I've been catching up with the list and I focused in on
the buying a horse thread. Thank goodness it sounds like
a good honest horse can still be bought from a distance
with just a little leg work on the buyers side. From what
I know now, I would have any purchase stipulate on my own vet's pre-purchase
exam and I would put great store behind
the seller who prefers to get a horse back if it doesn't work
out because they are looking out for the horses' best interest.
That said, my experience has taught me to never buy a horse
from a vet. Now, just between us, Dr. Charolette is not
included in this latest theory of mine, but I would still have
my own vet do a full exam and most likely x-rays as well
if I could aford them. After hearing about the arthritic 2 yo...
But I get away from my story. I have two friends who board
at the ranch where I board. One bought a horse from a vet
without an exam on the basis that the vet has a sterling
reputation. And I quote "This horse has never been lame a
day in her life". (shoulda known...) Anyways, turns out the
horse bowed a tendon a while back. Now it's re-inflamed
and the horse is layed up. I guess it's possible that the
horse was not lame on a bowed tendon, but I sincerely
doubt it. I guess it's also possible the vet didn't know the
horse had previously bowed a tendon... isn't it?
The other was purchased directly from the vet's property.
The horse was fine about everything... until she got home
and the sedation wore off. While this horse is sound, she
would not let anyone near her feet. It took about a year
of an expensive farrier working with her to get her to
come around.
Now both people love their horses and wouldn't trade them
for the world, but that is no excuse for these two *vets*
to be misrepresenting the horses they were selling.
Oh... and let's calm down before we get the third note
from Steph in a month. Usually we only need to hear from
her quarterly.
:) - kat ... in No. Cal
"Rules that sound good in principle but don't work out in real
life: Christianity"
- Homer S.