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 Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Tx | "Purchased" a horse over the weekend. We agreed that when he vetted sound (she assured me that he would) that sale was final (she has my money). He did NOT vet sound... He is only 8 and it was a really sad prognoses. Trotted off sound in a straight line but was tender in the frog to the hoof tester and after he failed the flex test on the front left, I decided to have him x-ray the hoof and ankle. He is navicular and has some arthritis in the coffin bone. My vet advised me that if I could return the horse, I should. I am already in love with this horse and he rides like a dream! The seller has said she would take the horse back or she could lower the price (almost cut in half) with this new info. He has tons of buttons, spin, side pass, VERY body and leg cued, and can do anything cow related but is not started on the pattern. I buy a horse to keep, not for any type of resale unless I just cant make it work with them (not their fault, we just don't mesh). I was planning on getting something patterned in the next couple years for my kids to run so I was really wanting long term. I talked about some of the possibilities with my vet and so I am just wanting some opinions from y'all. The navicular on the x-ray was very small, but still there. My vet said he was more concerned with the arthritis in the coffin than he was anything.
Should I try to make it work with him?
What sort of upkeep am I looking at?
Tell me about injecting (how much? How often? How long would they work?)
I found something called "Nerving" (?), has anyone done this? (I read about it and does not sound like something I personally would want to do but let me hear your stories if you have)
About how many years would we be able to run him?
About how much time am I looking at having with him if I keep him?
Edited by Next to Heaven 2014-03-11 2:10 PM
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| There are too many sound horses out there to buy a crippled one. The only way I could justify it was if I had little bitty kids who needed something to poke around on, and then I'd make sure the price tag wasn't very high. I know there are ways to help navicular and other issues, but for long term, it's not a good decision. |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Tx | That's what I figured.  We already have a baby sitter for my little one.
I am just so sad, I thought I found the prefect horse for me to get my confidence back with. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Tildren for navicular, costs about 1200
Injections for the arthritis hylartyl 5 is on the upper end this will cost you 100/joint might have to give a booster in a month then 3 times a year.
Oral suppliment, lots of people have had success with different things, so you would have to figure out what you want to give, cost 2-5 per day.
Iv glucosamine weekly has prolonged my use of injections 25/month
Adequen regime 5-700
If you are interested in the horse just be aware of the costs.
There are many arthritic horses that are still running sound. I had one diagnosed with it at 6 we never buted he ran till 15 retired sound pulled out of pasture when he was 18 placed at high school rodeos then retired sound at 19 and he is 22 and still comfortable |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I had a six year old gelding that was nerved. Never had a problem with it. I would do it again if I had a navicular horse. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | There are too many that are sound to take a chance. You are in love him now, you will only grow to like him more, and when the navicular takes effect (which it is bound to do) you will be even more heartbroken after spending much of your time, love, and money on him. Take the disappoint now, it will save you heartache and much $$$$$ in the future. |
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | My High School rodeo horse was nerved before I bought her. She was eight when I bought her and I ran her for 4-5 years before I sold her and never had any issues with her. As far as I know the people I sold her never did either. |
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | I have to say this..
I had TWO diagnosed with navicular changes at young ages... TWO. Both by the same vet at a very reputable clinic. The both had noticeable limp on circling with head bobbing. Not in a straight line.
The first one was my brothers mare. He sold her to an older gentleman for his grand daughter. They took her to their chiro as a maintenance thing. Her should was way out. Shoulder adjusted the girl started riding her with no limp. They re-xrayed her with another vet... no navicular... That mare made one butt kicking barrel horse that is sound to this day.
Second horse was a son of Mr Jess Perry that I bought off the slaughter truck. He had been sold by a high end barrel racer due to the SAME vet diagnosing with navicular changes. He was supposed to have been a pleasure only horse but was placed in the kill pen. I bought him, had him rexrayed, no navicular... none. But shoulder was way out of alignment. We had to pad his hoof to lift him up 3/4 inches , adjust the shoulder and reshod in three weeks. He went back to running 1-2D times and is still sound and winning.
My point to this is.... IF you like the horse, get a second opinion. Vets are not always right. What one might see as navicular, may be bad x rays, or even just not reading correctly.
(ETA: that vet also diagnosed my husbands horse with cysts in his growth plate in his left rear at a year old. Told us to put him down that he would never be sound. Eight years later, he is a reiner, calf horse and heel horse as well as using horse... never taken a lame step and can flat slide.... ) |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | If the price is right! But keep in mind that you will have some expenses on this horse in the future. Horse may be fine and never need much. You have the upper hand to negotiate now!
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | I agree with Canchaser1...........get second opinion.......they very careful weigh all the pros and cons. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | Canchasr1 - 2014-03-11 10:07 AM
I have to say this..
 I had TWO diagnosed with navicular changes at young ages... TWO. Both by the same vet at a very reputable clinic. The both had noticeable limp on circling with head bobbing. Not in a straight line.
The first one was my brothers mare. He sold her to an older gentleman for his grand daughter. They took her to their chiro as a maintenance thing. Her should was way out. Shoulder adjusted the girl started riding her with no limp. They re-xrayed her with another vet... no navicular... That mare made one butt kicking barrel horse that is sound to this day.
