This mare is at least 16.2 tall with good bone. Will see what unfolds.
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Do I understand correctly that you hired a vet to do a PPE and upon arrival the vet declined to examine the horse?
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Was thinking the same thingā¦ and a vet not knowing me at all asking if a horse is a good fit? Stay in your laneā¦
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I mean thatās a possible take on it. Another take is that āhorse was acting so stupid vet refused to risk life and limb to examine it but pawned of responsibility by redirecting to suitability for prospective buyerā
Red flags either way imo.
I sure hope OP gets blood drawn and if decides to buy makes it contingent on clean blood test
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Good point, though I canāt think of a horse that isnāt straight neuro acting that crazy. Just run her around for 15-20 minutes, give her 15-20 to recover cardio wise and then get started (and the vet should bill for the time accordingly).
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Right itās unusual any way you slice it.
Vet showed up but then didnāt perform the services s/he was hired for? Did vet charge a trip fee? Who would pay a trip fee if vet didnāt perform the service they were called out for? What vet is going to a farm without charging?
I will say this, if my vet gave me the line that the OP reports the vet gaveā¦ Iād presume my vet was using āpolitically correctā verbiage to say āthis horse is garbage donāt waste your moneyā. And Iām confident my presumption would be correct. But thatās me and my vet.
Did OP see horse canter? I read WT in round pen but donāt recall any mention of canter.
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This is what I took from it. Owner may have declined running her into the ground for the vet or similar and OP canāt tell owner what to do with a horse that isnāt theirs.
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Thanks all for your thoughts. This is a new vet to me. He is new to our community but appears to have a great deal of experience with horses and thoroughbreds. Has owned and competed several TBs in eventing. He thought the horse looked good but was concerned that she was amped up. I think that was because it was a windy day and she had just been put in turn out after being in a Stall paddock. When I saw her previously she was energetic/a little nervous but very calm and cooperative under saddle (being ridden at walk, trot in round pen).
He did not charge for this visit.
He stated that part of his assessment was observing horse being ridden by prospective buyer (Iāve never heard of this but in a way it makes sense). To that end he suggested that I have a session with the trainer to get her opinion of the horse and her opinion how I get on with the horse (not over horsed). And then if all goes well proceed with the PPE. So I reached out to the trainer and we are going to set up a evaluation session. I also send a video of my initial ride to both the trainer and the vet.
I am someone who tends to give someone the benefit of the doubt and I my take was that he was just wanting me to be sure the horse was appropriate for me. So we shall see how this rolls.
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I had read a bit about the vet on line before I met him and noted that he had written a book. When met him I commented and you are an author too. At the end of the visit he gave me a copy of his book which I thought was very nice. The book is on Amazon and has good reviews. It has 5 stars from 13 reviews so maybe just his friends? I started reading the book and I am enjoying it. Itās like a. modern day James Herriot.
If my vet declined to do a PPE, citing concerns of suitability, Iād listen very, very closely.
Iām not concerned about the vetās credentials. Iām sure the vet is fine.
Best of luck
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Intermission
I certainly have limited experience with PPE and buying multiple horses, but vets deal with goofy horses with energy and attitude all day long. Whats to say the next time he comes out its not going to be windy, or cold, or xyz that might get the mare amped up?
In the same breath, I agree with @lenapesadie that you might want to really try to understand where the vet was coming from, but on the other hand, you are paying him to evaluate the health and physicality of the horse, not whether or not you would be a good fit. Unless that is a common thing? Ive never heard of it in my area.
When I bought my fjord, I didnāt have a formalized trainer at the time, but had been riding with a mentor for 16 years. She came with me to meet him, we both rode him, and she stayed for the PPE. I donāt know why someone wouldnāt want their trainer in the loop if they have one. Always good to have a second opinion from someone who knows you in that sense.
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With as much energy as the horse was displaying I think he was concerned that this could be too much horse for someone. I think this horse tends to be nervous and likely needed to run around for awhile to settle down. I remember when I took lessons at a fancy hunter jumper stable that I got straight on a lesson horse one time who was a bit full of himself. He really would have benefitted from getting his āya yaāsā out prior to the ride but I think it was snowing out and turnout was not available. I managed him fine but felt sorry for him because he wanted to play and it would have been better if he had had the chance.
I have known this trainer for many years but never taken lessons from her. She has a very good reputation and I am comfortable with her.
Good point, I think what needs to happen is for the horse to have some turnout/ play time prior to working with her. Then she is just going to be who she is going to be which is an important part of assessing her. Wind is a part of life up here!!! We have windmills and I remember taking my current OTTB on a trail ride where we encountered herds of tumbleweeds rolling by. It was kind of fun.
I hear you.
But.
That a vet, experienced with TBs, that immediately questions suitability based on observations of horse acting fresh after arriving to do a scheduled PPE and then declines to do the PPE is a GIANT RED FLAG. Not about the vet, but about the horse.
Move forward with your eyes open. You think this experienced horse vet thatās a published author hasnāt seen a horse acting fresh in turnout before? No way. Heās telling you something and telling it to you for free. Whatās the saying? Donāt look a gift horse in the mouth.
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I guess the seller isnāt in a hurry? Iāve never heard a PPE vet suggest that a potential buyer have a lesson on the horse before theyāll do a PPE. Seeing the horse go under saddle is often part of the PPE, but it can be the seller, not buyer riding. Personally I would have to take time off work to schedule a PPE in the middle of the week and would be pretty annoyed with a vet that then didnāt do the PPE because they werenāt sure I was good enough to ride the horse. If the horse were being dangerous in such a way that the vet was concerned himself about handling the horse for the PPE that might be one thing, but doesnāt sound like that was the case?
Typically, you pay the vet for their opinion on the horseās physical suitability for your goals and a trainer for their opinion on whether you and the horse are a good riding match.
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Then, maybe the buyer had given the vet the impression that suitability advice was also what was wanted in this situation, why the vet went that route first, if it saw questions with that horseās actions in turnout?
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I get what youāre saying, but this is a new vet who has no history with the OP at all. How does he know anything about her riding or horsemanship ability? If he really thought the horse was that dangerous or unsuitable he should have just said so straight out. I donāt know - it all just seems very odd to me and also seems a little condescending for him to say that heās not going to do a PPE on a horse until she has a trainerās permission. Not everyone rides with a trainer.
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Yeah, could be. Just a very odd situation to me. But the OP seems fine with his advice and itās her opinion that matters.
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