newbie :D i'm getting my first horse soon

[Tae]

Hi i'm Helen and i've just signed up to this forum.
I don't have a horse but hopefully within the next two weeks i will!!! YAY! XD

It will be my first horse so i'm very excited. i've taken months and months to find the right horse and in the end it was a response to my wanted Ad that i found the right horse... hopefully.

[black crow]

Welcome to the forum.

What is your new horse like??

[Loony]

Oooh very exciting! Welcome to EW! Tell us more about your possible new horse :D

[Tae]

Thanks for the welcome :)

She is 11yrs, 14.3 hh dapple grey connemara X TB. She's very pretty :D I might be going to go and have a second look at her tommorow. i've also put my name down for a stable on a livery yard :). It doesn't feel real that it's all happening, but i am getting a little excited.
I just hope that all is well when i get the vet check done.

[Sasca]

Allo'! connie X Tb huh? and a mare? bet she's got a mind on her! hehe, they are the most fun though!

[beks the artist]

Welcome to the forum! Good luck with your new horse! Look forward to seeing pictures when she arrives xx

[CDR]

Hello and welcome! Bet you're dead excited, I got my first horse just a few weeks ago!

[My Crazy Clan]

Fab news, very happy for you, shes sounds lovely! can't wait for photos!

[chescar]

hello and welcome - good luck with your new horse

[honeybee]

dapple grey conn x tb...sounds pretty perfect to me! Have fun with her! x

[bimba]

Hi and welcome! Bet your excited about your new horse, are you just waiting for her to pass a vetting?

[Tae]

Well i'm going to go and have a second look tommorow, and then i'll need to arrange for the vet to come for next week.
I'm a little worried that her back might not be okay, would they check it on a 2* vetting?

[daytona]

Welcome to the forum, look forward to seeing your new horsey
x

[Susan]

She sounds lovely! Good luck, fingers crossed for the vetting!

[zboo]

A 2 stage vetting is pretty basic, and just involves an examination and trot-up.
A 5 stage is more comprehensive and involves flexion tests, which would be more likely to show up any issues. I'd recommend a 5 stage for your own peace of mind (although obviously any vetting only shows how healthy the horse is at that point in time, and won't necessarily indicate what might happen in the future). Also some insurance companies will insist on a 5 stage.

Best of luck with your new horse!

[mandy5775]

Lucky you!! I hope your horsey passes the vetting - I would personally go for a 5* vetting if you intend to compete etc, purely for insurance purposes. Like zboo says, a 2* vetting is very basic - it's just a general health check really. At the end of the day it's your decision, so go with your gut instinct. I hope everything works out for you and enjoy your horsey when the times comes - it is a life changing experience.

[Tae]

The vetting has been booked for friday. The vet wasn't to keen on on a 2 stage one (thought it was a bit pointless) so my mum has said ok to a 5. I'm not sure if i want one now, it's a lot of money. And also if they do find something wrong then i'll be gutted because i really like her and would probably still want to get her.
Would they fail her on the fact that she hates having her bridle and saddle put on her? or might walk off a bit when you get on?... i think i'm worrying to much.
Also i'm not planning on doing much competing because she is my first horse... well pony. Just little unaffilated shows would keep me happy, and doing pony with longest tail lol.
She does seem very healthy and the owner seems to be very honest, we have also rang their vet to get Solo's vet record, which is clean and she's up to date with vaccinations.

[Roan Mare]

Hi and welcome :)

My friend has a TBx Connie mare and she's lurvely.

[Fruddy]

Personally, I would get the 5 stage done. I know that it is expensive, but you really don't want to end up buying a first horse that has some serious underlying medical condition - it will totally ruin the whole experience for you. I appreciate that you have fallen in love with her, but there are so many sound and healthy horses on the market at the moment, that buying one with a health issue shouldn't really come into it.

Good luck and Hello as well, by the way!! Welcome to the Forum!:D

[My Crazy Clan]

I would have the 5* too if I could afford it, f shes dislikes having her bridle/saddle on there could be something wrong?

[piccolo]

Ooh, i love connies! Good luck!

[zboo]

If the vet thinks the problems with tacking up are related to a physical issue, such as a problem with her teeth or back, that will be noted. If it seems to be behavioural, it would be seen as less significant. She doesn't actually have to be tacked up and ridden, all that's needed is for her to have strenuous exercise. Lots of horses are lunged at trot and canter in their pre-purchase exam, they just need to get out of breath.

If you (and your mum if she's the one paying? not sure of the situation sorry) really think that you will buy her irrespective of the vet's findings, then paying for the pre-purchase exam is a waste of money. I do feel that they are valuable in showing up things that you may not have noticed, which may cause an issue in the future. The catch is that the vet can only assess the horse on that day, and doesn't have a crystal ball.

It's not really a pass/fail situation - the vet notes down his or her findings, and reports back to you. It's up to you as the potential purchaser, to use that information - possibly to negotiate further on the price, or maybe to decide that she isn't the horse for you after all. Your insurance company may want to know the vets findings, and may apply certain exclusions if problems show up.

My pet peeve - they are called "five stage" and "two stage" vettings, not five and two "star". The examination is carried out to the same standard whichever you chose, but the five stage involves flexion tests, strenuous exercise and a rest/observation period which are not included in the two stage. A lot of vets prefer a five stage, as the two stage (examination and trot up) often doesn't show up anything other than what an owner would see themselves. Flexion tests and circle work show up minor lameness that may not be apparent in a staight line without flexion.

Best of luck.

[Tae]

Thanks zboo, this is great info :)

I'm the one paying unfortunately, however my nana and grandad are happy to pay for the vetting :) I just don't want to waste their money. I'm thinking the problems with tacking up is due to general mareishness and also that the time they spend with her in the stable is only when she gets tacked up. I'm hoping it's something I can change and make her not hate it as much, as i will hopefully spend lots of time with her and making a fuss :)

I might have said five/two star, oops... that's just me getting confused with my kayak and canoe tests lol. Also somebody once told me that most horses that have flexion tests end up showing lameness (i think if i held my leg up for 1 min then it would be a bit sore lol), is this true?

I have a video of me riding her but don't know whether to put it up or not as she isn't mine yet and i'm not sure about the forum rules about posting videos of other peoples horses.

Thanks again, and i have told my mum that i am going to get the 5 stage done and that she is not to let me change my mind he he...
If it all goes well then they are bring her on saturday :D yay!
also i'm off to robinsons on thursday to spend alot of money, i wonder if i can persuade them to give me a discount hmmm...

[zboo]

Yes, it sounds like the tacking up issue is a behavioural thing and can be overcome with some bonding. The vet will give her a thorough check over anyway to eliminate any other problems as much as possible.

Don't worry about the star thing, it just bugs me because I always think of stars like hotels, and that a two star means you're not getting as good an examination! A two stage is fine for a companion, or maybe a lead rein pony, cases where fitness isn't so important. If you want to check for sarcoids, heart murmer and whether the horse is very lame, that's enough. But for a riding horse I would go for the 5 stage every time, it's not a guarantee unfortunately but its as close as we can get.

Re: flexion tests, a lot of horses will stride short for the first few strides after flexion, then loosen up. They aren't really lame - it's a normal reaction to having your leg held up, as you say.

[Tae]

Got a text this morning from the owner saying that she couldn't go through with selling her and that she couldn't stop thinking about it last night.

I'm really gutted i thought she was the right horse for me and that i was finally getting my own horse after 14 years of having lessons. I'm Just so upset, i have the worst luck and I just don't know what to do. Whether to leave it till next year or just give up completely.