five stage vetting

[Puppymouse]

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?

Dhorse is too old, too big, too bolshy and doesn't like hacking alone. But I love him to bits and it's never felt like a compromise.

He will hack alone but it's easier to borrow another horse and drag it along with us.

Paris I love the sound of the grey 15.1 but I know I need to get something bigger so I'm not worrying about my weight. The other one sounds lovely but Surrey is a nightmare for me to get to so trying more than once would be really tricky.

Gabilan I think if I was able to buy a horse I knew I'd cope with whatever foibles and love it anyway. My mare isn't remotely perfect but I just love her anyway. But when looking to buy one you don't know it feels harder to know if you could deal with stuff

How about doing a list?

Must have, nice to have and definite no
So my must have would be competed up to Medium dressage, it would be nice if horse could jump, and I would never have anything that reared
That way you can match horse to list and be quite objective

My must is safe and sane with brakes

My nice to have is forward and keen but safe jumper/genuine easy temperament

My no go is nappy and can't hack alone

How about illness, injury wise? Anything there you wouldn't want? Obviously ideally it would fly a vetting but if there's anything you would compromise on
Do the sarcoids bother you or not I guess

They didn't overly bother me to be honest. But since obviously asking about you hear a ton of horror stories. I avoided seeing one that was being sold because his feet couldn't cope with the flinty ground near owner's home. I smelt lameness issues which I've had with my loan. I think the thing is until you've experienced a condition or illness you don't have anything to help you make a decision! My mare has cushings - she has a pill once a day and that's it. No lami, no reaction to the meds, no change, hormone levels back to normal, boom. But others have different. I am a very naturally consultative person when making decisions I always doubt my judgment so of course when you ask you get all sorts across a range!

His sarcoids

I took my current horse on knowing he had arthritis in three legs, he was a dressage horse and his joints had just taken quite a hammering.

The owner wanted rid because he was no longer able to compete. (I found out after that she was going to have him PTS, but vet said no he's still good just not for the level of dressage she wanted.)

He wasn't on any supplements at all, and pretty basic feed.

All I wanted was a happy hacker, who I could pop over a jump every now and then.
I don't have time to do anything else.

Plus I'm a sucker for waifs and strays.

I spoke to his vet and got his complete back ground.

Had him 4 years now, his arthritis isn't a problem as its managed with an appropriate amount of work, and supplements.

I weighed up what I was prepared to risk. I didn't think his arthritis was bad, even though with his prevous owner month's before, he'd cost her a fortune in vets bills from crippling lameness in three legs.(as far as I know he been in hospital)

For me my no no's would be back problems, laminitis, sarcoids

Most other things, I'd want to know as much about as possible so lots of research. worst case scenarios, levels of management of a problem, along with the relative costs of those levels. Before I made a decision.

I put sarcoids on my no list, because yes I've seen the massive mess they can become. Rubbing on the inside of their legs, a huge pussy lump right were rug straps go. For me sarcoids are to random a thing, to manage.

Puppy have you seen the bay gelding that's just come up on Devon & Somerset FB group?

I knew quickly with Dhorse and his predecessor. They could do the job I wanted and be happy doing it. On top of which, within 10 mins of me riding, they felt right. But, throughout my childhood, teenage years and 20s I didn't have my own horse and rode 100s of different horses/ ponies. So maybe I've developed a quick feel for what I'm safe with? Or I'm impulsive and lucky!

A right one for you is out there. I do think the palomino looks kind.

Is that the cherry bay Gabilan? Just looking...

Yes, him. Not sure why they're flagging up his pirrouettes whilst saying he'd suit a novice. But he looks a nice type, in budget, and would do RC stuff.

I thought it was quite a strange description. I've saved it.

I think that's sensible (your post)
I dealt with an ex racer with crap hooves and I would never ever touch anything with bad hooves again. So experience puts you off (or not!)
I still like the palomino I don't know why, gut instinct and a v kind eye. He isn't giving me vibes of terrified to handle from those pics, more that he would bond and be "my human" with someone

I think that. I just need to be wary that I wouldn't be doing him every day. Once we move (4-6 weeks) I will be nearer the yard but full livery a couple of days a week has been a godsend when I'm commuting. My yard owner is fab but has already been terribly hurt by a mare we have on box rest rearing and I don't want to make her deal with anything that will freak out that I'm not there.

Have you looked at "sam" at Cattybrook Horses? Helen watson? - his ad has just popped up on my timeline - and he is only a little over your budget......

I did Mrs - have heard good things about Cattybrook. But was put off by them saying he wouldn't suit a novice. Other than that he is pretty much exactly what I want. I might save his ad and call her.

I would call and talk to them - as what they describe him doing - I can understand them saying it wouldn't suit a novice - kind of - but as long you are consistent with him it shouldn't be an issue. ..... Unless there is something else

Just to update on the whirlwind that has been the last week. I went to see the grey down in Cornwall and he was everything. Lovely temp, fab with my toddler and dog. Forward but sane and easy to pull up. I hacked him completely on my own and he was ace. He had a five stage today and "passed" so he arrives tomorrow!!

Oh lovely - congratulations.

Hello Puppymouse - Just wanted to say hi as you were on my thread with I think essexmummy (I'll have to find it now) and we were looking for our first horses. Glad to see you're nearly there. We have livery arranged now and are still looking. I wonder how essexmummy is doing

Yay! Good luck bandito! I've really had some quite crap experiences these last couple of months but they all helped me choose the one I've got. He's on his way up here as we speak and I've just had to do a mad dash to the feed store to get him some of his usual! Do I dare ride him tomorrow?!

Congratulations! He looks lovely. I'd see how he settles and be guided by him as to when to ride.

He's been cool as a cucumber - amazing calmness...

Congratulaions, he has a lovely kind looking face. I must admit that I got mine home at about 2pm and he was out hunting with me the following day.....

Some people thought I was mad, others not. If you're comfortable with him and he seems like he's settling well then I think you might as well crack on personally!