 21:30

He's rather underweight at the moment so I'm concerned about ulcers but yard owner is happy we can get his weight back up if he comes home with us...

five stage vetting

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Jonathonseagull · 01/04/2016 21:38

He's got a kind face! Is he for sale at sales livery or in a private home?

Puppymouse · 01/04/2016 21:43

He's owned and being sold by a riding school but he's not a happy boy. So willing and tolerant but forward so they can't use him as much as some of their others and they just can't get him to thrive. He's had a hard winter and needs weight gain and some 1:1. Quite anxious and mouthy in the stable but good as gold to ride. I think it was the moment we calmly gave another horse a lead past some large ground level flapping bunting that I knew I had to have him.

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Jonathonseagull · 01/04/2016 21:45

Bless you. He's a lucky boy. Good luck with the vetting.

Puppymouse · 01/04/2016 21:48

Thank you

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britnay · 02/04/2016 07:51

Flexion tests are not very good tbh. Even sound horses can fail a flexion test if its done incorrectly, so if he fails on this then I wouldn't let it put you off.
If he passes the vetting, great! if he doesn't, discuss reasons with the vet and go on from there. A lot of horses will get stiffer when older, so need a bit of tlc and longer, slower warm ups. Shouldn't be a problem if you are mainly looking for something to hack.

Gabilan · 02/04/2016 09:04

I bought my now 16 year old as a 12 year old. I had him on loan for a few months and knew his recent history so didn't get him vetted. He'd struggle with a 5 stage vetting now but his heart and lungs are fine and clear. He has a senior feed balancer to help him get nutrients. I think the main problem would be arthritic changes in his hind legs. This does not stop popping over 2 ft jumps, doing a good Novice test and being enormous fun out hacking.

It's not pass or fail, just can he do the job you want without stress. Good luck. He looks lovely. IME if you get horses out of a bad situation, they stay very loyal to you.

mrslaughan · 02/04/2016 09:36

It really depend on what you want to do - whether the results of the vetting are a pass or fail - it really comes down to discussion with the vet.
Having bought two ponies recently - there are two things that won't necessarily show up in the vetting, but if it passed I would get into straight away. First thing is teeth (maybe reason for lack of weight?).... Often a really neglected thing esp at riding schools and I would always use a dentist and never a vet.
The second is an equine osteopath/ physio - both the ponies we bought were sound , but have both needed treatment for soreness tightness - Various reasons - ill fitting tack, being strapped in side reins...... I see this as insurance for there futures. Both needed to be seen every 6 weeks for a couple of months and now are out to 6 months . Our osteopath/physio (she is both) gave us ridden and in hand homework to do to help with flexibility and also strengthen weaknesses- I don't want my kids being bucked off because their pony is sore, equally I want healthy and happy ponies.

Puppymouse · 02/04/2016 11:52

That's really useful advice thank you. Would you recommend getting back and teeth checked ASAP when he comes home or see how he gets on and let him settle?

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Booboostwo · 02/04/2016 14:38

Vetting a are not pass or fail but an assessment of the horse's suitability for the stated purpose, so a horse might be suitable as a light hack but not as an eventerr. Your vet should tell you about anything that concerns him and what impact it is likely to have on the horse in the future.

You say he is in poor condition and the RC cannot get him to put on weight? Assuming the basics are covered, I.e. teeth done, worming up to date and fed appropriate food, this is something I would worry about. I'd ask the vet if it's worth doing an extra blood test to look at liver and kidney function or anything else that could explain the failure to thrive.

WellErrr · 02/04/2016 15:17

You say he is in poor condition and the RC cannot get him to put on weight? Assuming the basics are covered, I.e. teeth done, worming up to date and fed appropriate food, this is something I would worry about. I'd ask the vet if it's worth doing an extra blood test to look at liver and kidney function or anything else that could explain the failure to thrive.

Very much agree with this.

Gabilan · 02/04/2016 15:35

Definitely get teeth and back checked sooner rather than later. My first horse hadn't had his teeth done for 3 years when I got him and it made a huge difference to him. And even the best saddlers sometimes get it wrong so definitely get those done.

Puppymouse · 02/04/2016 15:47

I have flagged his weight to vet and will ask him what he thinks and test if necessary. Stables he's at say they got vet out and vet told them just typical tb winter weight loss and not to worry. He was apparently condition scored 3 and vet said he should be a 4?

I don't think they're lying as such but he's fussy as well which suggests there might be issues. He does have pretty crap turnout where he is now and we have loads so my yard owner is confident we can get him right.

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Booboostwo · 02/04/2016 15:48

Ideally you want to buy a horse from an owner who is on top of teeth, physio, saddle. These are fairly basic checks and if ignored for a few years can lead to all sorts of problems. An ill-fitting saddle is not always resolved with the, substantial, cost of a new saddle, the horse may also need a vet to diagnose the problems caused, time off, physio treatment, recovery work to correct improper and unbalanced muscle development, etc. Neglected teeth may lead to ulcers, problems with the bit, resistance to working correctly which itself may cause back problems, etc. A good owner should have all these things in hand and you should not have to play catch up.

mrslaughan · 02/04/2016 15:55

I absolutely agree with you Booboostwo, but sadly most people don't seem to bother. I bought one pony and was told her teeth had just been done by the vet - got our dentist to check and she had terrible sharp edges at the back of her mouth.

puppy mouse its something I would and do do as a matter of course.

StillYummy · 02/04/2016 20:20

When you try to get his condition up the key is in the winter, hay hay hay and more hay. Horses are like big compost bins and they need a lot of fibre to keep warm. He probably got skinny because the ridding school had him out with others and their wasn't enough hay/grass for him to be eating round the clock.

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