Low ringbone/p2-p3 arthritis-- dealbreaker??

[RegentLion]

[HR][/HR]Looking at a cute OTTB. 7 years, 43 starts. Retired sound. Looks fine in video. We are too far away to go look in person.

First person that looked at him did a PPE and passed based on results. The horse flexed fine except for one ankle–they took films and Apparently he has “mild arthritis” “behind the p2 joint.” Upon quizzing owner I guess it’s between p2 and p3 which makes it low ringbone. The vet apparently said it’s normal for the amount of work he’s had.

The plan would be get him going and do some lower level eventing-- max of Training probably. No plans to resell.

Deal breaker? No? The person that had the PPE done will charge us to release the films.

[yourcolorfuladdictio]

It’d be a deal breaker for me. Having already compromised landing gear at age 7 could mean the horse’s long term soundness is in jeopardy. It’s a money pit. You’re looking at Tildren, OsPhos, joint injections, legends, Adequan, and special shoes it really adds up over time and eventually it won’t be enough. If the horse was already doing what you wanted (competing Training) and was being well maintained with minimal progression over years, it would be another story. But in all honesty, run don’t walk. There are plenty of OTTBs coming off the track to pick one with a degenerative disease (like a cold set bow that the horse is racing on regularly without re-injury).

[FLeventer]

If you really like the horse, have your vet look at the xrays. Or get a PPE and talk over the findings with the vet.

If you are so so on the horse and not committed, maybe find something else.

Did the vet who did the PPE say he was sound for eventing? I know you’re hearing this through the buyer, so you might not know.

[Zu_Zu]

Yes … keep looking … you’ll find a better prospect.

[RegentLion]

I am still looking. But I don’t have a great eye and tend to gravitate to very specific types. And the budget for an ottb gamble is low.

DH says all OTTBs have ringbone. He’s a pessimist.

this horse is priced higher than I want to risk with low ringbone. :-/

[yourcolorfuladdictio]

[QUOTE=FLeventer;8517778]
Have had so many horses with arthritic changes in the fetlocks that at this point it doesnt bother me. Hell I have one with a massive chip who was given to be and has been sound for three years now.

I buy a lot of horses off the track. My prelim horse doesnt flex sound up front at all. His fetlocks are fused. Hes 16 this year and we are still running around.

If you really like the horse, have your vet look at the xrays. Or get a PPE and talk over the findings with the vet.

If you are so so on the horse and not committed, maybe find something else.

Did the vet who did the PPE say he was sound for eventing? I know you’re hearing this through the buyer, so you might not know.[/QUOTE]

The op is talking about the coffin joint not the fetlock joint.

[FLeventer]

[QUOTE=yourcolorfuladdiction;8517816]
The op is talking about the coffin joint not the fetlock joint.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I messed up my P3 with my P1. That’s my bad. I’m editing.

[fordtraktor]

Dealbreaker for me, having funded two retirements already due to low ringbone…

[arapaloosa_lady]

What does your trainer say about this horse? If he’s currently doing the job you want, and his only issue appeared on flexions, then he might be worth the gamble.

What are your priorities when horse shopping?
What are you willing to compromise on?

If he’s not currently eventing and is just retired in the field, I’d pass.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Honestly…Never trust someone else’s PPE. I have personally known many who one buyer passes on a horse because of crappy X-rays, and the seller or next buyer gets those X-rays and they are either unreadable or no one else can find what the previous vet supposedly saw.

If you like the horse…get your own PPE and discuss the risks with your vet. Minor changes on a horse who had a long race carreer would not bug me. There are things more than X-rays that determine how sound a horse will be for low level eventing.

ETA: I never understand why a buyer wants to charge someone for X-rays. (I never do). They already used them and got their worth. It’s not like they will be able to sell them. I personally NEVER buy the X-rays from someone else and just have my vet take new ones.

[RegentLion]

He’s JUST off the track. And there is no trainer… We live in BFE and clinic and I have to rely on past experience and friends to get the job done.

Priorities are sound, good mind, potential for lower level eventing, good work ethic.

