horse issues

Question
HI Samantha
you very kindly helped me with some advice - hence coming back to you again on some horse queries.  I am trying to buy and wondered if I could have your expert advice on the following
1)Could you please adivise me regarding any ongoing problems that may occur once a horse has been 'blistered'. One of the horses is a little thoroughbreed 4yr old mare who started her life in racing but has since been sold on & re-schooled. However, whilst still at the racing yard they blistered her back. It has left a large roundish mark the size of a small fist which now has white hairs & feels slightly lumpy. I understand that this method is now classed as unnecessary & a bit barbaric. However, she seems to show no obvious sign of any pain or discomfort now. A saddle pad & gel pad was put underneath the saddle for the obvious reason of protecting her back.I saw her ridden & rode her myself & she seemed fine & happy. I also saw her jumped & again she seemed fine. Is this now dead tissue? If so what problems does that cause? Would this be likely to cause a problem in the future & what further measures could I take to ensure the area does'nt bother her or flare up again?

2) The second horse was a welsh x that had superb confirmation except for a slight lump on her near fore knee. It was just below the actual knee joint. The owner, who was re-schooling her (&who I felt was not trying to pull the wool over my eyes, he was also an 'equine dentist') said it was on her when she came to him & he showed me the picture on her passport which confirmed the same. She had been purchased from a sale so her history is not that clear other that she was used as a broodmare.She was trotted up on concrete & did'nt look at all lame.The knee was given much prodding & poking & the mare did'nt seem to object too much. However, she is only in very light work at the moment as she has been broken late (7yrs old) & her roadwork or canters/jumping has not yet started, just light schooling & hacking around the farmland. My worry is that with more work/jumping etc (although it will be only a little) will the knee hold up to this as it is unclear what the injury is or how it was sustained although it does'nt seem to bother her at present. I appreciate that she may have been given drugs to prevent lameness showing & only blood tests would reveal that. However, I did believe the owner that she was not on any drugs & he was more than happy for her to be vetted. There was no heat in the leg. If it has'nt reduced in the 3weeks he has had the mare I assume it will stay. Would arthritus be a problem in the future & am I off my trolly even considering a horse with a lump on it's knee?

many thanks

jackie

Answer
Jackie,
Always glad to help!  Lets start with your TB mare:
 As far as the Blistering on her back, Iw ouldn't be overly concerned about it, especially if it is not bothering her now.  THose things tend to be superficial, and should have had no effect on her spine, rib cage, or any of the muscle groupings in her back.  But I would continue to ride her in the gel pad.  I would say that if the hair has grown back white, the tissues are dead.  THis will more than likely only be an eye-sore and confirmation blemish.  I would be more concerned about her level of work at her age.  Being raced, she was probably broke as a long yearling or 2 year old, and now at 4 she is walk, trot, canter, and jumping!  Big red flag there for me.  orses skeletal systems don't fully develope and oscify until they are 8 years old.  Their knees usually don't close completely until they are 3 1/2- 4 1/2 years old, and I personally would never put a horse through any jumping training until it was at least 5!  I wouldn't even break them until they were 4 or so!  The jumping and strain on her very young legs will lead to things like severe arthritis, and navicular disease, amongst other smaller leg issues causing lameness.  If you really wanted to buy this horse, I would take her home, and just ride her on the flat until next year, then resume her jumping training.

The little welsh pony has a bit more to offer I think.  I would definately have your vet e-ray that knee to make sure the bump is nothing to do with a past injury.  I would also take into consideration that it may just be a little fleshy tumor type growth, which can be removed fairly inexpensively by most vets.  I really like that fact that this little horse wasn't broke until ashe was 7, and you can put her jumping training into her now without any thought of damaging her legs.  Also you won't have to worry about things like arthritis or any other stress related injury to her legs being that she is older, and her bones are strong enough to handle the work load.  Of Course provided that bump is not an issue.  I would chose the welsh over the TB!  I don't think you are loopy at all, I consider any good horse fully, no matter what the confirmation flaws, until I have the hard evidence from my vet that it would cause an issue.  My mustang mare had a large fleshy tumor on the inside of her hind left leg when I bought her, the vet came out removed the tumor, and she has been happy as a clam in mud ever since.  She also has heaves, but we keep her medicated, and fit, and she doesn't have any problems, she is used for lessons, trail rides, and she goes to the shows with us! Mostly to run Gymkhana events!  

I hope I have helped, good luck with both these horses.  

Samantha