Loaning/buying a horse with sarcoids?

[Em 1]

As some of you know I'm looking for my first horse to have on long term loan. I didn't realise what a minefield it was trying to find a safe, sensible but interesting horse but I'm getting better at spotting the good from the bad. I've seen a horse for long term loan that sounds wonderful and just what we are looking for but it has sarcoids which haven't caused problems yet. My knowledge is pretty limited about these so I would appreciate your opinions. Would you consider loaning or buying a horse with sarcoids? I'd find reasons behind your answer really helpful but don't want to sound like an essay question ;)

Many thanks!

[helenc]

For me it would depend on where the sarcoids were & what arrangement the owner would come to about treatment for them. If they lie in the path of saddle/bridle/girth/headcoller etc or were in between legs, on the sheath or somewhere they could get easily get rubbed then I would stay away. If they were anywhere else & I really liked the horse then I would ask a good equine vet to have a look & see what they think.

Remember that insurance companies won't cover vets treatment of sarcoids so if they do require work in the future then you will have to pay - can be costly depending on the treatment - however maybe you & the owner can come to some sort of arrangement on this but make sure that if you do it is written into a signed contract.

It sounds like you've viewed a few already but I'd be inclined to say leave this one - a perfectly sound neddy could be ready to find you any minute!

[Showjumper]

Dolly has sarcoids. They appeared last summer and never went away. They don't bother her, and they aren't changing shape or size, so I'm not at all worried :)

[entreat]

My STB gelding has sarcoids on his nose (lots of little flat ones), had then since we got him. They are just starting to go away on their own. And Waikato Vaulta's horse has one that comes & goes on his belly somewhere.

I think unless they are prone to being knocked, or aren't big cauliflower ones, they shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If you are concerned, get the vet to look at them. :)

[Bay Mare]

Saff had a sarcoid on her offside fore when I got her. I spoke to the vet and he said that it wouldn't put him off buying her because she was a good horse with good paces.

I used the Knottenbelt treatment which didn't appear to work (6 weeks later the sarcoid was as healthy as ever), I then put her onto Sarc-Ex and Restore from Global Herbs (after trying Echinacea and then finding out that it wasn't any good for sarcoids .... I thought immune system = echinancea, we live and learn :) ).

After about 2 weeks the sarcoid suddenly started getting battered looking and then one day had gone, just dropped off. I didn't put anything on the wound but made sure that it was kept clean. You can hardly see where the sarcoid was now. Whether it was the Knottenbelt treatment or the Sarc-Ex or a combination I don't know!

My vet said that because of her age (she's 5) it's entirely possible that she would get immunity to them in the future. Fingers crossed that he's right :)

Ok, still not answered your question :rolleyes:

I would speak to the vet and see what they advise :) I wouldn't necessarily rule out a good horse because of it though.

[Wally]

I would want a specialist sarcoid analysis done before I even considered a horse with sarcoids. My experience of them isn't good.

[chewitmonster]

Like Wally, I'd have an analysis done. Theres a mare on our yard with the most horrific sarcoid between her hind legs and I would not want to buy into that I'm afraid. She's rubbing it constantly and its really sore. After seeing that I'd definately reconsider a horse with sarcoids! xxx

[Greta]

You should first determine whether it is cancerous(Wow, spelling! :D :o ) And whether its in aplace which can cause dicomfort for the horse when being ridden, eg. where bridle parts go etc. If the sarcoid is non-cancerous, the vet could make an incision once its fallen off and it won't come back. My YO had a horse with a non-cancerous sarcoid adn she had the vet remove it by making an incision when it fell off.

[chev]

Also bear in mind that even a vet looking at a sarcoid can't honestly predict how things will go. My mare developed a nasty one, needing DK's cream - but never had the cream applied since against all odds the things vanished of its own accord. Same thing happened with another of my mares - her sarcoid also spontaneously recovered.

A mare belonging to a friend, however, was PTS after the 'harmless' sarcoid that Liverpool felt was best left alone suddenly went mad and spread like wild fire. Cream and surgery didn't help, sadly - hers spread everywhere and euthanasia was the only thing to do.

It wouldn't neccessarily put me off.... but be aware that the only predictable aspect of sarcoids is their unpredictability.