Hip Infection

[Julienne Rha <Julienne.Rha.B@bayer.com>]

Hi everyone, I was wondering what people's experience with the following type
of horse has been:

By boyfriend, who is an advanced beginner, is considering leasing a horse we
found.  She is a well trained, exceptionally quiet 5 year old QH mare.  She is
very well bred, out of Impressive.. excellent conformation..  and Bob has
ridden her and really liked her..  but there's a catch.  When she was born, she
had a hip infection in her left hip which has left her muscles shortened in
that side.  When she walks there is an audible 'click' sometimes and she is not
'normal' at the trot and canter, though she does the gaits very willingly and
does not show any signs of discomfort.  Her current owner is very knowledgable,
she trained her at 2, left her out for 2 years, then gradually started training
her again using Natural Horsemanship techniques.  She says she's never seen her
try to avoid work (any more than another horse), and she takes her out for 2
1/2 hour trail rides with no problem.  The horse is housed in an 80 acre
pasture, and has been observed walk/trot/cantering by her own free will.  What
do you think?  This may be a possible lease to own situation..  my gut feeling
is that eventually, I don't know how soon, she will develop arthritis in that
hip and not be rideable.. but if she's had it since she was born, could her
body adapt to it and still be rideable?  Normally I probably wouldn't even
consider a horse like this, however, the horse is dead quiet, and very sensible
- just the kind of horse Bob needs, and the type my own greenish horse needs
out on the trail.

Julienne
& her Harleyman (a possible trailbuddy, woohoo!)