TB owners?.. not TBs but appys and they are home! update 4/11 NEW PICS

[scbatz33]

I'd never worked anywhere that used beet pulp until we moved to PA. Everyone up there uses it....or it seems like it anyway. So we tried it. We had a big old draft horse and he chocked on it. It was the scariest 20 minutes of my life getting that lump of beet pulp out of his throat. And yes, we soaked it, he just gobbled his feed.

I just can't get brave enough to use it again, since then. I'm a wimp. We use other feed stuffs instead to boost fiber.

Oh, and you can buy it with out the added molasses. We would, I don't like the idea of all that added sugar. They just don't need it.

 

[bufforp89]

I am going to take a look at this mare today or tomorrow. She is a 15-15.2 hand appy mare, 13-14 years old, supposedly "bombproof", great with kids, great on the ground and a good all around trail horse. They say that she is a little out of shape, has been out in a field all winter and has not been ridden regularly in about a year.

These are the pics that were sent to me, not the best quality but what does everyone think? Worth even taking a look? I will of course follow up with a vet check to make sure everything is on the up and up..

 

[scbatz33]

She's not horrible. Little cresty in the neck, thick between the legs, and high withered. She may be hard to fit when she gets fit. Personally, I think she looks tired. That could be based on how she's been housed and fed all winter, but looking at her face, she just seems sad, there's no spark there.

Maybe I'm looking into it too much. But you've posted pics of "happier" horses. I'd take her just to try and make her happier! LOL! But then, I have a hard time looking at horses and judging because I base everything on my experience - which is thoroughbreds. AND, it's probably good I live no where near this horse and am broke!

 

[patandchickens]

Gee, I don't see cresty at *all* (just frizzy old-style-app lookin' mane ends)... really I'd say she looks rather *thin* over the crest, due to lack of correct muscling (and being I think just natural-born a bit ewe- or at least straight-necked), which matches the thin-over-the-withers-and-topline. Not necessarily a problem as long as she is well-behaved under saddle and you can find a saddle to adequately fit her.

I can't see any obvious reason not to go take a look if youwant... pics can only show so much (i.e. not *that* much). I would not be shocked if she turned out to be older than "13-14" and/or not especially sound but that is just a vague feeling and I could certainly be wrong, I don't get that vibe *so* strongly that I would forego a trip to see her myself if she was generally what I was shopping for.

Check (preferably photograph) her teeth re: age; and take a good look at that LH ankle, it looks a bit funky and big, especially in the suspensories area... could be harmless, but look attentively. Also at her feet.

Go take a look if you like her pics/description. Just make sure to look critically and not be too shocked if you go home disappointed; and no matter what the seller says or how convincing their excuses, make THEM get on her first. If they can't show you her being ridden, I would suggest walking away.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[EweSheep]

I noticed her white socking hind feet too, a bit thicker there as well.

Go and look at her and be sure to get a vet to look also.

 

[welsummerchicks]

She's not cresty. In fact she has nothing around her backbone - been having no work for a very long time, standing in a small area a lot, and eatin' cheap feed. Not a lot of fat OR muscle on her.

I have the same vague feeling of something not right, pat, like she's in some pain - I wrote my comments first, though, and then read what others said, so I wouldn't have a bias.

The pictures are at odd angles, but it looks like a horse that has been out of work for a long, long time and has not had a lot of - anything...

And I would say older than the stated age by a fair chunk.

There is something with the left hind - a very big lump on the front of the left hind cannon, and unless my eyes deceive me, somewhat less muscle mass on that leg and side of that hind quarter.

They're hard pictures, I'd like to see a video of her moving - something just makes me uncomfortable about her.

 

[bufforp89]

Well I went and took a look and I may have my horse.

She is much better in person then in the photos, wish I could have taken some of my own but forgot my camera.

Got a good look at her legs and although I am no expert they look good to me. Well proportioned, no lumps or bumps or swelling or anything. Am having a vet check before anyone comes home.

Got a chance to ride her after I saw her lunged (rather badly too, dont think she was ever properly taught) and I really dont think that there are any lameness issues. She is really quite a love, very affectionate with a kind of humdrum attitude. Seems like the sort of horse that could be in any situation and not even bat an eye.

I think that she has sat longer then the owners stated, more like a few years. Gonna need to put some work into her to get her muscled up.

About to go out so have to keep this short but will be back to tell all about her pasture buddy who is also maybe coming home.

 

[WIChookchick]

Quote:
Well good.. BUT
Before plunking down money.. vet check vet check vet check...
AND do you have a friend that is a good/great advanced rider or a trainer that could come look at her...
Any horse can be a love on the ground and a screaming hellion-bucking fear machine if spooked.
You need to have her pushed.
ALso did you have THEM ride her first? How did that go?
I didn't like the way her left front looked, it just looked odd at that fetlock, could have been the mud and the angle...
BUT
Vet check and have her re-ridden by an advanced rider. Have her ridden by them.
And go out with little warning, like a late afternoon/early evening, mid week..
Say you were in the area, give them 15-20 mins notice...
And see how she is, you never know when some one drugs a horse.
Also you don't state how old her teeth looked to you.
If you don't know, the advanced rider OR vet should know.