I will compromise on height, my barn owner who is also looking can’t compromise on height. She’s tall I am short. This horse was for her potentially.

I can can handle a hotter ride but not nasty or dangerous.

[RegentLion]

If they would have shared the X-rays for free we would have had our vet look at them.

At this point though I think it’s a pass.

[findeight]

Ahhh, a Yupper.

I don’t like what this seller is doing with the X rays and it doesn’t sound like a PPE is in your budget plus the horse is higher priced then you wanted and smaller then you wanted. Not sure why you are still thinking about him?

DH is dead wrong about “all TBs have ringbone”, no they don’t, actually most don’t. Other track souvenirs are far more common as ringbone is more common in completely different breeds/types.

People get all hinky over the visable jewelry, various lumps and bumps above the coronet that generally can be little or no problem. Blissfully unaware the stuff they cannot see down inside the hoof is a far greater risk and more expensive to deal with even if it can be managed with injections, $pecial $hoes and performance restrictions.

Keep looking.

[Where_sMyWhite]

And, he isn’t currently doing the job you want. He might be fine for racing but maybe not so much for jumping…

[RegentLion]

[QUOTE=findeight;8518135]
Ahhh, a Yupper.

I don’t like what this seller is doing with the X rays and it doesn’t sound like a PPE is in your budget plus the horse is higher priced then you wanted and smaller then you wanted. Not sure why you are still thinking about him?

DH is dead wrong about “all TBs have ringbone”, no they don’t, actually most don’t. Other track souvenirs are far more common as ringbone is more common in completely different breeds/types.

People get all hinky over the visable jewelry, various lumps and bumps above the coronet that generally can be little or no problem. Blissfully unaware the stuff they cannot see down inside the hoof is a far greater risk and more expensive to deal with even if it can be managed with injections, $pecial $hoes and performance restrictions.

Keep looking.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. We are passing… But wanted to make sure we weren’t being rash. Given low budget/minimize risk plan-- didn’t want to be too picky as we understand we need to compromise SOMEWHERE. When I realized that “mild arthritis at p2-p3” was low ringbone I pretty much said “nope,” but having had no personal experience with low ringbone… Thought I’d ask.

[Lord_Helpus]

I have had x-rays taken which showed enough problems for me to pass on the horse. The seller asked if she could buy the x-rays and I said we could split the cost 50/50. She was happy with that, and so was I.

In my experience, people often sell x-rays. I would not read anything nefarious into it. But I would not expect to pay the full price; for that I can have my own taken. I think that many people will pay 50% of the price.

PS: I would pass on a horse with ringbone.

[fordtraktor]

If I was passing on a horse I would give X Rays. They have 0 value to me. But many people want to recoup. I personally don’t see the point in that, if I don’t want the horse I am not going to use them, might as well pass them on. I think we should encourage an ethos of disclosure in this world In which that is not the far too often not the norm, but beyond that, people are of course free to do as they please.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8518506]
I have had x-rays taken which showed enough problems for me to pass on the horse. The seller asked if she could buy the x-rays and I said we could split the cost 50/50. She was happy with that, and so was I.

In my experience, people often sell x-rays. I would not read anything nefarious into it. But I would not expect to pay the full price; for that I can have my own taken. I think that many people will pay 50% of the price.

PS: I would pass on a horse with ringbone.[/QUOTE]

I wasn’t implying anything nefarious just don’t see the point in trying to recoup costs from something like that. I’ve passed on many horses…I always give the X-rays to the seller and give them permission to share with their vet or other buyers. Especially now with digital X-rays. It is very easy to give a copy. I personally do not charge the seller. I got the use from them.

[findeight]

For OP, if budget is challenged, look for horses with blemishes that can be unsightly but have little or no effect on average level performance. Old, set bows for example or cold set splints, evidence of old shin buck or signs of pin firing. Lot of buyers will pass on those but, as long as you verify they are old, not caused by structural weakness or conformational problems those might create an opportunity for you.

Just be careful they are just the result of hard miles at the track. Not aquired standing around someplace and the horse resumed regular work on them so you know it can even if it’s in the new career.