I'm scared!

[MelissaH]

Okay, some of you may know about my horse prospect that was diagnosed with Wobbler syndrome. I know she is going to get 2 more opinions, but even if they come back negative, I feel like I will still be leery.

I talked to a man who has horse experience & he said sometimes horses can be calm and gentle becuase they hurt etc,.,..then you get them home and they change. He also said the vet that I had look at him had a very good rep. 30 years of experience.

There's this one part of me that hopes he does, I know that's bad but I am afraid that he may have a clean bill of health, then later he goes bad. Then I have a pretty ornament for the pasture.

I don't know what to do.

Then this man I talked to said I should get an older horse that will be more forgiving of my mistakes than a younger horse. I am so confused. I told my husband that if this all falls through, I am going to look for an older horse.

[Grace O'Malley]

Hi Melissa,

Was the first vet one you hired? Could you talk to him some more about why he said what he did?

I'd be a little wary of just accepting reports coming from vets hired by the seller. Not to imply anyone would be dishonest, just that it's human nature to see what you want to see. They might reasonably conclude that he's okay, but the risk would still be yours if you buy.

Is there any definitive, objective test for this condition, and would it be worth it to you to pay for it?

Good luck!

Grace

[KarinUS]

The thing about the horse's personality possibly changing after he gets to be better is something I mentioned to you in another one of your posts as well.
If he is weak now from 1 year of being stalled and not ridden he could be a lot different once he is fitter and feeling better even if nothing is wrong with him in regards to wobbler syndrom.

I think the idea of talking to the vet is a good one. Did you already get your deposit back on this horse?
Can you look at other horses while this woman is getting 2nd and 3rd opinions?

[MelissaH]

Grace, Yes this was the only vet and I hired him. The breeder happens to also use him too. She is going to get a couple more opinions without mentioning the first diagnoses.

The test to diagnose can be rather expensive and it would be up to the seller. It would not be worth it for me financially.

Karin-Yes I remember you mentioning about his personality changing when he feels better. Honestly, it makes me nervous. I told her to hold my check, she will give it all back once we decide what we are going to do. She was going to give it back right away but I told her hold it.

This is what she wrote to me upon finding out what the doc had said::


I am very sorry to hear this shocking news, although I do have doubts about Dr Dycks verdict being accurate, until I get a confirmed second evaluation and the two required tests have been performed to prove his claim, I will then know for sure that he tested positive at that time. But until those tests are done, I will not assume he has Wobbler Syndrome.

I will get another opinion and vet check, if Commander has CVM, then he would have never left Kentucky nor Arizona with a hereditary disease not discovered in the first place by the two prior written and signed certificate of Veterinarians, before he arrived in Calif.

Diagnostic tests will be done to prove he in fact does or does not have this disorder that DD claims. X-rays of the cervical spine and by a myelogram which would then show us there is spinal cord compression.

I will return you check to you or you can pick it up or I can drop it off ASAP

[Kalypso]

Hi Melissa,

I agree with Karin about how the horse could act differently once he is well cared for and feeling better, even if he is fine healthwise. But, as for looking for an "older horse", it is true that older horses usually know more what they are doing, etc. But, my horse was fairly young and still a bit green when I got her - green as in, hadn't been ridden in years and essentially had to be "retrained" in some things (of course, didn't know that when I got her! :rolleyes: ) and it was a wonderful experience. She was seven. I wouldn't go for a three or four year old if I were you, but a sensible five or six year old is not unheard of (although i'm sure some people will argue that point!). You don't necessarily have to go for a horse in it's teens or older to find a sensible horse. Just have a look, see what you can find, don't necessarily limit yourself by age, but also keep in mind that even with a five or six year old, who IS fed and healthy, and gets exercise, they still may change a bit after you have them as that is still a bit young.

I see where you are coming from about the vetting. Is there any way YOU personally can hire the vets, or one of the vets, for the second or third opinion? That may put you a bit more at ease. And don't forget, even very good, honest, and long standing doctors/vets can be wrong sometimes. It doesn't mean they are bad, but no one is perfect!!

Good luck, once again! :)

[KarinUS]

Too bad you are not in Texas or I'd love to go shopping with you! (Not that I am an expert or anything- I just love to go shopping and -hey!- it's a second pair of eyes... :P)

Why don't you check out a few other prospects?
Personally my criteria was 8 years and up. Then I bought my horse and got the papers and he was 7. Close enough. Kalypso's advice sounds good. (She studies horse sciences so she is very, very smart in that regard! :D )

See what else is out there. See if you like another one as well or better. If nothing else, at least you will get a better idea of what you are comparing.

