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?

WellErr - south west. 16hh+ all rounder. Forward but safe, keen confidence giving jumper. Just for hacking, lessons, the odd clear round and beach/fun rides etc l. I can't afford everything I want but was prepared to get something that bit older. A schoolmaster type. My frilly preferences are grey and gelding...

I don't know if she knew but either way her attitude was awful.

His owner sounds awful. If he were mine I'd let him have a couple of months of good grass if he's the sort who enjoys time off work. Then I'd have him put to sleep. That might sound harsh but it's kinder for the horse.

I'm so sorry OP. What a shame for the horse. Owners should do the right thing, however hard.

you did dodge a bullet, but its hard not to feel sorry for the horse.....and to say she will sell him with two stage - lets hope no one is foolish enough to fall for that.....just another crook selling a horse.

She runs a riding school so all about the bottom line. She won't even drop the price by £200 despite now knowing this

She might well find her greed sees her completely out of pocket if no one will buy the horse and he ends up dying or being pts soon.

From the home it sounds like you want to give him, I think a caring owner would willingly and happily renegotiate the price to take the horse's health into consideration.

That's exactly what I was asking. Just £200 or so off to go towards the scan and she more or less said that it was irrelevant and if I hadn't got a five stage I would have been fine. So angry and sad.

its not based on the edge of st albans is she?

No - about an hour from me

Well done for walking away. Too many red flags there. As Gabilan said some months off with good grass is what is needed there, and then a think about whether it's time to call it a day for him. Horse dealers can be shits.

To be honest I would have walked away. If I thought a horse could have a hart attack I wouldn't be standing next to it, let a loan sitting on it!

If it was free... Then I may have had it as a pet.... Because I am a soft touch and like to add more stress to oh's life with pets we don't "need".

I think you have to make a decision with head and heart. Heart says rescue him. Head says don't ride him unless he's scanned and the price should reflect the fact that he's being rescued.

I'm in the s/west Puppy. Don't know of any schoolmasters at the moment but will let you know if I hear of anything.

The last 5 stage vetting I had done turned into a 2 stage as he pulled off a shoe in the exercise bit. I ended up asking the vet if she'd buy him based on what she'd seen and she said yes. 10 years later he's still here and up until 4'weeks ago had never had a days lameness in all that time.

I would be worried about the weight loss too. It may be just he's unhappy where he is, but on the other hand... Good luck with the vetting.

Thanks Gabilan. Got a few potentials to contact tomorrow. He was just so close to what I wanted and I've spent so much time and money on seeing him, vetting him etc it's exhausting but onwards and upwards...

That's such a shame but you've made the right decision in my opinion. I had a bad experience with sarcoids and my first horse and that would have been enough to put me off, no matter what any vet says, but the heart murmur bit is serious.

One possible way of making other people aware of his problems by talking to as many people as you can about this lovely horse you saw that failed the vetting because of ....... Don't mention anything personal about the owner but just ask lots of people if they know of a suitable horse and then say about this one. Word does get about and it may put other people off buying him.

Weightloss, plus heart, plus breathing = very dodgy. Potential congestive heart failure. Good to walk away.

Remember, it feels expensive now, but it doesn't compare to the cost and emotional pain of treating a sick or dying horse. It costs £200 to just have the knackerman collect, and up to £600 to have the vet do it plus get the horse taken away. And it is the worst thing in the world (lost a horse on the gallops to heart failure, had to have another puts due to wobblers).

With your budget and what you are looking for, ie nice family horse, there will be some good ones around. Are you using horse quest and horse and hound online? I find them better than horse mart (lots of dodgy dealers on there). Plus don't forget to look in tack shops and email your local riding clubs. Might also be worth contacting your local hunts.

Horse quest every day plus others. Haven't found one on H&H yet - they all seem to be so much more money. Plus been tagged lots on FB ones. Have been to one dealer and have another I know has an excellent rep - hopefully seeing them tomorrow to look at one. I still can't get him out of my head though it's heartbreaking

Think of it as a shit date with a man you really fancy. Shame you went on a couple of dates, but he wasn't right for you, no matter how good looking and perfect sounding.

Plenty more fish in the sea/horses in the field.

Yep.

Shame I paid for those £230 tickets though

I found my perfect horse just over a year ago. Tried him extensively and he failed the vetting spectacularly. Walked away. Three weeks later I bought my gelding. He's been perfect for me. It's a process. Keep looking! If you see anything in the South East do pm me as happy to help.

Thank you that's really kind. I'm trying to stick to 1-2 hours travel as I struggle to be out for long days without my daughter. I can usually just get help for a morning or an afternoon.

The right horse will come along. Men on the other hand are a lot less reliable IME.

Whereabouts are you? What would you like in the ideal world? And what is your budget?

Isit - am south west Bristol area. In an ideal world:

Forward but safe and sane - don't get on well with anything kickalong or lazy
Keen, confidence-giving jumper and well-schooled
Happy to hack alone
Good to box, shoe, clip
16hh and over
Gentle nature, likes fuss
I LOVE greys and really not a fan of coloureds. But trying to be an adult

I'm not a beginner but am wary of taking on anything green in case I don't have the knowledge and confidence to teach it properly. Will consider anything from 7/8ish up to 15.

Budget was around 3-3.5k but feeling a bit fragile after paying out for the vetting - silly I know.