Tell me your story.
When the seller and I use the same vet practice, yes. Seller signed a release so I (or the vet) had access to the horse’s entire history when doing the PPE.
I have used track vets that also had worked for the sellers in several instances (~3?) where that was the only efficient option.
I used the sellers Vet when it was my first horse.
I was also going to be boarding said horse where the seller trained, so I thought that was a little insurance.
Further the horse was ‘cheap’, and I wasn’t doing much of a PPE- flexions were as far as it went.
I ended up having that horse 23 years [pretty good for $1200], and using that same Vet for several of those years.
Would I do it again?
If I already used that Vet myself- yes.
Otherwise? Not sure.
Yes, several times when buying in my area. The vets used are the best vets for PPE/sports medicine, and I use them too. The vet also gave me access to all medical history on the horse, so there was no conflict on their end, and that’s kind of a bonus in my eyes.
When selling horses out-of-state, buyers have used my vets for the same exact reason. When they asked their local vet who to go to, it was the clinic I use that was recommended. Usually they email the x-rays to the person’s “home” vet for their analysis.
I imagine in huge metropolitan areas or areas with much larger horse communities people probably have more choices.
If the horse is in work and staying sound, and trots sound for me on a circle on hard ground, I feel pretty good about using whatever the best local vet is and having my vet examine x-rays. I pretty much always take views of the front feet and hocks at a minimum when I’m buying, just so I have a baseline. I also think you should definitely get the horse’s full medical record if you are using the seller’s vet. YMMV.
Several times here as well. In smaller towns it’s hard to find a vet who doesn’t service multiple clients. Even harder still when theres one major equine practice within a 150 miles radius.
In all instances it’s worked out well for me. No hassle with anything.
Several times here as well. In smaller towns it’s hard to find a vet who doesn’t service multiple clients. Even harder still when theres one major equine practice within a 150 miles radius.
In all instances it’s worked out well for me. No hassle with anything.
We have had several buyers use our regular Vet. No problems there. After all, she knows the horses, how they have been raised and any issues they may have had growing up. Plus she is an excellent equine Vet.
Yes here, worked out fine. Seller was in an rural area, no other vets available, so it was him or no PPE.
Pony project mare is at same barn I was already at, and hence, same vet we all used. Trusty vet, great service; unbiased opinion. Much easier too because the entire record that previous owner(s) had was at my disposal for viewing. Have the medical history on her from the age of 2 until now at 5. Getting into the pricey range I would think twice because often times that’s where the shadiness tends to come in. It’s at that level that owners are usually hiding things and have the money to pay off the vet (that they use) to lie or fudge certain things. When there’s only $6k on the table (in my case) I don’t think that it would be worth paying off the vet.
Biggest mistake of my life
I did it. It was the worst mistake of my life. I now have a 15k 6 year old with classic navicular symptoms that were immediately noticeable when I brought her home. I can’t be sure if the vet was biased or just incompetent.
Yes, it was him, a cow and swine guy, or a 2 hour drive to a clinic. The horse was not expensive. And it was my idea to just use him, not sellers demand or even suggestion. Just a “look see” exam with flexions and checking vitals anyway.
When seller strongly advises you use only their vet, requires their vet to be present to observe your chosen vet do the PPE at your expense (which actually came up recently over on H/J) or refuses to provide any medical records? Then my BS detector starts to sound.
If you are buying an expensive competition horse, it’s probably in an area with more vet selection then out in the boonies. Otherwise you gotta trust somebody sometimes, even when horse trading.
I used the seller’s vet to buy my last horse. The vet was actually recommended to me by one of my own vets. The horse’s owners released all records and I then had the PPE and x-rays reviewed by my local vets before I made my final decision.
LetItBe
Yes, but I was the seller (released health records to potential buyer). The vet is an excellent sporthorse vet but very political and with an agenda. I would not trust this particular vet to represent owner and client in the future. I would avoid this conflict-of-interest situation if I could.
When looking at horses in Montana we used the seller’s vet with the stipulation that x-rays could be transferred to out vet here in Fort Worth. This arrangement worked out without problems.
