Horse for Dressage with osselets?

I’ve never dealt with osselets before . I’ve heard if they are cold and set they usually aren’t a big worry. Would you take a chance on a horse with osselets that was currently sound? As a Dressage prospect only. Not competitive but wanting to school to 3rd level at least.

Obviously would do a PPE but wanted opinions :slight_smile:

Cold, set, and sound; they would not deter me.

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If they are set and cold, and the horse moves the way you want to see him move, they should not be limiting for what you want to do with the horse. Xrays will show the position of the calcification in or around the joint, if you want to spend the money for that. It may be clear of the joint, or partial fusion, or full fusion, and the horse CAN still be sound. I rode a horse as a kid who had a fully fused ankle with an osselet, and he had been jumping in the 4’6" division for years. I rode him in the junior jumper division. From me, he went on to be a school horse for nearly another decade. Any horse you buy does not come with a soundness guarantee. Eventually, you just pay your money, and take your choice. If this one speaks to you, and is priced right, he’s as good a bet as any.

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He’s very cute, a bit upright in his pasterns though. I can’t tell if he seems a little ouchy upfront or not… Wish he was local.

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And they are quite large! And maybe he’s toed out? Sometimes it is so hard to go off a few photos and a video clip. He’s very reasonable priced though.

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Are you somewhere terribly remote? Not specific to osselets but might be easier to shop where you can easily see prospects in person. Is he pretty green? He’s very cute but a young green prospect is not a rare thing in most parts of the country.

I’m in Colorado and the Ottb market isn’t great here :confused: this guy just caught my eye.

I would not be interested in buying any horse off a picture and/or video. This horse should be free, with the issues he has. I like the way he is built in the pictures, for what that is worth, which isn’t much. What is his race record like? How long has been off the track? What is his pedigree or registered name? If he is right off the track, information from his racing connections may be helpful to you, talk to the trainer and exercise rider and groom. He may be a barn favourate, a real quality horse well loved and a brilliant athlete, with the hope for a brilliant future with you. Or, he may be a cripple, and only suitable as a recreational pleasure horse. You don’t know that until you meet him, hopefully ride him, and talk face to face with the people who know him. Good luck.

He almost seems a bit back at the knees, which would be possibly why the osselets.
Unless that is the picture angles or how he is standing there, not at other times?
I would have lameness vets check him out.
Then go by what they find, considering your intended use.

Buying a horse is a gamble any day.
Stack the odds on your side with an expert opinion, a good vet’s opinion.

I expect we will never find that perfect unicorn.
With due diligence we may make the horse we buy the closest to one we can manage.

Good luck there.

@Bluey I don’t like these photos, I think it’s hard to really get a sense of him. I do get the small sense that he’s uncomfortable but could be wrong. Overall he’s a cute guy though.

I think I would prefer to see him in person, especially with some doubts. But I think I will still consider horses with osselets in the future.