Does anyone know what is normal for a PPE for a weanling, yearling and two year old? I’m getting conflicting advice (from vets) so I’d like to know what is common now.
The last time I bought a weanling, I only did a health exam, including the vet watching the baby move; no radiographs.
When you buy a youngster you’re buying “potential.” Most PPE protocols look for what has gone before. On foal it’s what might be in the future. That’s a MUCH tougher job.
Use that as a discussion starting point with your vet and see where it goes.
Good luck in your purchase.
G.
I’d probably do some X-rays of a 2yo. If you are going to find OCDs for example, it’s likely to be there at 2.
normally even at yearling you should do x rays. You cannot see everything and predict the evolution but you can already see if there are some major issues.
On a weanling, x-rays will find major abnormalities - like bipartite navicular - but it’s too early to find anything developmental. By 2 (and certainly 3), x-rays will find both congenital and developmental issues.
Whether you x-ray a weanling/yearling is purely personal risk tolerance. The chances of finding something congenital are very low - but the things you find are oftentimes serious issues.
We did eyes, breathing , heart sounds on the weanlings for a PPE. Husband is a Farrier, trusted his eyes on observing, running his hands on their legs. He picked up feet to check that trim was flat, both sides and heels of each hoof equal in length. No “corrective” trimming to mess up their way of going.
No history of navicular in this breed, stallion or his get. They have BIG feet, suitable to their finished large body sizes. This is why we got into this breed, soundness. I would NOT BUY a very young horse with knees, pasterns, toes pointing straight forward. What I have seen is those type grow into pigeon-toed horses as the front legs rotate with rib cage growth and expansion into mature ages. Front legs are only attached with muscle, so elbows get pushed outward as rib cage expands, turning the entire leg outward, toes coming inward.
I do want the leg column straight, forearm over centered knee, over centered cannon, over centered pastern joints, over centered hoof. This leg is straight, though the column may be at an angle, toed out, to his chest. With age, body development, his elbows will be pushed outward, making leg have knees, pasterns, toes now straight forward, leg under the corner of his chest,
We go with the old thinking on averages, starting with a good baby build, usually means they will grow into a nicely built horse to use. Look at the sire and dam if possible, see their faults in the mature animal. Can you live with foal if it got ALL those faults? Always possible. Temperament is also a big deal to us. Want a quiet thinke who likes us. Again sire and dam are a big influence, though dam is the bigger one living and showing foal how to react to things.
true about the toed out babies - age and chest development usually fixes that. I’m not opposed to a structurally correct straight (from the front) baby, but I wouldn’t touch a toed in baby with a 10 foot pole. That is only going to worse with age!
I asked a similar question a few months ago and got some tremendously helpful answers here that you may find insightful!
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