Are you set on trail riding? If you get a gaited horse you would exclude yourself from some other activities (Dressage etc.)

Can you tell us what general area you are looking in so we can do some interent shopping for you? PLEASE?!? :D

[Katie_85]

Karin, very respectfully. Gatting a gaited horse does not exclude her from dressage by any means. Or jumping, or Western or any of that. In fact, the TWHBEA has a new group especially for Walking Horses that do dressage. Although TWH's aren't the only gaited breed, it is possible to do dressage with them and the others. Especially the trotty breeds, Rocky Mountain, Paso Fino, etc. :)

[KarinUS]

I totally accept your answer as the truth :D. I don't have gaited horses so I wouldn't know. What gave me the impression that they could not do Dressage is that my neighbor who owns 3 Walker mares is thinking of getting a Thoroughbred so she could get into dressage. She's been into gaited horses for about 10 years or so and even breeding them so I figured she'd know what she is talking about.
I have never seen her horses do much trot work so I can't be a judge of the quality of their trot.
I guess you cue them differently to get the different kinds of gaits?

[Kalypso]

yes, I've seen gaited horses trot...actually, the one my friend had preferred to trot rather than do his gaits...I have heard though (and i've NO idea if it is true or not!) that it isn't good to allow gaited horses to trot?? Please, if anyone can tell me why, it'd be nice to know!

Kalypso's advice sounds good. (She studies horse sciences so she is very, very smart in that regard! )

hehe thanks Karin, i try anyway! I've still got lots of learning to go, but I try to use what I've learned in college and at the barns!! :D but even studying it doesn't make me smart about it, there are so many more people on here who haven't had my "kind" of education who are MUCH smarter than me about anything horsey!

Melissa, i agree with karin, though, i'm always bored and have lots of time on my hands (although I won't for the next five days or so) but if you give us a bit more criteria, and an area where you'd like to look, she's right we can do some searching for you too!! :) It's fun and I love looking for horses!

[Katie_85]

Oooh, Karin! Tell her she can do Dressage with her Walking Horses!!!! *Jumps up and down excitedly at the vague idea of a Tennessee Walking Horse* As to the quality of their trot, to each horse his own, but some of them do seem to have nicer trots than gaits. *calms down* :D

Kalypso:
Some gaited horses, especially those that are to show, you never want to trot. Some won't, they're too pacey for it, but those that are inclined to trot shouldn't. I know it seems like that if that's what comes naturally to them, but it really is better for them in the long run if they learn their gaits properly. If they are supposed to gait but are allowed to cheat and trot, they've just lost their value as a gaited horse and are more likely to be put to sale as a "cull" or an unwanted animal.

[Miriam]

Katie down girl. Now where are those gaited horses. I want one please :D

[Kalypso]

thanks Katie! :)

[Grace O'Malley]

Originally posted by MelissaH
Grace, Yes this was the only vet and I hired him. The breeder happens to also use him too. She is going to get a couple more opinions without mentioning the first diagnoses.

The test to diagnose can be rather expensive and it would be up to the seller. It would not be worth it for me financially.

[snipped a bit for space's sake]

This is what she wrote to me upon finding out what the doc had said::

[snipped a little more]

Diagnostic tests will be done to prove he in fact does or does not have this disorder that DD claims. X-rays of the cervical spine and by a myelogram which would then show us there is spinal cord compression.



Sounds like she is highly motivated to get to the bottom of this, and there's no reason for you not to feel confident about the test results. I probably reading between the lines, but it sounds like if he does have this condition she'll be talking to the people who sold him to her, the vets that cleared him, etc.

Grace

[MelissaH]

Gee, Your all so helpful!!!:)

KarinUS, Your so funny! Shopping is sooooo fun. I am seriously thinking about looking into other prospects. He is the first horse I looked at. **crawls under desk in embarrasment**See, I went to a breeder & left it up to her to find me a horse. Maybe I should have done it on my own. Would be cheaper. I want a trail horse, older, been there done that attitude horse. I am looking within my own area, at least within a 50 mile radius. Unless I can't find one. My zip is 93510. Any breed will do as long as it's love at first ride! I have to connect and get that lovin horse vibe and he has to be able to operate a vacuum & do the dishes. He does not need to be a gaited horse. No arabs & no race horses.
Your all more than welcome to help me look!

Grace-Yes, she is motivated. She is the one that has the money into him. She bought him as a prospect for me or anyone looking for a horse. Poor gal called the previous owner and said, NOPE, won't take him back. There are some test that can be done with little expense, but xrays and other test can run quite expensive. I am sure she will make a great effort to find out the truth.

I myself, am starting to think about what everyone is saying about the horse changing after I get him. This concerns me.
We'll see what happens.