Corrective shoeing on a 3 y/o doesn’t bode well IMO. Gracefully bow out. If the trainer has a good reputation, he’d pull the shoes for the radiographs, it’s pretty common thing to do. There’s a lot of nice horses out there.
5 Likes
The seller has a good reputation as a trainer. Selling horses is a new line of business for him
This question is easy. I would pass. If I can’t take the films my vet says are necessary to satisfy me then I cannot buy the horse.
7 Likes
Since this is in the Hunter Jumper forum I am going to make an assumption that you are working with your trainer while horse shopping. Has this trainer and your trainer discussed why this trainer is not willing for you to do basic PPE X-rays of feet?
I once did a PPE exam where if we pulled the horse’s shoes they couldn’t get put back on for a couple weeks and if I didn’t buy the horse it was supposed to go to a show and that would be a big hassle. I said “too bad, so sad. Either we pull them or I’m done with this PPE. Getting them put back on is your problem.” And, lo and behind, the horse has terrible ringbone and navicular changes once we pulled the shoes and did the films. And the owner had to figure out putting them back on. Not my problem. If her farrier was out of town and she wanted to show the horse she shouldn’t have scheduled a showing where a PPE might have posed a problem.
Having to deal with putting shoes back on is just part of the deal when you have a horse for sale.
There might be veterinary reasons why pulling the shoe would be bad for the horse. I could see if maybe this horse has just had something like glue ons put on and the farrier felt like they couldn’t get removed without harming the hooves/making the horse lame. But that just means the horse isn’t ready to be on the market yet. Because it needs to be SOUND and able to go through a typical PPE (which includes removing shoes) before it’s in saleable condition. It’s not a problem the buyer should have to compromise one. It’s potentially a reason the seller should compromise and take the horse off the market or agree to allow a PPE at a later time when the horse can stand having the shoes removed.
11 Likes
He’s already got a couple strikes against him in this case…
- He didn’t tell you the horse was lame before you came out to try her
- He didn’t tell you the horse was in corrective shoeing before you came out to try her
- Now he won’t let you pull shoes during the PPE
Whatever his reputation is, I’d say he’s throwing up plenty of red flags as a seller.
11 Likes
Agree with everyone else who has said HARD PASS.
4 Likes
Before I scheduled a time to meet the filly and try her out, I asked the seller if she had any health, medical or soundness issues. He did not disclose the corrective shoeing at this time.
I would not even buy a three year old that was wearing shoes. If a horse can’t be sound in the early years of her life, its ability to be productive and stay sound later would be suspect.
4 Likes
I mean, that’s concerning. So I’m not sure why you’d still be gung ho on dealing with him.
3 Likes
An update - I reached out to the seller and said that, due to not being able to take more radiographs, I was going to step out of the purchase process, so that he can more forward with the other interested party. I thanked him for his time.
28 Likes
I don’t understand why you still seem to be considering this horse, just NO! You have been given excellent advice and solid reasons why this horse is a hard pass.
Sorry, I think we posted at the same time. Glad you are passing.
1 Like
You made the right decision I think.
I don’t think I’d look at a 3 year old with corrective shoeing, for all the reasons noted above.
But, as your horse search continues, you may find that there’s a (for example) 6 year old with more experience, more training, etc. who has corrective shoes. That might pose a slightly different set of issues for you.
In general, going forward, you might want to ask explicitly before you go to see any horse whether the horse has had any significant veterinary issues or requires “maintenance” such as special shoeing and/or supplements or medications.
Good luck.
1 Like
I have received very good advice. It was late last night when the seller said I could not do more radiographs. I posted shortly after that to bounce the situation off others. I wasn’t really considering the filly at that point, but I was interested in feedback from other horse people on the situation and learning about similar experiences. The seller has a close business relationship with one of the vet clinics in the area, so I was quite confused about why I was experiencing so many issues with the seller. I thought I was overreacting. I wanted to validate my concerns and observations against others on this forum. I am intentionally leaving some key business relationship details out of this post, so that is probably causing some confusion for readers and contributors of my post. I hope that helps folks understand why I didn’t immediately walk away. Things unfolded in an odd, unexpected and confusing way.
Thank you to everyone who responded! Much appreciated!
6 Likes
I drove to another country to look at a horse. I had asked if there were any veterinary or performance issues of any type. Was told no. Asked if there were any vices or quirks. Was told no. Asked if there was anything unusual about the horse that might make it not suitable as a hunter. Was told. Arrived to find an incredible loud roarer. And one corrective shoe for which no one had an explanation. People suck.
11 Likes
People are such jerks. “yeah yeah the horse can do that job!” thinking if you could just come sit on it, you’ll decide to overlook whatever the glaring issue may be that it has. Or that sunk cost fallacy of I’ve already spent the time and effort to come see it, might as well take it seriously.
Now I know, when you get a video with no sound-- it’s because the horse roars. Annoying lesson learned.
2 Likes
So it sounds like most people here wouldn’t look at a 3 y/o with pads on the front feet? Just curious too because I recently looked at the same age prospect with pads, but now it’s giving me pause.
The shoeing situation should have been disclosed over the phone prior to your visit.
I understand maybe not putting it on the ad online, but that’s something important that needs to be discussed asap.
Let’s put that into the rookie mistake box.
He we learn.
1 Like
It’s not really the pads/rims but the wedge that is concerning.
At that age:
I wouldn’t mind shoes that early in the horse’s career : it can simply be that the footing is a little more coarse where the horse is being trained or live. $
I wouldn’t mind much about rim pads if it was for a particular reason. I would radiograph and see what’s going on. Pads are just an extra protection.
My mare have rim pads since we started jumping more seriously at 5yrs old. She’s sensitive… we tried to remove them at around 10 because we were mainly doing dressage but she said nope… $$
I would mind wedges because this is a corrective shoeing - meaning there was an issue and/or something is going on. $$$
4 Likes
