Would you buy an older horse that isn't totally sound?

[CalmingTea]

So here’s my story: I was looking for an older horse, my stage in life, financial situation and temperament is such that I can afford the supplements and medicines and I like what older horses have to offer! I do want one that is sound for riding though- I’d like to ride about 3-4 times per week and occasional mostly flat trail rides. (I am not trying to rescue a horse. This horse is not in need of rescue (though I do think I could do better with her health),

I found the horse I love with 100 % perfect temperament. She is the type that “takes care of her rider” and as an old roping or reining horse, she has a lot of skills locked up in her cute horsey brain. She’s a quarter pony solid build 14.3 hands tall with a Circle R brand, wherever that’s from. Over 20 by her teeth

Here are her issues. current owner is not super knowledgeable and did not see the signs of several issues - I truly feel she is telling the truth, as she keeps her horses in her backyard and doesn’t work with a trainer or any type of organization such as 4H and never has. So whatever she has learned was mostly word of mouth or advice over the years.

My big concern: Her stride in the front is short and the farrier has built up her heel a LOT in the front (worried about previous bout of laminitis causing coffin bone injury, not as worried about navicular - she looks clubfooted)

Other concerns which can be managed with proper feed, supplements, chiro, and meds:
I’m pretty sure the horse has cushings, she has long curly hair, and the pot belly
Has a hay bump or some kind of goiter on her neck (not strangles though we will test to make sure)-
Her neck is out, and she doesn’t want to turn it to the right

My hubby said, “Get the vet check, see what she has and then decide.”

So at this point I have a vet check lined up with x rays on the coffin bones to look for any rotation from a possible previous Founder Episode.

Where she is, she is in semi -retirement, with a loving lady who maybe needs an update on senior horse health and maintenance (didn’t realize she had cushings, feeding the wrong feed, ) but otherwise a nice clean loving home - I think for life.

People seem to have two thoughts for me:

1. I may as well get the vet check and see. She could founder the day I bring her home before I get her sugar levels under control and on herbals or meds, but they point out if she’s very special and If I am willing to take the risk, she may live another ten years or even more.

2. Others say, there are thousands of horses out there, just like her with a good brain and willing heart if I am willing to keep looking. They say I should move on and not even spend my 500 on the vet check.

What do you think?

[Zu_Zu]

please keep looking ~

she’ll still be there to re-visit the option if you do not find another younger, healthier ‘ride’ ~

Happy Holidays !

[CalmingTea]

Yeah I backed totally out. Owner swear she doesn’t have cushings but agrees that she is “sore on the front” (that’s lame!) and fun to ride. I’m sure the horse is ok with her and enjoys her occasional trail rides. It would be foolish for me to take her on, she’s not even sound.

[NoSuchPerson]

Since you’ve already decided on this horse, I’m just going to respond to the general question, “would you buy an older horse that isn’t totally sound?” Yes. I would and I have. My current horse “failed” the PPE I had done. But, I bought him anyway. I wouldn’t have, if he had been younger or if I was a demanding rider, but he was late teens, had the temperament I was looking for, and, with regular maintenance (Adequan, joint supplements, shoes with pads), he was sound enough for what I wanted to use him for. He’s getting creakier, but is still, at 21, doing everything I want him to do with no problems.

[Toblersmom]

Just to answer the general question, I would only consider it if I knew the horse and his/her history and relatively recent care very, very well. I’m still a little mad at myself I didn’t put an offer in on “Ishi”, a lovely old man in the lesson string of a barn I rode at years ago. Some supplements, rare joint injections, and a carefully managed not-too-much-not-too-little exercise regimen that was PERFECT for what worked with my schedule and skills at that time in my life, and he was lovely and happy. MAYBE, maybe, if I was well and truly smitten, worried about the alternatives for the horse’s sake, and prepared to have an immediate and permanent pasture ornament.

[CalmingTea]

Yeah I mean this horse wasn’t even sound for riding, and the way she was short stepping on her toe in the front made me worry about a whole host of issues, and then there was the probably cushings…and I thought geez i could get her here and she could founder right away, and even if she made it she likely wouldn’t be sound and I’d have to have a retirement horse in a very expensive COL area- the likelihood of her being sound to ride was very small…and where she’s at she’s not abused, she’s pretty happy. I think she’s not feeling well partly because of being fed the wrong food but shes ok

[Palm_Beach]

What you see is what you get. I would pass on this one.

[beau159]

I would agree that you should pass on this one.

As far as your general question, it just depends what is going on with the horse. In this case, since the owner is clueless, the horse probably has been lame for quite some time and the improper farrier care is just exacerbating what condition is most likely going on (laminitis). Long-standing lameness is much tougher to get the horse feeling good again, … IF you can get them sound again.

It’s tough when you find one that has the right temperment and personality. But ultimately, if you would be unable to ride the horse due to soundness, then you need to pass.