PPE & Skin issues - deal breaker?

[Lusoluv]

I’m going to keep some details vague to keep things confidential, but wanted to know what others would have done in this case. I’m horse shopping and went to see a lovely 5 yr old. Pretty much ticked all my boxes and was breathtaking undersaddle.

The day before my appointment seller told me he had hives, but all should be ok for a visit, but I had an option to reschedule. I went ahead as planned since I had some business to do in the area. When I arrived horse had moderate hives on the belly and chest, some liquid diarrhea and upon close inspection a resolving case of pastern scratches was visible. Having dealt with a horse who’d had cellulitis years ago, my panic button was triggered. Seller shrugged off the scratches saying they weren’t severe and it was common in the area, and something you could manage. I board so I can’t select dry lots or pastures on a day-to-day basis if it’s muddy one day, etc. They attributed the hives and tummy upset to “something horse must have eaten in pasture” and their vet had been out and said I was free to call them with questions. Seller was very sorry that this had come about literally hours before I got there. They were monitoring horse’s gut sounds very closely and medicating. Horse was picking at hay pellet mash, but not very interested. I obviously wouldn’t ride a horse that was exhibiting these symptoms even tho he didn’t seem distressed. Would you go back at a later date? Take these symptoms as signs of a hot house flower? A delicate constitution that reacts to internal (some stray weeds in pasture) and external stresses (scratches)? It took me a while to find this horse, but I don’t need to buy a problem whether it joint/skeletal issues or physiology issues. WWYD?

[trakehners]

There’s something at my barn in the one gelding field that a handful of the boys (mine included) seem to be allergic to. We’re not sure what it is. I never had issues with him having hives before I moved barns to where I currently am but they were a fairly regular occurrence last year (especially after it rained) until I put him on the Platinum skin and allergy supplement.

For the sensitive ones at our barn we start them on it usually sometime in March so that it gets into their system before things really start growing and then keep them on it til the fall (a 1lb tub covers that period pretty much perfectly for me for one horse). It seems to preempt any of the allergy issues for them.

As long as I feed that consistently and keep a bottle of Equiderma around for my delicate OTTB (lol) I don’t have any major problems, so I guess tl;dr hives/sensitivity wouldn’t totally put me off especially if it resolves quickly. My guy has those issues but he can also somehow rip half his foot off and still be totally sound so I’m happy to make the trade off.

[Willesdon]

If you liked the horse enough, go back and see it again and check if the hives have subsided. If the risk is greater than justified by your first opinion of the horse, don’t go back.

[GoodTimes]

I would go back and have a second look. Without knowing what the management is like you can’t really decide if he’s prone or not. Maybe someone used brushes or a pad on him that were used on an infected horse, maybe he reacted to a new fly spray, maybe they put him out in a field with a weed that he’s sensitive to, maybe his field was overgrown and he was walking through dewy grass everyday, etc, etc.

The diarrhea and inappetence would be more alarming to me. Did they say if they gave him a medication or supplement that could have caused it? Or perhaps he ate something that affected his guts and his skin?
Anyway, I’d go back and look if he’s back to normal in a few days.

[Simkie]

I take it as a horse that needs a better balanced diet and wouldn’t think anything of it at all.

If I brought him home, I’d likely add copper and zinc, and flax. Deworm him properly. Treat for ulcers. See what happens and go from there.

[outerbanks77]

It’s hard to say. I had a WB mare without any notable sensitivities. She was at a trainers for a long time, and then I brought her to a different barn when I got her home. She broke out badly in hives and we never figured out why. It went on for a couple weeks until I simply started adding spirulina in her grain.

A horse came into my current barn from Alaska about a month ago and blew up with hives, but is fine now (they medicated her with Ceterizine).

[poltroon]

I’d go back when the horse is feeling better. I’d also take the invitation to talk to the vet as a good sign, and if you decide to pursue the horse, something that might be helpful in your decision.

Allergic reactions can make a person feel crummy and yeah if he was out at pasture, maybe something in particular was new and unfortunate.

[cayuse]

Having one that has allergies to many things, I’d pass. It may not be a “one time thing” and the horse could also be allergic to more than one substance. Allergies can be a bear to deal with depending on the severity.

[colorfan]

I would take then up on the opportunity to speak with the vet. The horse just developed the hives or you were just told about them before the visit? Then the day of the visit the diarrhea presented?
If the horse is all that and a bit more go see him again but do talk with his vet first and maybe yours. Who was riding the horse in the video, could you talk with them? Was the scratches disclosed to you? It doesn’t sound like it. They most likely will come back but they are manageable.
Otherwise what I’m saying is investigate, it would be sad to miss out on a nice horse if this is a one off.
However, as the owner of a mare, not disclosed, who has summer allergies, not being able to ride the horse randomly in the summer is a bummer.

[trubandloki]

If the horse is everything you want otherwise, and prices appropriately, I would make an appointment to go back. Talk to their vet, get the scoop on the horse’s history.

[Lusoluv]

Thanks for everyone’s advice. I was told the horse developed hives early in the morning of the day I was trying the horse at 3pm. I flew to try the horse. By the time I got there, vet had been called as horse was having liquid diarrhea, not interested in food and hives were spreading. I noticed the scratches when standing outside in the bright sun. When I inquired, it was confirmed. Horse has been at the same top facility for approx 1 year. This is a very expensive horse, not that treating less expensive horses is easier! I talked to 2 trainers I work with regularly - they said walk away - so I will. Last I talked to seller, horse was still not back to normal and it’s been 4+ days.

[Pico_Banana]

What a bummer. Why is horse shopping so difficult???

[Lusoluv]

I know! I cannot tell you how bummed I am right now

[Pezanos]

When a horse tells you who they are, believe them.

Sigh.

Doesn’t make it any easier though.

[4horses]

Hives can develop simply from rolling in an ant hill or nettle.

My older mare (19) developed sweet itch this summer. Never has had that issue before. Yesterday I sprayed her with skin so soft. Today she had “swellings” where I had sprayed her yesterday. She’s been sprayed with that every summer of her life! It may be that the water evaporated out of the bottle and it’s stronger then usual. I honestly don’t know. Probably won’t be using it on her again.

She is sensitive to Bronco fly spray and anything with deet in it. Both cause skin peeling. Permethrin based sprays are fine.

But it definitely sounds like that horse has major issues of some kind. I wonder about contaminated hay?

[GraceLikeRain]

@Lusoluv

Last I talked to seller, horse was still not back to normal and it’s been 4+ days.

This makes me think acute over chronic but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with walking. I’m sure the sellers is super stressed as well. Hopefully the horse feels better soon. Four days of bad diarrhea and hives would have me in a total tizzy for a personal horse.

[JBCool]

@GraceLikeRain

Four days of bad diarrhea and hives would have me in a total tizzy for a personal horse.

No joke! Poor guy!