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?

Happy to consider a cob but not keen on feathers or gypsy cobs to ride - really anything much bigger boned than ID to be honest. A cob cross would be fab.

Have you looked at the Family Friends section of Horsequest? Seems much more suitable for what you want. Stilton caught my eye on page 2 but I can't link on the iPad sorry.

Boo thank you - I had been looking in the all rounder section so that's really useful. Nothing I can afford that is right size and not up north that I can see but will know to look there, thank you.

True allrounder. - ad image
True allrounder. - ad image True allrounder. - ad image
True allrounder.
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01684-833699
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£3,000
Location: Worcestershire, Malvern
Height:15.1 hands
Breed:Irish
Colour:Dapple Grey
Age:7 years
Gender:Gelding
Sweet natured chap who has a super attitude to his work, he gives a lovely smooth ride and would do a fab dressage test, he has 3 well balanced paces and has a very natural jump. In the past he has done x country schooling and competed show jumping. Due to my own circumstances he is currently just coming back into work after the winter but is very unfit at present hence low price. He's easy to do in all respects in and out of stable, excellent with traffic, vet, farrier, box, catch, clip, bath, etc. I'm looking for an experienced caring home. This has been a very hard decision to sell my boy so please serious inquiries only thank you. Please no calls after 9pm no text.

In Malvern.

I know you aren't super experienced but you are caring and I would want my horse to go to happy home.

Ps that's horse and hound website - lots more on offer there at a lower price than the mag.

This one is a bit far for you but also sounds adorable - actuallycalled 'steady Eddie!'

Suitable for novice
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£3,500
Location: Hertfordshire, Hemel Hempstead
Height:15.1 hands
Colour:Chestnut
Age:7 years
Gender:Gelding
Steady Eddie!! (Mothers dream ) Bright chestnut gelding 7 years old 15.1h. This lovely chap is an absolute pleasure to have around the yard, with his affectionate lovable attitude you can do anything with him and is not fazed.

Schooling, Eddie is safe and sensible showing real arena class. His flat work needs some more work but his lateral floaty movements combined with his work mind attitude are making schooling excersises a delight.

Eddie will jump any fence and does not get strong whether schooling him over show jumping or cross country fences . He has done low level show jumping competitions and schooled over 90cm cross country fences.

Eddie hacks out alone or in company and is not fazed by heavy machinery on our yard. He is rode in a snaffle at all times. He would suit novice rider to build confidence or light weight teenager looking to do pc/rc activities . With a little more work this horse could go on to event. £3500 Ono

Ps size is another way of getting a cheaper horse - over 14.3hh but under 15.2hh and over 17hh (probs try to avoid the gentle giants unless you are prepared for bigger feed bills and sudden discoveries of strength) as again they aren't popular. Cob crosses and ish will be good weight and leg carriers.

This is from fb.

It does say a confident rider as sometimes insecure. and might be to far away. But thought I'd pass it on.

The fb page is open so I can fb you the name. If you wanted to look at the other pics.

although most look like it's been ridden flat out and badly into the jumps

"needs confident rider" is usually adspeak for "must beat it into every fence"!

I know I thought similar

but then seeing how the poor bugger is set up for the fences........

Maybe not a horse issue more a rider issue.

Thank you so much! I am leggy and heavier so suit things over 16hh but having said that my loan mare is 15.1 and tbxconnie and we do ok. I just worry about crushing her owner only let me have her because I'm balanced (apparently).

I am trying to get hold of the dealer in Yeovil to see Minnie the brave grey hunter/PC mare as she had another I quite liked too and isn't too far away.

Any joy OP? Is north Cornwall too far? There's a nice little bay mare that's come up on Annie Warren's equestrian services on FB. 15.1 but she'd definitely take a bigger rider. Done all RC stuff, video of her popping fences and she looks sane and sensible. £2.5k, 13 years old.

So I'm nearing the end I think...

Three possibles:

Option 1: chestnut tb 9yo 16.2 (v fine though)
Pros - super ride, honest, willing lovely temperament and I have an impartial view on him from someone who part loaned him temporarily. Everything she said proved true in the viewing. He's also got a very comfy newish saddle that happened to be fitted by my saddler so would want that too as he's not much money. Owner also prepared to let me trial him. He has done everything I want to do - hacking, schooling, lessons and a bit of indoor sj. Yard owner would collect him tomorrow if I let her she thought he was fab.

Cons: He's a bit of a sorry sight and chestnut childish strop has a sore back and cracked feet but vet has seen him today and says he needs to build muscle but is sound. I need to ring vet on Monday to ask more questions. He's underweight and needs some TLC. I already know he's more forward when fitter from his old part loaner but not too worried. He was trained to race but never ran.

