I tried a horse I really like this past weekend and gave the seller a 10% deposit, it’s refundable based on PPE results. Horse is 4 and has only been under saddle for a couple of months. The seller is a professional trainer and horse seller, I don’t know anyone that knows him personally but extensive googling results have been positive and FWIW I didn’t get a bad vibe from him. I am not within driving distance of the horse so I am relying on the seller to arrange the PPE. My vet knows the PPE vet so I am comfortable with him.
PPE was scheduled for Wednesday and the seller texted me that morning and said the horse popped a splint on his left front leg, and he would likely have poor flexion results, but that it wasn’t serious and he should be fine. I asked the PPE vet to take an x-ray of it before doing anything else. He sent the x-ray to my vet who said the popped splint isn’t serious but that I should wait until the horse is sound before doing a full PPE. The PPE vet agreed and said he thinks the horse is sore because his hooves were trimmed poorly, too short, and it would take 2-3 months for his feet to grow out and be sound enough for a PPE. I am not sure why the seller trimmed his feet, they looked fine when I tried him and he was sound.
Basically the seller and both vets think the popped splint isn’t serious, but the seller and PPE vet don’t agree on how long it will take the horse to get sound. How long could I ask the seller to wait for the horse to be sound enough for a PPE? Are there certain things I should ask him to do (e.g., video horse, send me pictures of his feet, etc.)? Or should I walk away? I can’t imagine the seller being willing to hold the horse for 2 months. He told me the day I tried the horse that he had a buyer willing to buy off video, I have no idea if that is true or not. I really like the horse, but I am not willing to buy without a PPE.