Dummy foals

[awaywego]

This is a new term to me - thanks to Google, I learned something new today

Google, however, doesn’t give me a good idea about the long-term prognosis for these foals - are there long term effects? I am thinking about looking at a 2 year old who was a dummy foal - is there a reason I shouldn’t? The owner said she would have put him down as a foal except that her kids woiuld have been heartbroken - is that standard?

[Laurierace]

In my experience, dummy foals that survive don’t have any permanent deficits. I am surprised they even mentioned it so maybe this particular horse does problems.

[jennywho]

I had one that went on to become a normal, functioning adult with no side effects

[awaywego]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7041383]
In my experience, dummy foals that survive don’t have any permanent deficits. I am surprised they even mentioned it so maybe this particular horse does problems.[/QUOTE]

That is why I am a litlte confused - if the presumption is there are no anticipated long-term effects, I wondered why it was pointed out at all - because it felt like it was in the spirit of “full disclosure.” (Which is certainly appreciated!)

I mean, I assume this is not something that would turn up on a PPE so any horse you don’t know the history on could have been a “dummy foal” as well?

Just trying to figure out if I should just make a judgment call like I would about any other 2 year old or if this is a factor that I need to consider.

[clint]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7041383]
In my experience, dummy foals that survive don’t have any permanent deficits. I am surprised they even mentioned it so maybe this particular horse does problems.[/QUOTE]

I haven’t ever had a dummy foal, but a good friend of mine did, and that one ended up at UC Davis in neo-natal intensive care. She was told there is no such thing as a dummy adult; if the foal survives, there isn’t a deficit.

[Laurierace]

There are no dummy adults but there could be dummy foals that crash into the wall and fracture their shoulder or something like that. I would just ask them directly why they mentioned that and if it was relevant today.

[awaywego]

Haha, well I definitely work with some dummy adults

But back to horses: this is a TB, and he was broke as a yearling last fall, but didn’t go to to the track this spring because, in the breeder’s experience, dummy foals don’t end up being good runners (which would imply a lasting effect! but not necessarily one that means anything to me as a non-racing home), and presumably in that case, it wasn’t worth it to her to send him.

So I guess I should just look at him with an open mind and assume he’s just as dumb as any other 2 year old

[mbm]

i personally would be appreciative of a seller that gave me full disclosure… and then i would make a judgement on the horse in front of me.

good luck!

[awaywego]

[QUOTE=mbm;7041586]
i personally would be appreciative of a seller that gave me full disclosure… and then i would make a judgement on the horse in front of me.

good luck![/QUOTE]

Thank you and totally agreed - the honesty is appreciated! I also have a call in to my vet as well for his opinion (for everyone that usually says “ask your vet!”).