Looking the gift horse in the mouth... WWYD for PPE?

[Legallygray86]

After needing to retire my jumper to pasture puff/trail sound, I’ve been offered a horse from a friend who had one just chilling in a field. The horse will be effectively free to me. 8 yo warmblood mare, has had a couple babies but no real competition history to speak of, though she’s clearly had some good time under saddle and isn’t what I would consider green. Her history is a bit fuzzy, sounds like she’s changed hands a couple times and mostly spent time in a field. Her feet have not had the most attentive farrier work, though she is sound barefoot.

My plan was to get her back in shape a bit and get a little muscle back on her, and get a couple rounds with my farrier to get the feet in better shape, then have my vet come do a PPE. My goals for this horse are to do some low level eventing and/or local jumpers - maybe more if she turns out to be scopey and talented as heck, but I’d be happy with BN/N or jumpers up to 1.0m. In the near term, I also have the option to give her back if I don’t like her or she doesn’t work out. However, I don’t want to count on that “return policy” indefinitely, so I’d like to do at least a basic PPE on her to see if there are any big red flags now that would relegate her to pasture puff status (knowing, of course, no such thing as a crystal ball and they can always just up and hurt themselves at any moment in infinite ways).

I’m not as worried about limitations that would mean she tops out at 2’6” or so as she’ll be a fun project for me in the near term, and I could likely lease her out or sell her on if I wanted something more advanced in the future, she’s very cute and sweet. I’m thinking of things like navicular or kissing spine that would rule out even a low level career for her. I’ve never actually done a PPE - my previous (and only) horse came to me in a similar fashion. What would you all look for in a PPE in this situation?

[SLW]

If I read correctly your plan to is ride the mare, have 2 farrier appointments done then get a PPE done her. So that’s 6-7 weeks of riding and observations. In that time frame you will have a snapshot of her condition and from that you can tailor the PPE if any concerns arise during the time frame. It sounds like you want a PE, front rads and rads for kissing spine for starters. So go from there.

My last two horses were gifted to me. I hope this one works out for you as well as my two have for me.

[Legallygray86]

Thank you! Yes, that is accurate, and that is what I was thinking, but curious if there was something else that didn’t seem to be the obvious starting points that is good to rule out up front. Appreciate the feedback.

[Aleuronx]

@Legallygray86

Her history is a bit fuzzy, sounds like she’s changed hands a couple times and mostly spent time in a field.

This is what stuck out to me. 8 year old warmblood mares that are chucked out in the field to have a couple of babies after a ‘fuzzy’ riding history are typical bad news bears. She might be sound in body once you get feet sorted etc but she might not be sound in mind for under saddle work or doesn’t stay sound physically for work long.

I would either try to dig into history more or tread lightly. That’s a huge red flag and wouldn’t want you to get hurt.

[candyappy]

I think taking the time to get her restarted and working will give you a better idea of things to check on when doing a PPE. I don’t think you have to assume there is something wrong because she has been out to pasture raising babies. Owners sometimes have things come up that don’t give them the time to do what they had planned with a horse.

She may have other ideas about going back into work and if she was mine I would try to be real easy getting her back into shape at first. Look for excessive balking and a general dislike in general about being asked to work. To me that would signal pain somewhere and give you and the vet an idea where to start.

Good luck with her.

[IPEsq]

You could go ahead and do all the X-rays you’d normally do now. Might be helpful to have some “before” shots of the feet anyway. You will see any big red flags there–kissing spines, chips, OCDs (though hopefully not if they bred her), any significant arthritis.

I’d wait to do the flexions and clinical exam type stuff till after she’s getting back into work…to see if some work makes anything else pop up.

[goodhors]

Get her eyes, lungs, heart checked too, selenium and blood test for minerals. Selenium and blood are seperate tests. Low levels of Selenium can cause problems, muscle soreness, bad heat cycles in mares. Get their numbers right and they work like champions, tireless! We bought a low Selenium horse, supposedly fit and used often hunting. Could not work, tired fast.
Vet raced back out after getting results, with shots to improve his numbers before he could die on us, they were so bad!

My other thought is to get paperwork showing proper transfer of ownership, even on a free horse. You do not want to invest time and money on the horse, then have owner want her back after improvements. ALWAYS get paperwork to make you the owner!! Then you can see how mare does as time goes along. You can legally lease her out, sell horse for big bucks if she is a gem.

Hope she does well for you!

[GaitedSadie]

I do not have too much to add but I do agree. Get a bill of sale and have money change hands. Even if it is just a dollar. Go over a good contract and bill of sale.
Good luck