I think my heart is bursting

Ureventer · 11-30-2005, 06:14 PM

I had fallen in love with a horse about a year ago or so. Anyways, I found out he had a bone chip on is ankle, and decided against purchasing him. The owner was going to keep him, but tonight I saw an ad for him up for sale again. I want to learn to event, so I guess my question is this. Are horses with bone chips ever sound enough to do this? Or could they be used for dressage and not show up lame?

UnDun* · 11-30-2005, 06:16 PM

If it is on the bone, it can prob. be removed quite efficently if that is what is concerning you.

If it's inside the 'joint'...usually will cause fluid build up but since the ankle does not have any -pockets- for the fluid to form, is will prob. cause lameness. Once again, this is also removable at a higher price.

Ureventer · 11-30-2005, 06:18 PM

so since it is on his ankle, it will cause lameness?

Petra · 11-30-2005, 06:33 PM

i would ask your vet about him. or even better - ask the horses current vet about it, you coule even talk to the owner if you're really interested. i don't know much about bone chips, but if it's possible to remove, i think you have to have it removed for him to be sound for anything more than very light trails or something.

madvoice · 11-30-2005, 06:37 PM

Bone chips can calcify and cause problems. I would seek advice from a vet that is independant to knowing this horse to be sure of his ability. Personally, a horse that has had bone chips would be off my list for eventing.

alana529 · 11-30-2005, 06:48 PM

It depends. Bone chips result from either of 2 ways- either he got it while he was still growing (osteochondrosis aka OCD), or he got it from an injury/trauma. He might be fine if it is a single chip; the horse's body can form scar tissue over it; or he might not. Sometimes a "bone chip" is tons of tiny fragments that can work their way into the joint. This will be artheritis eventually. The red flag here is that it's in his fetlock (I'm assuming "ankle" is "fetlock"). That's a joint that moves a lot, so even if scar tissue forms over the bone chip it can be worn away and the horse will go lame, especially since you want to do demanding disciplines like eventing and dressage. Surgery can help (I had a horse who needed it for a chip in his hock, he had OCD) but OCD can come back, sometimes in a different joint. Injections can help, but not forever, they're expensive and you have to do them fairly often. Surgery is also expensive, and insurance won't cover a pre existing condition. It's a hard decision, but I think I'd pass on this horse.

Ureventer · 12-01-2005, 03:57 AM

I always hate how it seems my heart evades my logic, but I'm truely stuck on him. He was an ex-race horse, so recieved the bone chip as a result. I contacted his owner last night to see how he was doing. She told me he hadn't shown any signs of lameness all summer, was used as a lesson horse, and was quite happy. She also told me that he is free to a good home. Talk about pulling on one's heartstrings huh?

Carab · 12-01-2005, 04:01 AM

I don't know much about bone chips so I would get the vet out to look at him. If the vet then gives you the all clear then go for it.

mustang_dodger · 12-01-2005, 05:30 AM

i would have a vet check him out and see what the vet thinks is best for the horse. i think where the chip is at will cause lameness, and could cause further damage later.

Ureventer · 12-01-2005, 11:25 AM

yeah...he's free now so I think a vet consultation is totally worth it...we'll see...thanks everyone!

11-30-2005, 06:14 PM	#1
Ureventer Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5,275 Images: 37 Blog Entries: 45	I think my heart is bursting I had fallen in love with a horse about a year ago or so. Anyways, I found out he had a bone chip on is ankle, and decided against purchasing him. The owner was going to keep him, but tonight I saw an ad for him up for sale again. I want to learn to event, so I guess my question is this. Are horses with bone chips ever sound enough to do this? Or could they be used for dressage and not show up lame? __________________ ♥Formal Attyre's Blog Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

11-30-2005, 06:16 PM	#2
UnDun* Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,850 Images: 138	If it is on the bone, it can prob. be removed quite efficently if that is what is concerning you. If it's inside the 'joint'...usually will cause fluid build up but since the ankle does not have any -pockets- for the fluid to form, is will prob. cause lameness. Once again, this is also removable at a higher price. __________________ "Ride What You've Got" *Dallas & Heather*

11-30-2005, 06:18 PM	#3
Ureventer Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5,275 Images: 37 Blog Entries: 45	so since it is on his ankle, it will cause lameness? __________________ ♥Formal Attyre's Blog Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

11-30-2005, 06:37 PM	#5
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,687 Images: 281	Bone chips can calcify and cause problems. I would seek advice from a vet that is independant to knowing this horse to be sure of his ability. Personally, a horse that has had bone chips would be off my list for eventing. __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

12-01-2005, 03:57 AM	#7
Ureventer Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5,275 Images: 37 Blog Entries: 45	I always hate how it seems my heart evades my logic, but I'm truely stuck on him. He was an ex-race horse, so recieved the bone chip as a result. I contacted his owner last night to see how he was doing. She told me he hadn't shown any signs of lameness all summer, was used as a lesson horse, and was quite happy. She also told me that he is free to a good home. Talk about pulling on one's heartstrings huh? __________________ ♥Formal Attyre's Blog Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

11-30-2005, 06:33 PM	#4
Petra Full Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US Posts: 30	i would ask your vet about him. or even better - ask the horses current vet about it, you coule even talk to the owner if you're really interested. i don't know much about bone chips, but if it's possible to remove, i think you have to have it removed for him to be sound for anything more than very light trails or something.

11-30-2005, 06:48 PM	#6
alana529 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 518 Images: 60	It depends. Bone chips result from either of 2 ways- either he got it while he was still growing (osteochondrosis aka OCD), or he got it from an injury/trauma. He might be fine if it is a single chip; the horse's body can form scar tissue over it; or he might not. Sometimes a "bone chip" is tons of tiny fragments that can work their way into the joint. This will be artheritis eventually. The red flag here is that it's in his fetlock (I'm assuming "ankle" is "fetlock"). That's a joint that moves a lot, so even if scar tissue forms over the bone chip it can be worn away and the horse will go lame, especially since you want to do demanding disciplines like eventing and dressage. Surgery can help (I had a horse who needed it for a chip in his hock, he had OCD) but OCD can come back, sometimes in a different joint. Injections can help, but not forever, they're expensive and you have to do them fairly often. Surgery is also expensive, and insurance won't cover a pre existing condition. It's a hard decision, but I think I'd pass on this horse.

12-01-2005, 04:01 AM	#8
Carab Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central QLD Posts: 1,703 Images: 128	I don't know much about bone chips so I would get the vet out to look at him. If the vet then gives you the all clear then go for it. __________________ I like Ed-eward best www.myspace.com/carabcatt Arabians: A little bit of everything perfect

12-01-2005, 05:30 AM	#9
mustang_dodger Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Illinios Posts: 17,059 Images: 459	i would have a vet check him out and see what the vet thinks is best for the horse. i think where the chip is at will cause lameness, and could cause further damage later. __________________ Proud owner of Smart Devil a registered appendix, registered paint mare Eye's White Feather, and a breeding stock paint filly Firefly.

12-01-2005, 11:25 AM	#10
Ureventer Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5,275 Images: 37 Blog Entries: 45	yeah...he's free now so I think a vet consultation is totally worth it...we'll see...thanks everyone! __________________ ♥Formal Attyre's Blog Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

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