I saw a horse listed for sale that sounds like it would be good for me to look at. The only caveat is that the horse has a bone chip in front fetlock that has fused that the vet does not feel will be a problem. Knowing the amount of riding I do it probably would not be a problem, but would you steer away or look more closely if it were a horse you were looking at? TIA:)
No.
Whose vet?
Depends on how much you like the horse, its cost, etc. But if you really like it, I’d trust your vet. And if it gets to the point where you are seriously considering buying it, you can always send the rads off for a second opinion.
I’d definitely get a second opinion if it is the seller claiming that their undisclosed vet doesn’t think it should be an issue.
Get lots of good rads by a vet who is not connected to seller. If the vet tells you it won’t be a problem, go for it.
I bought a 4 year old warmbloods with a front fetlock chip, outside of the joint. She passed all flexions. My vet told me that I should buy her if I liked her. Mare was ROCK sound for 10 years until I sold her. Including gallop sets on rock/logging BLM roads.
I would have a second opinion but many chips do not bother the horses much if ever. One thing I would ask is if it is operable should it become a problem in the future. Most of the time if doesn’t bother them (sound and no problem on flexions, and they are in work) then I would leave them in, but there is always a chance in the future the chip starts to bother them.
My gelding had a chip in his front fetlock and I had it removed. Luckily I did because it was wearing away a groove in the cartilage.
My guy who I’ve owned for 6 plus years just came off rehab from a chip in his hock. He was fine most of last year at 11 yo (at the time) and started to develop some “issues” at the end of last summer. X-rays revealed the chip in his hock. Went through surgery and here I am now getting a late start to rehab and he is back stronger than ever and much more of a mover than before. So far, I’m chalking up the surgery as being successful. The chip didn’t bother him most of his life and for some reason at 11 1/2 years, it decided to bother him. For you, I guess it would be a roll of the dice.
I’d echo getting a second opinion from your own vet. But if that is good, then go for it. There are lots of horses out there with chips that never make any difference. Another thing to consider is re-sale. The chip will make the horse a bit harder to sell, because you might get the occasional buyer who just won’t consider it. But shouldn’t really affect the value much.
[QUOTE=Dressagewannabe;8902889]
I saw a horse listed for sale that sounds like it would be good for me to look at. The only caveat is that the horse has a bone chip in front fetlock that has fused that the vet does not feel will be a problem. Knowing the amount of riding I do it probably would not be a problem, but would you steer away or look more closely if it were a horse you were looking at? TIA:)[/QUOTE]
How old is this horse? How/when did the chip occur?
Mine has a chip that he came off the track with. He is now 21, and yes it does bother him. We’ve had to have it injected and eventually it will be a (bigger) problem.
The amount of riding you do isn’t so much the problem, it’s where the chip is located, etc. That’s like saying “I have arthritis in my knee so if I only run once a month I’m fine”. Not true.
I would not avoid this horse, but I would do some good diagnostic workup on it with a vet who specializes in lameness.
My horse had a chip, surgery to remove it, and not a great prognosis, according to the vet. The fetlock is a high motion joint and arthritis there can be a big deal. Five years later, I have the world’s oldest green horse. He’s reasonably sound for light work but doesn’t get much of it! Bottom line : there are lots of different kinds of chips and lots of things that affect the outcome. Will you be in a position to take care of him if he’s not rideable at some point in the future?
My horse has a small chip in his right rear fetlock. Vet found it when horse was slightly off a few years ago. We did a full set of rads for the leg and vet thought the stifle was the issue, not the chip. I don’t remember the course of treatment, but it involved anti-inflammatories and a month of walk only work.
No problems since then with either joint. He works well at the canter on either lead. The only way I can remember which leg has the chip is that it’s NOT the white one. 
Vet said at some point it will probably have to be injected, but until then …
My horse is 16 years old. I’ve had him all his life. He’s been shown TL/First and is ridden regularly and I take lessons on him, but he’s not in what I’d call intense work. I don’t show much any more and I have no plans to push him to 2nd or 3rd level.
re: the sale horse. Like most decisions about horses, whether you should look or not depends on how well he fits your riding plans, how long he’s had the chip and how you would handle it if it all went pear-shaped – IOW can you retire him somewhere, would he be good for trail riding etc etc.
Short answer … it depends. If it were me, I probably would keep looking.
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