[OverandOnward]

"would you pull x-rays"


If you don't spend money on the vet now in the PPE, I hope you have piles of it saved for the future needs of this horse. Fork out for a very thorough PPE. That is the only way to get the information to let you make a judgment if this will work for you. Go to PPE as an information-seeking step, not just the last step before purchase.

There is no one universal answer for everyone. The answer depends on what you want to use the horse for; the degree to which it is realistically fit to do that for an extended period; your tolerance for the possibility of extended and expensive treatment; your willingness to retire it to pasture board for many long years to come, if it becomes necessary.

If you buy this horse, do it assuming you are the last, lifetime owner. Don't buy it if you aren't willing to take that on. Assume that no one else is going to take it off your hands should it not be sound enough to use after all - at any future point. Including the week after purchase, or 10 years from now.

The real question is not what a bunch of internet strangers would or wouldn't do. It's if you are willing to take on the full responsibility of a horse that may stay sound for lighter work, or may become a pasture pet of many years, and may need long & expensive treatment. Question goes back to you.

To answer your question - If I could afford all the above, was happy with whatever work load the horse could comfortably handle, and had the space for comfortable pasture retirement when needed, I'd seriously consider it. I can't, am not and don't - so it would not be a kindness to this horse for me to take it on.

[tucktaway]

Nope. But, if I like it and it was sound, you might be able to give it to me.

[Tom Bloomer]

Nope. But, if I like it and it was sound, you might be able to give it to me.

Yep!

I would recommend AGAINST any of my clients paying for a horse that was previously foundered.

[runwayz]

If the horse is everything you wanted, I would get a couple x-rays (really only need a lateral view) to see if there is any rotation or sinking. If not and he passes a PPE, then why not.

[JLR1]

No, no, no! I own an older mare that foundered and is chronically laminitic. It is so stressful having a horse that has foundered because you never know if/when it will happen again.
Don't do it to yourself.

[SnicklefritzG]

There are so many horses on the market now. Don't buy one who had a very serious problem in the past. It's not worth the risk. Please keep in mind that a "cheap" horse is really only cheap if it stays that way.

[Ainsley688]

Having acquired a pony who is severely foundered on all fours, all I can say is that there is NOTHING worse than having to be ready to dig the hole when there is a bad laminitic episode...

You have to be SO ANAL about diet, it's like another full-time job!

They might be sound now, but it's never the same as before.

[LMH]

Nope. But, if I like it and it was sound, you might be able to give it to me.

Plus a care and maintenance fund

[Right on Target]

I wouldn't because I'd worry and I can only afford to have one horse at this point in time. I don't want to buy a horse that is already predisposed to having a problem.

But that being said, for my very first pony years ago we had no clue of what we were doing as buyers and we bought a $250 pony who had foundered on grass in the past. We kept pads on her up front and had her on a dry lot. We didn't have any trouble with her soundness and I rode pretty hard on rocky trails. She was a phenomenal pony and totally worthy it.