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  Discussion on Should I buy a performance horse with a suspected ulcer?
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Member:
mleeb

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2014 - 11:16 pm:

I'm looking at buying a 10 yr old QH mare for team penning. She is an experienced penner and former cutting horse. This past summer she has been displaying what her owner describes as an ulcer - flank pain and cinchy. She has also started throwing her head up and hollowing her back out in the stop, and the owner believes this is related (could it be?)

She is currently trained on, competed on, and hauled more than I would be doing for the next year (probably 50%). She has a turnout pen and has recently started on omeprazole.

If I bought her she would do nothing this fall but some trail rides and graze the pasture down, then winter would be outdoors with grass hay and no riding. Our home is currently listed for sale, so there is no guarantee of having pasture for her after this winter.

Next spring I plan to increase my competition level slightly, and for next winter haul to Arizona for Jan-March training. Following this, competition would increase quite a bit.

Should I consider this mare for purchase or am I setting us both up for a lifetime of problems? Having never owned a horse with a suspected or known ulcer I'm not fully aware of what the big picture could be.
Member:
zaza

Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2014 - 2:13 pm:

In my humble opinion I would bring a vet out depending on how much money this horse will be as an the initial investment.
The problem with the specific symptoms you describe also can be classic for tack issues therefore can be both or neither. A horses back that changed due to increased demand will develop more muscleling and therefore need different tack even if initially fit to begin with, and over time horse will be so chronically in pain they will refuse to put more pressure into the tack when having to collect and slide stop. Therefore to relieve some saddle pressure they will raise the head to allow to hollow the back away from saddle. One easy quick way to look for it is run your finger firmly from withers to croup after horse is comfortable with you touching her. If she suddenly (even slightly) raises her head or moves away from you ask your self why? then look from behind at both shoulders and back line to see if muscleling is even on left and right for potential atrophy.
I don't know how long this horse has had this carrier, but sounds like a hard one so I would be surprised if either situation would be the only issue, therefore I would bring a vet out for the more subtle things that either perhaps haven't been caught yet or disclosed. At the very least, if you are in love with the horse you can lower her asking price which will come in handy with the recovery vet bills.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2014 - 10:04 am:

Hello Michelle,
The prognosis for uncomplicated gastric ulcers is good to excellent. Some cinchy horses remain that way despite attempts to retrain but most can be trained out of it in time and with experience. Back pain can be tough to deal with depending on the cause. But none of this is predictive of your horse's future because the causes of the conditions are at best tentative.

In general if a horse has a existing undiagnosed problem that will keep him/her from performing as you want, you should keep looking.
DrO
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Sunday, Sep 28, 2014 - 11:40 am:

Thank you everyone. I have decided that with the amount of travel and competition that I am progressing towards I will not buy this horse. It's not a lifestyle that would be beneficial to a horse that is already struggling with either an ulcer and/or back pain.
still shopping, sigh.
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