Im thinking of buying a yearling this summer. However, the owner just informed me that at about 2 1/2 months of age, she fractured her coffin bone. The proper steps were taken, and the vet said he didn’t think it would affect her career as a performance horse. She had X-rays taken 8 weeks after and they showed significant healing, and has been sound since. Since she was so young the bone was soft enough to heal on it’s own. She is getting more X-rays in about a week, I’m hoping they come back clear!! Do you think if they come back good I should proceed with the purchase? I REALLY like her and would be doing upper level hunters with her.
Note, it was a tiny fracture. And of course I will be getting her vet checked and the whole ordeal, talking to previous vet as well
I had a filly fracture her coffin bone as a weanling/yearling, after x-rays and the proper amount healing time she was sound. Vet thought she wouldn’t have any soundness issues. She passed away as a 3yo so I couldn’t tell you about any long term soundness or how would have held up jumping. But she was started under saddle and didn’t have any issues after the initial injury.
Just out of curiosity what leg is it? Front or rear? I’d feel better if it was a rear leg vs front.
Sorry to hear about your filly, that can be so hard.
I just emailed her back asking about what foot it was, I’m on vacation so I haven’t gotten the chance to to talk to her on the phone yet. I’ll let you know what she says! Thanks for the info!!
Not knowing the exact location makes a difference IMO and experience so as to give some practical advise and or comment. As a buyer I would like to know and or be given and idea of how it happened. We breed and raise a fair amount of TBs each year. For clients and our own. Never had one fracture their coffin bone. Have never had any serious issues with any. Knock on wood.
The reason I would want to know what happened is to ascertain if it was a “freak accident” or poor management and or over sight. IMO how horses are bred and raise has a possible significant impact on how they turn out as “adults”.
Not disrespect to general practitioners but this is something that I would want a specialist to look at and render an opinion base on years of experience and knowing the outcome by following the horses they have been involved with. Not based on “book knowledge”, what they have “heard” or the “odd” horse they have worked with.
The value of an x-ray is only as good as the person snapping the picture. IMO especially with the hoof. Though digital has taken a bit of the guess work and hassle out of getting a perfect “view”. I would have the vet email a digital file and sent it to a recommended specialist. IMO it is worth the extra expense.
There are a number of things that I have and will continue to learn about “all things horse”. When buying I always go with reasons to buy the horse. And it drives me nuts when clients go with reasons not to buy the horse. But I try and never talk myself into buying a horse. I have in the past and it has almost always been an expensive lesson.
And probably will be in the future.
Right now, she is living in a field with a few other babies. I did some research and found out that the coffin bone can be easily broken in a baby because the bone is so soft, I’m thinking she might have just done some damage in the field.
I’m still waiting for her to respond what foot it was, and remember it was a fracture, not a break. Thanks for your advice! I will definitely get a professional to loook at her.
A fracture is a break.
I suspect that she means that it was a nondisplaced fracture. Much like a crack in a bowl or glass. However, babies heal, bowls and glasses don’t. 
[QUOTE=Laurierace;7525760]
A fracture is a break.[/QUOTE]
Yup, Lol
Sellers call it a fracture, buyers call it a break.
[QUOTE=merrygoround;7525777]
I suspect that she means that it was a nondisplaced fracture. Much like a crack in a bowl or glass. However, babies heal, bowls and glasses don’t. ;)[/QUOTE]
I agree, to be technical a break kind of means “in half”, “two parts”.
Both heal, some better then others. Especially in babies but IMO it still depends on where and the size of the fracture. How the horse is/was rehabbed.
There are plenty of horses to be had that don’t have any “dents”.
I had a 3-1/2 week old baby that got gravel into his foot and an infection. Had to have surgery to scrape the coffin bone and remove some of it. Took six weeks of dressing and fiddling around, but it healed up beautifully and he is sound as a dollar…not trying to compare the two, but I’d not write her off yet…just get expert advice.
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/25047/broken-coffin-bones-common-in-warmblood-foals
You can look up the related study if you are interested.
Thanks everybody! I am still waiting for her to email me back with details on what foot, etc. but she was on 8 weeks on stall rest with X-rays, so I’m pretty hopeful. And she said she has not been lame since.
You say upper level hunters so I’d want a very good lameness expert to asses not just her X-rays but her movement, arrange for very good video at all gaits, straight (front & back & usual side views) & on a circle.
Discus with experts whether filly has increased risk of arthritis developing, also consequence of 2 months in a stall during such an active period of growth/development - if you said you just wanted a lower level horse, or horse was already 3 & sound, I’d view this differently. From my perspective you’ve significantly increased your “risk” with this filly, so does her price reflect this (shouldn’t if there is no added risk) or what makes her so special in your eyes? 
A fracture and a break are the same thing. You might have a tiny fracture or a large one, that’s all.
I’d want more info before I made any decisions. I’d also want my own vet/a vet of my choice to take a look at her and the x-rays.
