Anon: Bone chips in a prospect

[Jaq]

Would you take a gamble on a horse with bone chips?

I’ll try and keep this fairly vague for anonymity – horse is 5-7yo, approx. 16hh, not a TB. Full set of xrays taken mid 2019 revealed a small bone chip each in 1 front fetlock, 1 back fetlock, 1 front coffin bone. Horse has not been lame, has been schooling some decent sized fences and competing 3’ – 3’3. Quality horse with a lovely nature – would be worth a lot without the bone chips. Seller has a good reputation.

I’m on a tight budget and looking for something that could eventually do 1.20-1.25. I’ve developed youngsters & my current horse is jumping 1.15.

I can get my vet to review the xrays, but I’m not even sure if that’s worth it. Chips in 3 different legs is . . . concerning. If the vet said it’s low risk, re-take xrays and then take them out then there’s still the risk of surgery, lack of insurance, rehab etc. Even with a hefty discount it’d still be pretty expensive.

But it’s a really nice horse!

[Pennywell_Bay]

@Jaq

Would you take a gamble on a horse with bone chips?

I’ll try and keep this fairly vague for anonymity – horse is 5-7yo, approx. 16hh, not a TB. Full set of xrays taken mid 2019 revealed a small bone chip each in 1 front fetlock, 1 back fetlock, 1 front coffin bone. Horse has not been lame, has been schooling some decent sized fences and competing 3’ – 3’3. Quality horse with a lovely nature – would be worth a lot without the bone chips. Seller has a good reputation.

I’m on a tight budget and looking for something that could eventually do 1.20-1.25. I’ve developed youngsters & my current horse is jumping 1.15.

I can get my vet to review the xrays, but I’m not even sure if that’s worth it. Chips in 3 different legs is . . . concerning. If the vet said it’s low risk, re-take xrays and then take them out then there’s still the risk of surgery, lack of insurance, rehab etc. Even with a hefty discount it’d still be pretty expensive.

But it’s a really nice horse!

I can tell you what I did. I bought a very nice, 7 year old jumper. He was competing successfully in the 3’6 / 4 foot. He had chips, they couldn’t sell him. They had the surgery, they couldn’t sell him. His market was high 5 figures before he was vetted.

I got him for steal after having 2 independent vets review the xrays. Both said any horse is a risk, he is already successful and sound (never had an issue). There could be an issue in the future and I’m prepared for adequan and issues. There could be issues with any horse.

I am not up on coffin bone chips- I think that one would make me really want to talk to a vet.

[JBCool]

Have a very good lameness vet that you trust look at the x-rays and see what he says. A lot will depend on where they are exactly.

I’m with Pennywell, as I got my horse this way, as well. BUT, my lameness vet, who had been through the war with me trying to keep my last horse sound (purchased before I knew this vet), was totally ok with what my horse has for what I want the horse to do. He didn’t think they will ever be a problem b/c of where they are and, knock wood, the horse hasn’t had a bad step yet in 5 years.

[JBCool]

Yes, I’m sure I’ll be getting a phone call from the barn now that I’ve said that last sentence out loud. :lol: :lol:

[findeight]

If you are on a limited budget and board out one horse at a time, looking to move up to 1.2, 1.25m, the horse has been doing around 1m and has chips in three legs? No. Not based on the criteria you shared.

If you have a little bit of money to gamble with and invest in additional diagnostics (including new x rays as things can change in half a year), a cheap place to park him and something else to ride if they start to bother him or recover from procedures to remove one or some of then? Maybe.

And will you be happy staying around 1m if he’s not able to stay sound with the added height, width and pace?

One problem with buying horses that aren’t selling due to soundness questions is you won’t be able to sell it if forced into a health or financial situation where you have to sell. That should figure in.

Yes I have bought horses that didn’t PPE but not early on in my life. Only after I could afford the gamble and about 1k in additional diagnostics to confirm what was wrong and get a prognosis from a specialist.

We all know it’s horses and catastrophic crap can happen in the blink an eye. But don’t start there.

[merrygoround]

I’d say with three chips, one in each of three joints, I would be wondering about the likelihood of going for four or more.

[Scribbler]

I mostly hear about these kind of problems in OTTB.

In that case the horse has developed one chip in hard running on the track. Let’s say you want him for a children’s beginner hunter jumping two foot six in a soft arena three days a week and rarely even breaking a sweat. In that case his future work is going to be less physical stress than what created the injury and also a different job.

But the OP is looking at a horse that has developed bone chips doing the job intended, and wants to increase the scope of that job too.

