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[RC] Horse Buying - Roger RittenhouseWell, here I am 'confined to stall rest' with a nice cut in the lower abdomen. Sure nice to 'do legal drugs'. When I think I am OK - I don't take any.. then the it hits. After a spinal and the cut paste job.. I can say I can identify with the ladies.. and the baby thing.. sure glad its not me!!.. Expect to be confined for about a week. I did hobble over to the barn.. and see the gang. Now to the subject of buying a horse. After about 3 years of looking, I would never ever buy one without at least a pre-purchase exam and some x-rays of the front ankles and the hocks. I may be one of those PIA buyers who wants all the pictures and video but when I am paying 3K plus - the horse better not have any soundness issues. I have had video of ALL the horses from out of the area. My vet would do a video exam including a slow motion gait analysis. WHY do I want to pay big $ for a horse with a questionable way of going? There were 2 that passed the video check but failed the pre-purchase exam. Had one here on lease-buy, that had a personality management issue. I thought I could fix that. Over the 6 months I had him I made little progress. He then failed the pre purchase vet exam for a number of reasons.. When a good knowledgeable vets tells you 'this' horse will NOT make a good endurance horse and will not stay sound, why buy it? Actually I had two vets do a work up on the two PP here. So I did not get only one opinion. Now what do I and or my vet look for? Basic soundness, flexion test all 4. If they fail that, why get a young one with flexion problems? One thing to look at a 10 to 15 yr. old with issues, but no way am I going to take one on that is 4 to 6 yr. old. My current horse would surely have failed the PP exam. I have been lucky with him - Watching what we do and how we do it. As well as many trips to the vet for evolutions and some corrective action. He is very critical with his shoeing requirements also. In plain words he has been a real work to keep going. Down time and $$$. DO I want another one like him? NO So I will continue to request a GOOD well done video of any horse from out of this area. Once my vet ( who really does understand what an Endurance horse must be able to do) reviews the video and passes him, I will get a vet in the area to do a PP exam with the evaluation of suitability of purpose, for endurance use 50/100 miles with a HW rider. If the hands on exam is acceptable I will pay for x-rays as needed to look for any signs of DJD and other joint issues. You may ask why spend the money? Well if you buy blind, then there are problems you not only get to pay the money up front, but then pay for all the fix up -repair process later as the miles and use builds. The purchase cost is not really the most important issue.. A $500 -$1000 horse MAY be a good deal up front. But if he has soundness and way of going issues what have you bought? Trouble and more expense. When the purchase price is 3K and up, the PP exam should be a MUST. ( and I am moving the $ bar higher as time goes on, thinking pay more and get a better horse? NOT..) If the horse does not come up to your expectations due to leg-joint-confirmation problems, then it just becomes a pasture ornament. Then you support a young horse for many years. I have real problem trying to sell a horse that cannot do the job I want him to do. Why you selling him? Cant do 50 milers but will make a great pleasure trail horse - yeah sure.. Or you dump him at an auction and let someone else deal with the problems. I would not buy a young horse with minimal miles and use, that displays ANY leg/joint issues. Yes, there is NO perfect horse, but there has to be some out there without significant defects that will limit their use and longevity. The HW rider has a very difficult job finding a SOUND strong well built horse. I want at least to start with one that is sound. Then do my best to keep him that way. I will keep looking, I will find one.. You have a SOUND HW horse for sale? Send a properly made video with the details... Roger Rittenhouse www.vmaxept.com 800 655 8629 pictures http://community.webshots.com/user/psdendurance pictures (new) at http://ImageEvent.com/vmaxept =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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