Arabian colt with leg problems

Question
Good afternoon,
I am looking to purchase a 1 1/2 year old Arabian colt. He is exactly what I am looking for however the seller has told me about a problem with his legs. She said the problem is esidis. She doesn't know much about it or how to spell it but she said that he was given to much protein when he was small and that his legs grew to fast. What she said that she is doing to fix it is by giving him a low protein diet. She said that he will get better as he gets older. Not to sound cold but I am not looking for a companion horse I want a horse that I will be able to ride someday. Please can you give me some information about this condition and what the cost might be to fix it?
Thank You very much,
Amanda

Answer
Hello Amanda, so you are looking to buy a horse, Congratulations %26 Good Luck. I have always been a fan of good Arabian horses especially for their soundness and their longevity.
I am going to assume that the leg/joint problem you refer to is "epiphysitis". An all too common skeletal disease seen in young horses. It would take pages to probe the causes but in the end, no one knows exactly what causes it. You don't say when symptoms first occurred and this is crucial information to any help.
Early treatment, at onset is a MUST to avoid permanent damage. In a yearling the risks are higher, and usually the problem is on the higher limbs as lower limbs are the earliest to close off growth plates. When high energy food is removed/moderated in his diet improvement should be seen in 6 weeks or less. Restricting exercise, especially vigorous exercise should be done. Most horses with early intervention/treatment recover fully but if there is 'any' indication of limb deformity, especially low down on leg, or if treatment was delayed, too risky. Ask the seller how long the colt has had this problem. If any doubt a vet exam, x-ray's, etc. will save you in the long run.
Most riding horses have enough challenges to stay sound all their lives so I personally would not risk purchasing any young horse with a question mark about it's soundness. There are too many good ones very reasonably priced, looking for good owners out there for anyone to take a chance at heartache, expense, work and in the end, staying home grounded, with a lame horse.
Hope this has helped, without seeing the problem first hand it can be difficult.
Hope all goes well and may you get a 'good' one !
Anything else just write.

Bill