Q: I’ve fallen in love with a particular horse and am desperate to buy him. The problem is that he is lame. He’s only just come off the track and apparently pulled some muscles in his back while still racing. I’m hoping his lameness will come right but everyone tells me to avoid him. What should I do?

Asked anonymously

A: Under no circumstances should you proceed with the sale until your vet has diagnosed exactly what is causing the lameness. It could be that he has pulled muscles in his back, but it could also be a hundred other things. It is possible that his lameness will be treated successfully, but it could also be that it gets worse over time. It all depends on what is causing it. You may need to use x-rays, scans or nerve blocks to diagnose the cause of the lameness. Once you know the cause, you can make a more educated decision based on your vet’s recommendation.

You also don’t mention what you would like to do with the horse. If you are looking for a companion horse, then his lameness will be less of an issue than if you want a showjumper! Just remember that lameness normally means ‘pain’, and no horse should be expected to work if he is sore.

This sounds like a tricky situation. If you are prepared to investigate the cause of the lameness, then go ahead and do this before the sale. Our advice would just be not to buy the horse without knowing the cause and whether the problem can be addressed satisfactorily. Buying a lame horse without knowing the cause risks even greater heartbreak than not purchasing the horse in the first place!