AND PLS, FOR GODS SAKE.. DO NOT USE THEIR VET, USE ANOTHER, AND ASK THE NAME OF THEIR VET TO SEE HER RECORDS, IF ANY...
You will save yourself and your pocket book from some heart ache by doing so.

Good luck and I truly hope she works out for you.

Carol

 

[patandchickens]

I will be crossing many fingers for you til the vet check (and yes, absolutely use a vet of YOUR choosing!!) because I just can't see how to interpret the photos of that LH ankle/cannon as quite normal and of course there are the other parts too, this being a higher mileage horse. But, it certainly *might* turn out fine for your purposes, and I hope it does, and you have to tell us when you get the vetting scheduled for so we can be on the edges of our seats for you

(e.t.a. - reread your post about trying her out... dead quiet, ho-hum, lunged poorly, owners apparently did not ride her for you first.. get the vet to draw a blood sample in case you wish to check it later for pharmaceuticals, and as WIChookChick says it would *really* be worth riding her again, perhaps you can do it immediately before/after the vetting [same appointment] *and announce to them in advance your vet will be doing a blood draw at that time* and stay noncommittal til you see how that goes)

Pat

 

[welsummerchicks]

LOL. A friend of mine had a rule basically that when you are buying a horse, assume everyone is selling you a bad horse, but never act like you know, LOL.

Number one assumption - if you say to a seller you want a quiet family horse or for a kid or if you sound like a beginner (no one ever fools anyone), the horse WILL have the tar worked out of it before you come, or it will be drugged, or both.

Normally what I do is try very, very hard to not say anything that would indicate I want a 'quiet' horse. I try to be totally neutral in everything I say. I try VERY hard to not sound like I am 'experienced', too. I try to keep it very neutral.

'Hi, I saw your ad for the spotted mare, do you have any time Saturday when I could come out and look at her?'

'Okay, I will see you Saturday at 1, Dr. Harris will be there at 1:30 to draw blood and go over the horse'.

There is a SLIGHTLY less chance then the horse will be drugged if you tell them there will be a blood draw, though if they have a bad one to get rid of, it will be done no matter what. A lot of people think the vet's blood test won't find the drug they use. Or they will just work the horse down. Though MOST people, when selling a horse, aren't keeping it in a 'program'. It's going to get the snot worked out of it for a couple days before you come regardless.

Well some people don't teach horses to longe, but it is a little fishy. If the horse is UNRESPONSIVE on the longe line. Rather than clueless. USUALLY if a horse is not TAUGHT to longe, they act like an idiot when you try to longe them, they are NOT UNRESPONSIVE. They are like 'freedom! no? WHAT?' and run around without turning and act stupid. Even a lot of very quiet older horses will, if they've never been longed. Or they try to just run around right next to you and won't go out to the end of the longe line and make a circle, but the key is they act untrained, not unresponsive.

Any time a horse is a little 'dead sided' or quiet you should assume it was drugged or worked down or both.

It MIGHT be a quiet horse, or a dull horse, sure, but remember that it might also NOT be a quiet horse or a dull horse. It is in your best interests, in any case, to assume it was drugged or worked down or both.

Definitely have a blood draw any time you ride a horse for sale. It is for your protection.

I can't even count the number of times people I know have bought doped up horses, gotten them home and found out they were crazy, unbroke, lame (sedatives ALSO hide lameness!!!!). If you think this is rare, think again. It happens ALL - THE - TIME.

Most likely a seller will not drug a horse for the vet check that occurs later!!! The only time the horse will be doped is when you are planning to RIDE it or them to show it to you.

A lot of people think if they show up early and stay around the horse, the seller won't be able to drug it, as some drugs are short acting and are given shortly before hand. Others think they can SEE the drug's effects. I wouldn't bet on it! A lot of the newer drugs don't make horses look sleepy. AND - a lot of drugs are long acting and some last for a month or more, so that bit of trying to show up a little early, doesn't really work. The blood test is the only really good way to handle it. Sure, what is CHEAP, what is easily available is ACE and that IS given shortly before but I would not count on that. Plus - a good many horses look sleepy for a MINUTE when the ACE takes effect, but right after that they look normal again.

I really like to have a vet check done right when I try the horse out, and include a blood draw.

If not right away, within a day, before the stuff is eliminated from their system.

It is pretty dang funny to see how some people's faces turn pale when you show up with a vet, LOL! If the vet doesn't have a lot of calls before my appt, I don't always bother to tell the seller the vet will be there, just get everything done right away and make a decision immediately(vets have portable xrays and flexions can be done on the spot). A lot less fussing over deposits and other buyers and the like. To me it's worth it to pay the vet to come out and know right away. But the chief reason for doing it is that it protects ME, THE BUYER.

If I tell them the vet is coming, it is always funny to hear the reaction. Then there is very often some real fast back-pedaling about how they can't show me the horse and someone else is about to buy it.

I always kinda find that funny, LOL.