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  Discussion on Is it always a crap shoot? or can you ever tell if a horse is going to work out?
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 6:25 am:

Hi Everyone:

I am writing this post to you at 5 in the morning Chicago time, after having about 3.5 hours of sleep. The reason I am sleepless is this. I just spent $12,000 on a horse today. He's a jumper, he's 5, a TB Geld. and very willing and talented.

I love this horse and have had an entire month to ride him, have my trainer ride him, vet check him, and just plain have fun with him. I had a opportunity to clip him, trailer him and other stuff too! everything is great!

But now I'm scared. A woman in my barn said the trainer got her horse from the same dealer that my horse came from. She spent a considerable amount more than I did and then after a year found out the horse had EPM. Another lady bought a horse six weeks ago that was diagnosed last week with epilepsy.

I bought a horse last year who developed respiratory allergies ONE WEEK after I bought him (from a different person). Now, I am selling him :( because I cannot provide him with the relaxed outdoor life that he needs. It is breaking my heart that he didn't work out.

I owned two horses when I was younger too. The first one blew both hocks due to extensive kicking and the second one was fine.

I know I am going on forever. But I am so worried. I feel like there just are no guarantees and now I bought this new horse who I love; who can jump a 3'6" oxer from a slow trot. I am terrified that a few weeks from now he'll come up diseased, or lame or something else bad. What are the chances?

I'm just wondering what is your experience, how many horses have you had to go through before you got one that was sound and healthy. Are they like humans in terms of disease risk or is it much much higher. Reading these posts I see a lot of people who have had many many more horsey experiences than myself. I am assuming you all have had a lot of horses, what is your experience??

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 10:03 am:

Oh dear, you are in a gloomy mood - cheer up, it may never happen! Yes horses are complicated beings which seem to specialise in going wrong, but so are cars and we keep on buying them. Are you feeling nervous because you have spent alot of money? Get yourself some good insurance and then get on with enjoying your new horse. Remember too that what was killing horses just a handful of years ago may now be treatable, veterinary science is really moving forward. A word of warning though - its always the pampered, well-cared for animals which get sick, while their semi-neglected friends who have to rough it in comparison do just fine!

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 10:20 am:

I recommend the insurance route. But if you believe you were not told a material fact about the horse or its line,which you should reasonably have been told, I recommend mediating the situation with the seller. May I suggest Equine Dispute Resolution Service, www.equinedispute.org.

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 11:20 am:

For every horse that has been bought and had a problem quickly, I can think of a multitude that are just fine.

Since this is a significant expense, I'd consider the insurance route, too.

There are no guarantees, but you've taken reasonable precautions. Think positive thoughts and enjoy your fellow. Life is generally uncertain in all areas. We do the best we can and enjoy the fruits or take our lumps.

Sounds like you've had a run of lumps - it must be time for lots of tastey fruits by now.

Cheers.

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 11:31 am:

Two questions:

Do you like him?

Is he healthy and rideable now?

If you answer yes to both then take a nap, go out and have a good ride, and take care of him. The rest is fate and there is no use wasteing time when he is healthy worring about if he gets sick or lame.

I have 4 horses and probably the most nurotic person when it come to takeing care of them and yet they still get medical problems. I have managed untill recently to keep a good attitude about the whole thing, When my filly started haveing problems I freaked! Made an appointment to have her euthanised, then couldn't do it. Once I calmed down, looked at it from a logical point of view it wasen't so bad. I enjoy riding the horses that are healthy and do my verry best to provide for those that are not.

Relax, get some insurance if it will put your mind at ease and have a great ride. When your done give him a carrot from all of us at H.A.

:0)

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 11:55 am:

I agree that you just try to work with what you've got, try not to worry.
My own opinion is to be aware of what your horse is capable of, physically, and do not expect him to do more without problems.
I know riders who school their dressage tests day after day, it seems, then are surprised their horses come up with muscle soreness, and hock problems. If you train and compete and work hard, I think you have to expect some problems may come up. I trail ride a few times a week, my horses are on 24 hr turnout and have thick shaggy coats. I rarely have vet bills or sore horses.

Do all the tests and Xrays you can afford to set your mind at ease, then just enjoy your horse. He sounds like just what you wanted!

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 12:30 pm:

Dear everyone:

Thanks! I was in a gloomy mood! I usually am not. I know I should be excited, I just got a new horse and he is exactly what I want. I am putting him on all day turnout with the herd and he will go on trail as well as do the jumper training.

I did do the tests and the xrays at the vet check too.

How ironic that right before I read all of your supportive posts that I just insured him. I have it all (even loss of use) and I do feel much better having done that.

I guess I just got scared because right after I wrote the check, a fellow horse owner told me about her EPM horse and I actually saw the horse with epilepsy have a seizure last week. Those two incidents just really freaked me out I guess. (Plus my own experiences).

I agree with you Chris, that it is time to enjoy the fruits and not to worry about it for now.

Thanks again. Liz

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2000 - 9:12 pm:

Yes, a crap shoot.

Posted on Friday, Feb 25, 2000 - 2:18 pm:

Dear everyone;

Can you even believe this. I went out last night to ride and he was lame!!

We think its just a foot soreness problem, he hasn't been shod (no shoes at all!) and his feet are really long! So I am assuming the best case, that he'll get shoes, and be fine.

Marion, I agree! But, I insured the you know what out of him, so I don't feel as insecure.

Posted on Friday, Feb 25, 2000 - 3:18 pm:

Wow, what a story & what a response! After reading what everyone else had to say, there was no way I could leave without adding my two bits.

I agree with everyone else's response, the insurance is an excellent idea if your worry is the money spent & the fact that you took all the precautions, vet checked and tried him out, there's not much more you can do. Accept, if you aren't really experienced with what to look for in a horse, take along someone who is, your trainer or someone you trust!

Other than that, if you feel good about it, just trust that. Whatever happens later on, deal with it when the time comes. Hopefully most of the people who are selling horses are trustworthy & will acknowledge any problems they've had etc. Other than that, we have to go with our own experience and perhaps the experience of others to make the comittment!

And, comittment it is, no one can say what will happen next - that is the chance we take when purchasing an animal. Love them and enjoy them while you can and don't dwell on the what if's!

Trust me, I provide the ultimate care for all of my animals, they are my kids! And, I too have had some horrible, horrible experiences to deal with! It is difficult to go through hard times, but why ruin the good times worrying about what may happen??? Make sense? Hope this helps!
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