I suspect this would be even easier these days with the x-rays ebbing digital
[QUOTE=One Two Three;7864642]
Getting into the pricey range I would think twice because often times that’s where the shadiness tends to come in. It’s at that level that owners are usually hiding things and have the money to pay off the vet (that they use) to lie or fudge certain things. When there’s only $6k on the table (in my case) I don’t think that it would be worth paying off the vet.[/QUOTE]
That’s… an interesting view.
And not the reason that people don’t use the seller’s vet.
Vets spend 8 years & hundreds of thousands dollars on their education to be eligible for a veterinary license - your PPE isn’t going to be worth taking a bribe & risking that :eek:.
[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;7864906]
That’s… an interesting view.
And not the reason that people don’t use the seller’s vet.
Vets spend 8 years & hundreds of thousands dollars on their education to be eligible for a veterinary license - your PPE isn’t going to be worth taking a bribe & risking that :eek:.[/QUOTE]
I don’t think vets take overt bribes. But some (like I think the ones arapaloosa lady is referring to) do know where the boat payment is coming from. Are you the kind of owner who gives your “off” horse with a swollen joint ultrasound, xrays, shockwave therapy for the tendons/ligaments, hydration therapy (not talking about a hose), etc? or just give your horse a couple weeks off, hose his leg and see what happens? Which type of owner does a pricey vet prefer? Alot of time, it is about the money. Soetimes, the vet wants to know what is actually going on and they prefer clients who can pay for those boatloads of tests and therapies.
ETA: I was told by a high-level sporthorse vet that the high level farrier was shoeing my horse at angles that were causing the current “offness” problems. He actually got down and measures all of the angles and lengths to come up with this statement. Same vet then said “but if you tell the farrier that, I’ll deny it. I don’t want to make waves”. I said “what am I supposed to do then?” Vet said “just talk to him”. WTF?
Don’t know what its like in other areas, but around here, more and more vets are declining doing any PPE’s at all. For any reason. Their insurance costs are sky rocketing, many are a total nightmare, in many cases the buyer are totally unrealistic, in many cases the buyers expect perfection and in many cases the buyers want the vets to commit to a “Yes the horse is sound” and/or “Yes you should buy this horse” and they wont do it. So they simply opt to say “No thanks. Go and find another vet to do one for you”.
So - in my area, we have about 4 good vets at our disposal that would all be perfectly capable of doing a good, thorough PPE and we have 3 that will not do one. So - the choice then is, they have the choice of using my vet who will do one and we disclose the fact that he is my vet upfront, or they can pay to trailer the horse to a facility out of the area that will do one for them at an additional cost of $250.00 - $350.00 for the hauler being used. Their choice entirely but most (actually all) have opted to use my vet for them
I think in this litigious society we now live in, you are going to see more and more vets walk away from doing them - period. They are time consuming and often frustrating from beginning to end, the overall return on them is lean and if that vet did a few more calls in the time it took to do one PPE, he would walk away with more money in his pocket at the end of the day so from a purely financial aspect, he is far better off NOT doing them at all …
And absolutely my vet DOES disclose 100% any prior history he has had with my horse to a current purchaser as in “I treated this horse in May 2013 for a mild lameness in the RF fetlock that appeared to be caused by a strain. Cold hosing was done, the horse was on bute for 5 days, there are now no apparent residual effects from that strain. Do you want me to ultrasound that specific area to make sure there is no scar tissue and no lasting effects from it?” and I am perfectly, 100% okay with that disclosure to the client and then the buyer has the option of digging further in that area. Or not …
So glad I am not the only one. It worked out great for me, bought my horse from a nationally known Paso Fino show barn, used seller/trainer’s vet. Years later he is still sound and fine. The Paso people on this BB know who I am talking about, I would not hesitate to use their vet again.
I think it is ok to do this provided that both buyer and seller are on board with it and the seller agrees to release the vet records to the potentional buyer.
I was in a situation once where I was TOLD by the seller that they wanted me to use a certain vet “because they can do the PPE within 2 days”. They retracted the offer when I said that I would prefer to use my own vet who would be able to come out within 3-4 days, but was not available any sooner.
That tells me that the seller’s choice of vet was probably being done for some sneaky purpose.
