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  Discussion on Risk assessment
Author Message

Posted on Sunday, Feb 4, 2001 - 8:34 am:

Dr O.
I would appreciate your advice on a horse I am considering buying. I am extremely worried about taking the plunge as i have recently had to retire my 10yr old mare with djd in a hind fetlock joint (i posted alot of emails about this in Oct/Nov last year - she is now sound as long as she is not worked) and am scared of buying anything with less than perfect movement in case i repeat the problem (my mare was base narrow behind and moved close behind, had been jumped alot as youngster and was very short striding when i got her -although she passed a full vetting).
The new horse (a Holstein) i am considering is young (5yrs)and has good active movement, particularly behind. However, he dishes/paddles (mild) in front and moves close (near hind worse) and brushes (mild to moderate) behind and needs to wear boots when worked. He is also quite upright. He was vetted last week and I voiced my concerns to the vet who noted the dishing and brushing but didn't think it was a problem (just that he would obviously not be a winner in the show ring!) and said he was lovely and athletic in his overall movement. I also asked her about his rather upright feet but she said that as this was in line with the pastern this was fine). There were no other problems apart I asked the vet how many horses she saw moved straight and she said 'not many', yet other people tell me they wouldn't buy a horse that didn't move straight...

Your advice would be appreciated as I am v confused. The horse is generally well put together, nice looking and has a good temperament. He works well and willingly on the bit (which is less common than you might imagine).
As far as I am aware he has had no soundness problems so far (but has done relitively little).

Yours desperately
alice graham

Posted on Monday, Feb 5, 2001 - 8:30 am:

Not being able to examine the horse I cannot really comment on whether this horse will suit your goals or not. Many horses that do not travel straight remain sound for years and many horses that move straight do not remain sound.

What you need to determine is what are your goals and will this horse meet those goals. The vet exam is just one part of this equation. Explain carefully what your goals are to the Vet and ask them does this horse have the potential to meet them, he/she can only quess if this horse will remain sound.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2001 - 9:46 am:

I disagree with your vet's comment about paddling affecting your show ring performance. It might in a hunter flat class, but there are many toed-in horses with a little paddle that are *very* successful in FEI dressage.
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