I think the sales price of the horse reflects the risks and that few people are going to take the risk of increasing his scope.

Honestly I’m not totally sure about the risk timeline for bone chips and sometimes one bone chip in an OTTB isn’t a big deal. But bone chips all around suggest to me he’s proven too fragile for his scope, unfortunately.

[MintHillFarm]

@Pennywell Bay

I can tell you what I did. I bought a very nice, 7 year old jumper. He was competing successfully in the 3’6 / 4 foot. He had chips, they couldn’t sell him. They had the surgery, they couldn’t sell him. His market was high 5 figures before he was vetted.

I got him for steal after having 2 independent vets review the xrays. Both said any horse is a risk, he is already successful and sound (never had an issue). There could be an issue in the future and I’m prepared for adequan and issues. There could be issues with any horse.

I am not up on coffin bone chips- I think that one would make me really want to talk to a vet.

I’m not familiar with coffin bone chips as well. That to me is concerning.

However, I claimed a horse at Belmont years ago with ankle chips in both hind ankles. Great Vets out there and after x rays we injected with Hyaluronic Acid and never had an issue. The horse showed on the A level for years with me as an AA and AO in the hunters and with a professional as well.

[findeight]

Oh, I bought one with a coffin bone chip on ONE foreleg and a bruise on the exterior of the hoof over the spot. 3 month old x rays from a prior PPE for a sale that fell through did not show anything, vet deduced recent trauma ( long trailer ride most likely culprit), no tenderness or gait irregularity even jumping 3’3” courses. Accepted the risk and bought it. Showed it 8 years at 3’ then down to 2’6”. Retired at age 21 due to unrelated pasture accident. Put down at 30.

A year after purchase, it had disappeared. But it was one foot, likely recent trauma on an 11 year old veteran Hunter and Inhad no visions of moving up above 3’. And Ihsd a place to park it and could afford to lease another. It was an acceptable risk. Got the price knocked down as well.

[AskMyAccountant.17]

If this horse is just the gem and love you have to have, I have gone the surgery route and can offer some insight on what that looks like. Total cost ran approximately $2500 which included the surgery then round of IRAP. 60-day rehab from start to full work again. Of that about 4 stall rest, and 4 getting back to work. I already owned this horse.

I’ve seen my coach purchase two with chips, and then have the surgery done. Both and mine came back into full work, and are happy athletic horses.

Then again, dealing with arthritic changes can be expensive and always a risk.

[Jaq]

I forgot to put in my first post - I have my own property and am not selling my other horse, which makes it a bit easier. I wouldn’t be considering this if I was boarding.

Before the horse went to the seller (June 19) he hadn’t done a whole lot - essentially just rides around the farm, possibly started over fences. So I don’t think chips are due to over work.

I’ve sent the xrays on to my vet (specialised sport horse vet, very highly regarded) … will be interesting to see what comes back

[Jaq]

Oh and my personal belief in buying horses is to only spend an amount of money that I could afford to lose. Because even if they vet perfectly they can be entirely worthless in a very short space of time - because horses :lol:

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

Chips from just being a horse? Pass.

[findeight]

The fact he has them in similar locations on three feet at relatively young age is very different from a single in a high mileage veteran. The fact there’s three here would be too much for me. Doubt a single surgery could be an option so adds substantial price increase that should be factored into the initial cost on a sort of “ pay me now or pay me more later after it breaks”.

Always figured that reductions in price for soundness issues can mean you could pay the amount of that price reduction spread over time in dealing with the cause of the reduction. And I proved that theory on a couple I bought, cost more within a year then a sounder, higher priced option wold have cost upfront plus never did what I bought them to do.

Crap happens but why start there?

[caryledee]

I found a horse like this for some clients. X-rays revealed chips in several joints. First vet suggested to pass on him. He was such a perfect horse otherwise I got a second opinion and ended up buying the horse at a reduced price. Down the line I had to sell him for these clients. Six vet checks total, 3 “passed” him, 3 “failed” him. Even more chips were found on subsequent exams. Got him sold and followed him into his teen years. He had some other health issues but never had a problem with the chips. Before you say no, I’d see how much negotiating is possible…maybe a lease to own? I’d also get a consult with the best lameness vet you can find and have them review x-rays. Good luck!

[gottagrey]

He’s just been schooling, no competition record to speak of. One thing if he had a record of jumping around competitively 3+’ another just to be schooling around. I don’t know about this, I think I might have to fall out of love.