Hi, due to changes in my life i have to sell my horses. The problem is that one of them is only two and have slight arthritis in his lower hock joints. My question is, would you buy a horse with hock arthritis ? I am worried i will never be able to find him a good home. Thanks a lot
Depends on what I was buying the horse for.
For futur sport?
I would not buy an unbroken youngster with hock arthritis. A horse that was older and in full work for a year or more, I would be much more willing to consider x-ray issues on. If the horse is well-bred, athletic, and sound, you should be able to find someone willing to take a chance on the horse at a reduced price.
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Is it something that only shows up on x-ray and was found coincidentally, or was he having soundness issues? The first I might consider depending on my vet’s opinion and the price, the second I would pass on.
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Vets told me that hé could certainly have a sport carreer but i ve Seen him nqr sometimes
No. Free to a good home, maybe.
Why? Because of his âge?
Sorry if that was too brusque. And very sorry that you are having to sell your horses.
The problem is that as his potential buyer, I don’t know if he will stay sound once in work. Because you say he appears nqr at times now, while not in work; then it’s highly likely that he won’t stay sound in work, and that I’m looking at a long term maintenence situation with a short working life.
I’m also wondering what’s going on with him that he’s developed arthritis as an unbroken 2 year old. Genetic issues? OCD?
Unless he shows extraordinary athletic potential, I can’t see taking the risk. Maybe not even then.
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Oh no, i did not feel you where brusque. I bought him under his mother and i don t know what happened
It s genetic issues, many quarter horses have problems
What discipline were you aiming him for? Maybe talk to a QH trainer in that discipline and see what they say; they may have a very different perspective than I do.
Reining
I do not ride that discipline, but have a very accomplished friend who both rode & bred.
Her answer would be a Hard No.
Maybe market as a Ranch or Pleasure horse?
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Yes i Know…thé problem IS that i have no expérience with these issues and vets say that they Can have a carreer but i also doubt it
I think you need more complete information from your vets; or maybe somebody else to take a look at this horse’s xrays.
I had a lovely pleasure/trail horse for years after his hocks had fused. He could no longer jump and you wouldn’t have asked him to really sit behind and collect, but he was absolutely happy, comfortable and a wonderful horse for me. That said, he had his hocks fused in his late teens.
My bias (I am not really a QH show person, though I love the breed) is that he needs to stay away from any discipline that requires sharp turns, starts and stops, and degree of collection. So reining would be a HARD no, as would cutting, team penning and sorting. No dressage or jumping, either.
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No •
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that is a trail prospect at best IMHO. If the colt has a good mind he might have a future.
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It depends on what for. Is he going to be like my horse, who pretty much only goes on short trail rides with an adult ammy at a walk? In that case he might be fine. If someone wants to do something serious and exercise-y with him he might not hold up.
Homes like mine exist, but almost entirely not for unbroken two year olds. I wouldn’t buy an unbroken two year old to do the job I want my horse to do, personally, not because of the hock arthritis but because I don’t need the headache and physical danger that an unbroken two year old represents.
You’re stuck in a spot I think where the kind of people who buy two year olds don’t want them to have arthritis, and the kind of people that are okay with the horse having a touch of arthritis don’t want a two year old.
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At a fire sale price I would take the gamble. But the price would have to be low and the temperament great. Most horses with hock issues can be make comfortable to do the 2ft hunters and I have a big market around here for that, though with known hock issues I’d probably lease him out and not sell.
