Melanomas are the only issue with the breed, but that can happen with any older gray horse. I sold the Lipizzan cross to a local woman. He lived to be in his 30’s.
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This makes more sense then if the trainer isn’t actually the one selling the horse. The owner is eating the loss to get the horse off their payroll, and the trainer gets paid board and commission in the meantime. I would still do a PPE and a basic set of rads just to make sure there are no obvious issues, but that’s me.
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Thanks. You all are helping me change my mind. Like I said, I’ve had a couple of bad experiences with pre-purchase exams and sometimes I wonder how helpful they are.
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PPEs can only tell you the condition of the horse at that moment. They can go home and break a leg. Things can also be missed. There are poor vets, poor mechanics, etc. But a previous bad experience is no reason to skip it…unless you can take on a pasture pal or large vet bills…or worse! As others have said, it’s all about risk tolerance and life experience that guides us.
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All true. Back in the “old” days, vet checks were unheard of. (Remember, I’m old.)
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Well, I am old too and will add to my prior story of the 2-yr old Hanoverian I bought with bad hock X-rays.
AFTER, I bought him, I showed X-rays to a vet who said, Do NOT buy this horse. Well, it was a done deal, so too late. I am not a fan of nixing a horse on “bad x rays.” As I said, horse never took a lame step.
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There are lots of stories like that. Some things others will pass over end up not being a problem. Of course, a horse can pass a basic pre-purchase and have issues. That’s happened to me three times. Two horses (ex-racers) had bone spurs in their hocks; a mare had a previously broken pelvis. None of them showed any sign of lameness. All flexed clean.
I wouldn’t skip the PPE…even if you do a basic one that covers the most important things. I vetted a horse once…he had a heart murmur. Breeder was as surprised as I was. I would have 100% bought the horse, but the murmur was enough of a potential issue to make me change my mind.
The last horse I bought was a weanling…I did the most basic of PPEs to make sure heart/lungs/eyes were all good. Didn’t bother with anything else…that was a risk (I also know that breeder well and own a sibling), so I was willing to assume the risk.
Good news (though bittersweet) is that my guy sold…person came out a rode him and it looks to be a great home/match. Going to miss him though:(
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Two experiences I’ve had vetting young horses. First was a 3 year old with about 10 rides. X-rays revealed a healed injury likely caused by overtrimming a somewhat clubby foot. May have been no problem, except I trim my own and didn’t want to start out with a.problem.
Current mare was 2 - PPE x-ray happened to catch an operable OCD in her coffin joint. I still took her, and had the surgery done before starting her. Much better outcome than if I’d been unaware and the OCD caused premature wear and tear.
Next time I will also do neck x-rays.
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I’m pretty sure that Scandia is closed.
For Morgans it’s just hard to find one going under saddle as a sport horse. I got somewhat lucky with Lola as she hadn’t spent a lot of time in a Morgan show barn; in fact she’d spent a fair amount of her 8 years turned out and on the back burner due to her owner’s health problems and her small size. But she had some issues even from the short time she was at a show barn. She’d been ridden mostly in draw reins and didn’t understand contact. The only thing she knew how to do on the longe line was trot like a terrorized bat out of hell. etc.
For those who could take a baby, Lola’s breeder Anne Wyland in Michigan has a weanling buttermilk buckskin colt (not sure he’s been gelded) that is definitely sport horse material. I visited last weekend, and he has a lovely, quiet personality, and has all the basic baby horse training and manners. He’ll follow you around because he loves people - just like Lola but he’s calmer. $8K the last time she put a price on him but she’d probably negotiate for the right home.
And Anne just got into the Morgan Breeders Hall of Fame!
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Hello everyone,
I’m a student of “Equine Sports and Business” from the Netherlands. I’m currently researching about how to improve the process of horse buying, so this thread comes in very handy. My goal is to create a solution that facilitates the whole process both for buyers and sellers, prioritising transparency.