Second horse was a son of Mr Jess Perry that I bought off the slaughter truck. He had been sold by a high end barrel racer due to the SAME vet diagnosing with navicular changes. He was supposed to have been a pleasure only horse but was placed in the kill pen. I bought him, had him rexrayed, no navicular... none. But shoulder was way out of alignment. We had to pad his hoof to lift him up 3/4 inches , adjust the shoulder and reshod in three weeks. He went back to running 1-2D times and is still sound and winning.
My point to this is.... IF you like the horse, get a second opinion. Vets are not always right. What one might see as navicular, may be bad x rays, or even just not reading correctly.
(ETA: that vet also diagnosed my husbands horse with cysts in his growth plate in his left rear at a year old. Told us to put him down that he would never be sound. Eight years later, he is a reiner, calf horse and heel horse as well as using horse... never taken a lame step and can flat slide.... )  Â
I agree with this also. If you really like him then it's worth your time and money to get a 2nd opinion. Good luck!!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | If you really like him - get a second opinion. (Clean Slate)o not tell them they are a second opinion.) |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Tx | This wouldn't be so hard if he didn't have so much try, personality and LOOKS!
Any good lameness vets between Salado and Dallas??? (texas)
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 Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | Dr. Charlie Buchanan, dvm-..BVEH-Morgan Mill tx - just sw of Ft Worth on Hwy 281...hes very good - takes care of some of the biggest name reiner's, cutters, ropers, barrel horses ect in the mid west and beyound. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Next to Heaven - 2014-03-11 11:11 AM
Thank y'all! She seems genuinely surprised by the info I gave her. She said that she had him vetted about a month ago and he came out clean. She is being polite and helpful and I am going to see if (since we are only 90 mins apart) she would like to meet a vet in the middle this weekend that way we can both be there and see. She is a money bind and I love this horses heart so we are both trying to make it work and see what results we get.
I understand the misread or mistake with the navicular on the films but what about the arthritis the vet said he saw?
Would you be more willing to deal with the arthritis alone?
Personally if I was looking at a prospect, I would pass if the horse had arthritis as it is a degenerative disease.
I would also ask the vet if that joint can be fused if it is causing problems later on, and if the horse could return to competition after fusion? Just keep in mind to fuse one joint is 2500.
It is tough, if you are getting a second opinion, get the block that they used, and all the X-rays. Take those with you to compare.
Also I would choose the vet, do not let her make sure it is a good lameness vet, I would suggest a reputable surgeon.
And if the horse vetted sound get those records. After the vet has done his assessment, ask him to review the info from the other vets and give his opinion on that as well. |
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 Loves to compete
Posts: 5760
Location: Oakdale, CA | get your money and find a sound horse!
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Canchasr1 - 2014-03-11 9:07 AM I have to say this..
I had TWO diagnosed with navicular changes at young ages... TWO. Both by the same vet at a very reputable clinic. The both had noticeable limp on circling with head bobbing. Not in a straight line.
The first one was my brothers mare. He sold her to an older gentleman for his grand daughter. They took her to their chiro as a maintenance thing. Her should was way out. Shoulder adjusted the girl started riding her with no limp. They re-xrayed her with another vet... no navicular... That mare made one butt kicking barrel horse that is sound to this day.
Second horse was a son of Mr Jess Perry that I bought off the slaughter truck. He had been sold by a high end barrel racer due to the SAME vet diagnosing with navicular changes. He was supposed to have been a pleasure only horse but was placed in the kill pen. I bought him, had him rexrayed, no navicular... none. But shoulder was way out of alignment. We had to pad his hoof to lift him up 3/4 inches , adjust the shoulder and reshod in three weeks. He went back to running 1-2D times and is still sound and winning.
My point to this is.... IF you like the horse, get a second opinion. Vets are not always right. What one might see as navicular, may be bad x rays, or even just not reading correctly.
(ETA: that vet also diagnosed my husbands horse with cysts in his growth plate in his left rear at a year old. Told us to put him down that he would never be sound. Eight years later, he is a reiner, calf horse and heel horse as well as using horse... never taken a lame step and can flat slide.... )
And the shoulder issue seems to be common in horses off the track. They take a banging coming out of those gates! |
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Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| IF you are still interested … YOU pick a new vet. You have two sources of veterinary information (your first opinion, her vet check) and take all that information to the third vet. Then have him do his assessment and compare.
I had a vet tell me a horse was unsound and recommended X Y and Z treatment, etc. I backed out of the deal. The owner was surprised by the vet's findings. He took the horse to another vet … this vet could not find any of the same issues the vet I used had. He sold the horse to a new home and it worked out for all but the vet … it was discovered that the vet had a history of doing this. (I didn't know, the horse was out of state). As I understand it .. matter ended with a complaint to the veterinary board.
Only you know what will work for you, how much you want to go and what you're willing to deal with. Good Luck |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Tx | I have my x-rays if anyone knows what they are looking at and wants to post them for me just pm me your e-mail. |
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My Heelers are Heroes
Posts: 4685
| I'd pass on the horse and save myself alot of money and heartbreak in the future. |
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