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Discussion on Flexion test in 3 year old mare

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tobias
New Member
Username: tobias

Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2009

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 - 8:13 am:

I just vetted a 3 year old Hanoverian. She is quite pricey and advertised as a Grand Prix potential horse. She is fantastic. On her first flexion test 8 days ago she came up 2/5 on the front left limb. We x-rayed her fetlock and the x-ray came up clear. The vet thinks the horse banged her foot. I stopped the vetting right then and there. He suggested the owners work the horse for 5 days and then to re-do the flexion test. So that is what we did and she came up 1/2 out of 5. I had them go ahead and do x rays and they came up clear. After all the information I have read it seems that with such improvement I should not worry too much about the 1/2 out of 5 flexion. I do trust the owners implicitly that they are not using drugs to make her pass the flexion. These are high quality people who run an extremely honest business. Unfortunately I am 300 miles away from the horse. My question to you, Dr. O. is should I go ahead and purchase the horse and not worry about the 1/2 out of flexion?

Thanks

Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro

Post Number: 23968
Registered: 1-1997

Posted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2009 - 7:42 am:

Hello tobias,
Have you have read our subtopic and clinical reports on the significance of flexion tests in the article on prepurchase exams? My own experiences over the past decades fully supports the conclusion of the study on flexion tests. However I cannot tell you whether to buy this horse or not just provide you with the information to make an informed decision.

But before you stretch the budget I want to remind you of one more statistic: Horses that successfully pass a prepurchase exam only have a 70% chance of achieving the desired goals of the purchaser. This should factor into your evaluation of every horse you buy.
DrO

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