[NJRider]

When you see an ad for a horse currently in work/being shown and the ad says "healthy and sound", what does this really mean? If a horse has preexisting injuries that require special care/maintenance etc would it be ethical to call this horse "healthy and sound"?
I am tired of seeing this in ads then you find out that they have a laundry list of issues that have to be done to maintain a level of "soundness".

What is sound? Currently not lame? Would like input!

[Petstorejunkie]

What you describe should be listed as "healthy and sound with maintenance"

"Healthy and sound" as a stand alone statement means x ray to your hearts desire, you won't find anything.

[clint]

I disagree with this. Horses can and do get around just fine, sometimes in serious competition, without maintenance, healthy and sound, yet won't x-ray "clean". An "existing issue" would include mental issues as well as physical, which would be revealed when pursuing purchasing said horse, one would hope.

[mvp]

"Healthy and sound" means that the owner doesn't see anything wrong. It's a correct assessment, so far as the owner goes or has tried to find out.

It means almost nothing by itself. You ask questions, you see the horse go, you get your favorite PPE vet to do all the verifying of "healthy and sound."

So I don't put too much stock in that advertising statement, but I also don't get pissed at an owner whose horse turns out not to be "healthy and sound." I try to limit the PPE by doing my best to see lameness before I drag out a DVM.

[littlecreek]

Clinically, "sound" means its doing what it needs to do in it's life without limping. A PPE can find a ton of stuff in just about anything. And a clean set of xrays doesn't mean it's not going to be sound.
I always ask about "maintenance" when discussing the care of and barn habits/manners.

[littlecreek]

Sorry, double post...

[SnicklefritzG]

The term "sound" is relative. Sound for what? trail riding? Light flatwork? Low jumping?

[NJRider]

OK..so if there is an upper level performance horse for sale that would NEVER pass a flexion test (would be lame at the walk after tests) but is not lame otherwise is this horse sound? Struggling with disclosure ethics, I guess...

[Isabeau Z Solace]

OK..so if there is an upper level performance horse for sale that would NEVER pass a flexion test (would be lame at the walk after tests) but is not lame otherwise is this horse sound? Struggling with disclosure ethics, I guess...

I would say yes.

In my neck of the woods, if the horse does the job, no matter what the maintenance, radiographs, flexion tests, etc, then people will advertise and sell the horse as 'sound.' 'Sound' NOT being equal to 'perfect physical specimen.'

Which is one reason why you have to ask a LOT of questions. And preferably get full disclosure of all recent vet work/records. People will inject the hell out of a horse and then sell it as 'sound.' The catch here is, that if you are talking 'performance' horse, then the people (in this neck of the woods) have the finances and motivation to continue with the veterinary work on the horse in order to keep it doing it's job.

Enough people (competitive folks) would rather have a super, reliable horse that they have to support with lots of vet work, over a less reliable horse that is perfect physically.

[Isabeau Z Solace]

OK..so if there is an upper level performance horse for sale that would NEVER pass a flexion test (would be lame at the walk after tests) but is not lame otherwise is this horse sound? Struggling with disclosure ethics, I guess...

I would say yes.

In my neck of the woods, if the horse does the job, no matter what the maintenance, radiographs, flexion tests, etc, then people will advertise and sell the horse as 'sound.' 'Sound' NOT being equal to 'perfect physical specimen.'

Which is one reason why you have to ask a LOT of questions. And preferably get full disclosure of all recent vet work/records. People will inject the hell out of a horse and then sell it as 'sound.' The catch here is, that if you are talking 'performance' horse, then the people (in this neck of the woods) have the finances and motivation to continue with the veterinary work on the horse in order to keep it doing it's job.

Enough people (competitive folks) would rather have a super, reliable horse that they have to support with lots of vet work, over a less reliable horse that is perfect physically.