Vetting checks

[HappyGirlNow]

Hi there, can I ask for opinions on the 5 step vetting check? Would you always get it done when buying a horse or do you think they're overly harsh?

TIA

Definitely do it, and if you are looking for any kind of performance animal, get x rays as well.

I was told with a horse that isn't overly fit, not in current work and or there aren't facilities where it is kept then the 5 stage is too much. If they are fit and in work then it shouldn't be a problem. I am in a similar dilemma myself as the one I am looking at isn't doing a lot of work and is just kept in a field (no facilities) yet people say the 2 stage isn't really worth bothering with.

Always.

I speak as someone who has never got a horse vetted so probably not the best person to ask, but then again I've never spent more than £100 either so...

Overall I'd say if you are spending a lot on the horse and/or you are buying as a competition horse or hunter or something else which will require 100% guaranteed soundness then it's a no brainer to do a 5 stage. If it's a cheapie or project or not currently in work then the costs of the vetting will likely outweigh any benefits.

For your 'average' leisure horse it's a bit arguable the benefits of the 5 stage (definitely do the 3 stage) as sometimes it can throw up some minor issues that are likely not to bother the horse but might affect your insurance. E.g. a horse on our yard being sold as a light hack and totally sound as far as anyone knew, turned out 1/8 lame on a hard surface at the 5 stage vetting - the sale fell through as any future problems with that leg would have been excluded on the buyer's insurance despite vet recommending no treatment needed. Now you could say it was a lucky escape for the buyer and if she hadn't got the 5 stage she would have never known, but then again mare is still happily hacking away, is sound to all intents and purposes and perfectly suitable as a hack (perhaps not for hard work but that's not what the buyer wanted...).

So I am a bit mixed but I suppose if in doubt go the 5 stage route...

Last we looked to insure for over 5k it had to have a five stage vetting or our underwriter wouldn’t increase the value.

That said at a grand a go just for vetting we have never bothered, and everyone I know selling has refused to allow it as some of the tests around joint stressing supposedly have huge false positive rates that will impact a horses value here more than refusing a five stage vetting.

Practices are surprisingly regional though and things may be different where you are (the biggest thing this sub forum has taught me is just how wildly varied practices are around the country).

This summer we were selling DD's Horse. We knew he was fine - he had been with her at College for a year, worked regularly there and was fit as a fiddle. We found a fab buyer and were totally happy for them to get a 5 stage vetting. To our utter shock, DHorse had developed a significant heart murmur in the 6 weeks since he was last checked by a vet when he was vaccinated. He had randomly ruptured a tendon in his heart. Imagine if those buyers had decided not to have a vetting? We were selling him in all good faith with no idea there was a problem.

It's a bit like an MOT though, just a snapshot in time....

You don’t need much in the way of facilities for vetting - flatish hard surface to trot in hand after each joint check and a space to lunge to get heart rate up. I wouldn’t buy without and an owner refusing vetting would give me concern.

I have just been through this as a buyer and I think it depends on the cost and your situation.

Pony 1 we had a 5 stage vetting, showed heart and eye problems - followed by a refusal of the owner to believe the vetting/downplay the issues. We ended up walking away. We wanted the assurance of vetting for insurance, to be used in a riding school and to resell (given the cost).

Pony 2 was much cheaper, already on riding school license, and at the yard we use (although only recently). Riding school vetting picked up one small issue which was disclosed to us and discussed. We are not bothered about resale value, and as he is already on riding license, and from a known source we decided against vetting. It might turn out to be a mistake but we are happy with this decision.

That said at a grand a go just for vetting we have never bothered

Geez where are you going for a vetting? I've never paid more than £400 for a vetting...unless you're counting x-rays too?

Due to the cost of mine and what they're insured for I've had no choice but to 5 stage vet. That said, I think I always would for the peace of mind (whilst knowing deep down it's just a snapshot in time).

My vetting, admittedly 5 years ago, was closer to £300 than £1000!! Was 5 stage with bloods to be kept for 6m.

I wouldn’t buy without one except in exceptional circumstances- eg if we had land at home and could keep something retired easily and cheaply if it turned out to have an issue OR you were very sure you would have the stomach to PTS if there was a problem

Some people in this thread are suggesting they have done 5 stage or nothing. That seems odd to me.

Personally we always do a 2 stage vetting with bloods. That checks for everything we can't see and of course includes a walk and trot up plus reversing and turning.

The additional tests done for 5 stage are at exercise. Yes they could show something up but it's only snapshot at that time and we'd see lameness ourselves.

Speak to your vet about the difference in cost between 2 and 5 stage and decide what is best for this animal - probably based on what you plan to do with it in the future.

When I am buying - it depends on what I am spending on the horse and what is going to be used for. When I was buying a safe hack - under £5k I did nothing, but I knew the horse and I insured him.
When I am spending over 5k it depends on how much over - it could be just a quick once over, up to two competition horses I have bought, which have been 5stage with full set of x-rays.
I think you really have to think about what you are wanting to use it for, whether you will insure.
The flip side is a 5 stage vetting is no guarantee- I did this with a pony I bought for my son years ago - flew through the 5 stage , 6 weeks later it was crippled with arthritis in its hocks. We suspect it had been medicated to be sold as the change was so dramatic. The orthopaedic vet we saw recommended we test the bloods. We didn't as it's expensive, and the seller must have gone to lengths to hide any intervention that had gone on - full vet history had been disclosed (supposedly). We just didn't want to throw good money after bad persuing the vendor . The orthopaedic specialist just could see how he was sound at the vetting with what she saw in the x-rays.
I also think with vettings - that a lot of vets don't understand the purpose of flexion tests and will "fail" a horse in the first couple of steps - when a top orthopaedic vet explained to me that diagnostically - what really matters is the steps after those first steps after the flexion is released.
I think it's really in vogue to do 5 stage on everything- but if you unless you are buying a top composition horse that it is overkill and unfair on the horse.

I didn't have either of the horses I've bought vetted. I currently have one on loan that would never pass a vetting but she stays sound hacking and schooling.

It really does depend on what you want them for and what you're spending. Plus I knew a fair bit about the horses I was buying and had known their history for a while. That meant more to me than a vetting, but I do only want to hack and school, not go eventing!

Mine flew a five stage vetting then six weeks later was diagnosed with kissing spines.