Option 2: palomino Irish gelding 15.3 7yo
Pros - sales livery with friend of a friend who I know wouldn't sell me a crock or unsuitable horse. He's a fab ride - steady and good jumper. Also palomino which is lovely. And I can trial him. And when he's put in some weight will be leg in each corner type.
Cons: he's underweight at the moment too and has taken a beating at some point so is genuine but nervous on the ground, esp to tack up and takes time to bond and trust. This doesn't seem to have translated to riding. He isn't spooky or difficult.

Option 3: my dream grey horse 16hh tb 13yo

Pros: can do a trial, beautiful temperament and ride, great jumper, has competed BE but loves doing the things I want to do. Used to kids and dogs, good doer for a tb, generally in good health and good feet. Owner is fab to deal with. He's super sane in open spaces and not spooky.
Cons: owner has lost her confidence competing so is selling him. Hoping trial would tell if I got on well jumping him. The biggest concern is he has two pea sized sarcoids.

Ps Gabilan I saw that mare too she looked lovely. Enquired with Annie about a gelding the other day but he was £7000 so I ran away left it.

Should have put prices

Chestnut tb is £1500 but she said she would take £1200 for him

Palomino is £3500

Grey is £3500 Ono

Pics...

At the end of the day it comes down to which one you enjoyed riding. Did any of the three give you the feeling of a fantastic ride?

Otherwise it's little details to mull over. Option 1 why does he have a sore back, has he been seen by a vet and what is the treatment plan? How badly cracked are his feet, e.g. suffering a bit from the wet or can't keep a shoe on for love nor money? Option 2 how worried is he on the ground, e.g. flinches at sudden movements or takes three weeks to catch in the field? How do you feel about dealing with a nervous horse? Are you likely to feel patient and sympathetic or fed-up or even nervous about what he might do? Option 3 where are the sarcoids? How long has he had them and have they changed shape? Has he had any treatment for them? Can you afford to treat him for them as they won't be covered by insurance?

The chestnut might be a tad strong going by the hanging snaffle and grackle (the latter, incidentally, you cannot use in dressage competitions).

I don't want to be rude about the rider but the photo of the grey competing is pretty dire. He is hollow through the back and his back legs are about a mile behind his front legs. You have to wonder why someone thought that was a good photo of this horse.

I have a soft spot for chestnuts but in your case, maybe the palomino?

Re the grey I was going to say I'd be wary of a horse whose owner had lost confidence then I remembered, I did precisely that, and it worked.

Looks to me like the chestnut is in drawer reins. Forcing him into a shape will not help his back. I really do wonder about some horse owners.

1. Not sure where sore back has come from. He was seen by a Bowen therapist two or three years ago and my yard owner read the reports. Basically advice was to lunge him and build him up. Vet has seen him again today and said same. I have her name and number to speak to her. Owner hasn't really had time for him. His feet have vertical cracks down to his toes. He was shod when she got him but she restarted him so took them off and when he managed barefoot she never put them back on. He is a bit foot sore and this was reason the part loaner stopped as owner wouldn't pay for shoes.

Option 2: nervous on the ground doesn't overly bother me I am gentle and would be patient but get disheartened I think with some setbacks. I love affectionate horses. He isn't a nightmare to do just very wary and you have to take time. Friend of friend is the one saying to me she wants to check I'm ok with it rather than other way round. I need to spend more time to see how unpredictable he'd be. Doesn't make me nervous for me but might be harder for him as he'd be looked after by my yard owner 3 days a week.

Option 3: sarcoids are one nr his stifle and one on tummy but not near girth thank god. Owner noticed them nearly a year ago and they aren't changing. Vet has advised her not to bother treating them but they'd be suitable for Liverpool cream if she wanted to. I was concerned they wouldn't be covered but would I still declare them if he doesn't need a vetting due to price and they're v small? Not trying to be underhand just not sure how that works.

The chestnut would have every single bit of crap taken off him if he came home with me. Owner is nice enough but a twat. We loosened it when I got on and he doesn't need it at all

I have my doubts about the grey's rider. Didn't look great in the vids I saw either. But I am not speaking from a position of superiority or skill myself.

Could he be wearing any more tack

I would go with the palomino. You'll get a cracking horse probably
Nervous - bit of groundwork, time and patience and being consistent. I would rather work with that than any physical problems. Might be as simple as you just need to not make sudden movements, and take time with things

Sore back - you could end up with something that needs physio, vets and worse case turns out to have kissing spines
Not keen on the grey, not sure why!