Vetting

[Niassa]

My prospective purchase didn’t even get as far as the last 3 stages of its 5 stage vetting yesterday- it failed as lame after flexion test and turning on hard surface.

I’m planning to insure the horse I buy and am looking around the £10K mark so passing a 5 stage vetting seems to be a prerequisite.

Any idea what proportion of horses (6-12 year olds) will pass a vetting?

My horse search seems never ending.

I almost wonder whether to lower my expectations and budget and get a low mileage one more likely to pass a vetting and to send to a training livery.

None of our horses ever failed vetting and certainly not for lameness. What are you looking for and where? Maybe we can help.

I’m apparently looking for the same thing everyone else is:
Forward-going but safe,sane light to medium-weight build 15-16hh horse for hacking (we have miles and miles of amazing off-road hacking), low level riding club and hopefully TREC.
I’m offering a permanent experienced home with company in the South West.

I’m looking on HorseQuest, Equestrian noticeboard, RightHorse RightHome, HorseMart, I did try Facebook but got my fingers burned as neatly ended up buying from a dealer who turned out to be on a fab dodgy dealers website. I also have a couple of knowledgeable friends keeping their ears to the ground locally.

Do please let me know if you have any tips!

*nearly got my fingers burned
*FB not fab

Hmm…yeah for £10k then assuming you’re not buying an older extremely well schooled schoolmaster then I’d expect them to pass a vetting. For a lower price I’d maybe take a view on the flexion tests, but not for that amount of money.

I would give fb another go, but maybe look at local horsey fb groups rather than the national buying/selling groups because you’re less likely to come across dodgy dealers, and maybe even have mutual friends. But yes - cross check anyone’s name before enquiring. I’ve seen some lovely horses on my local fb group in the last few weeks and it doesn’t sound as if you’re looking for anything massively specialist, just a nice all-rounder.

Have you seen the coloured mare Juliet Clarke has for sale at the moment? Will be within budget and will fit the bill.

Many many moons ago bought a 6 year old, had a full vetting, she flew through it despite being hammered out hunting for the previous few years! Also bought a, then, 14 year old who had been a competition pony for many years - vet's words were "I can't find a thing wrong with him" - so, yes, there's no reason not to find one that will pass a vetting. I think a lot will depend on breeding though and how they have been looked after. Plus luck of course.