I’ve created a survey that will help me understand what are the biggest issues for buyers. If you are a DRESSAGE or RECREATIONAL rider, would you be so kind to fill it up? I’m open to all kinds of ideas!
The survey only takes 3-4 minutes to complete.
Many thanks!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeha33J_1IfvmMFGWarmU_vTsRteXFtNYSjxS1K4bkF_TyP2g/viewform?usp=sf_link
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It’s been a while, so here is an update on my potential purchase. Everything has gone very well with the Lipizzan gelding. He was started under saddle with no fuss at all and I have visited him a few times and ridden him. I met his owner and she is thrilled with how well I fit him. The owner has had a number of surgeries and that is why she opted for an older horse.
A vet from a top clinic will do a pre-purchase exam in two weeks. If that goes well, he’ll be delivered to my local trainer. We’ll work together to further his training. He is very sweet and calm, which is so nice.
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Latest update: the search continues. Findings on x-rays have ruled out this darling pony. He was perfect for me, and I am so deflated. I know someone else looking and she is having the same bad luck. There were findings with a horse she was also ready to buy.
Increasing my budget may have to be an option, and I’ll keep looking under rocks for off-breeds suitable for dressage. No guarantee a more expensive horse will be free of issues, however.
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Darn. That’s disappointing. I guess that PPE was worth the money, as much as it stinks.
Good luck on your search! And keep us posted!
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Check out draft crosses. Some of them can move pretty decently. And they have a tendency to be fairly sane. And they come in all sizes. The ones crossed with quarter horses or a breed with a little bit of blood can lighten them up and make them look more like warmbloods, which is essentially what they are, just not the normal European names.
ETA: Judge each horse individually, not just on the breed or particular cross. You may find a diamond in the rough. Of course, a lot depends on the level of dressage that you want to do.
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Thanks for the advice! Draft crosses can be nice but are often way too big for me. I’m very petite and want to find a horse under 15.1. I have always looked for off-breeds and diamonds-in-the-rough. A few months ago, I tried a Mustang who looked like a little German Riding Pony. He moved well but was not a comfortable ride.
Up-thread I posted a photo of a feedlot mare I discovered and trained to second level. I’ll consider any breed that fits my criteria for movement and temperament, soundness too. I have a lead on a few Arab crosses. I’ve seen a few that were lovely dressage horses. Not typey at all, which is what I prefer.
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There are some short ones out there as well. Innercoastal Livestock in NC has some morgan/paint/haffies that are in the 15hh and under range. They usually have some videos. Isaiah was very honest to deal with as far as dealers go.
That’s a long trip for me. (I’m on the west coast.) After a few bad experiences, I really need to see the horse in person. I’m looking in the Pacific Northwest and northern California.
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I was in sortof the same position, but on the east coast. I made one trip down there, looked at about 4 horses. I had one vetted. He didn’t pass. But met Isaiah and got a good vibe from him. The horse I bought I bought off the video. So far, he’s been everything he was described as, but I’ve only had him 6 weeks. But, I was looking for a ‘chunky monkey’ in the 16-17hh range because I’m a larger/taller rider. SAFE was my first priority, haven broken 5 ribs a year ago coming off my previous guy (spinal cysts, followed by a major colic and then euthanasia). I’ve spent the last 6 weeks getting to know this guy and acquiring tack that fits! I ended up with a 5yo 16.3hh 3/4 Belgian, 1/4 Suffolk Punch that is pretty light on his feet when he’s not standing on yours!
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What a great story! Suffolk Punch horses are so cool. My husband knew a guy who logged with them.
On the west coast, we see lots of Andalusians and Aztecas. Some are really nice and affordable for me. I keep my eyes open for those horses.
Anything with stifle issues is a no-go for me. Just before Christmas, I found the perfect person for my gelding, who had developed mild arthritis in his stifles. I’m horseless right now and that is making me crazy. 
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