Pre-purchase examinations
While buying a new horse is undoubtedly exciting many people also find the process nerve wracking. The financial and emotional implications of buying an unsuitable horse can be considerable so it is understandable that purchasers wish to obtain as much information about their prospective purchase as possible.
The goal of the pre-purchase examination (PPE or vetting) is to enable the purchaser to make an informed decision as to whether the horse is clinically suitable for the intended use and evaluate any findings that might increase the risk of purchase. A pre-purchase examination may also be required prior to obtaining insurance for a new horse. Purchasers are welcome to attend the PPE, however this is not always possible due to location and scheduling. In either case, our vets take time to speak to purchasers before, after and sometimes during the PPE to ensure that we have a thorough understanding of their requirements.
A full pre purchase examination comprises the following 5 stages:
Stage 1: Examination at rest, including auscultation of the heart and lungs with a stethoscope and examination of the eyes using an ophthalmoscope.
Stage 2: Dynamic assessment in hand. This usually involves walk and trot in a straight line, flexion tests, lungeing and assessment of the horse’s ability to back up and turn tight circles
Stage 3: Exercise. This is usually performed under saddle although it can be undertaken on the lunge, for example in unbacked horses. The purpose is to evaluate the cardiac and respiratory systems during exercise, in addition to further assessment of the horse’s gait. The type and duration of exercise will vary depending on the horse’s level of fitness and intended use; a race horse or high-level event horse would be required to gallop for an appropriate distance whereas a fast canter in an arena may be sufficient for a dressage horse.
Stage 4: Period of rest
Stage 5: Second trot up. This may also include repeat flexion tests and lungeing depending on the findings in stage 2.
In most cases the PPE is undertaken on the vendor’s premises. The following facilities are required:
- Stable, including ability to dim the lights for ophthalmic examination
- Flat, level area for trotting up
- Suitable area for lungeing on a firm surface
- Ideally a surfaced area for lungeing on a soft surface (for example arena or lunge pen)
- Suitable area for the exercise stage of the examination (for example arena, enclosed field or gallop track)
If these facilities are not available, we are able to undertake pre-purchase examinations at our hospital.
In some cases, purchasers might choose a limited pre purchase examination, comprising the first two stages only. If this is the case we ask for completion of a signed ‘limited liability’ document to ensure that the purchaser is aware that some conditions may not be revealed in a two-stage examination.
It is standard procedure to collect a blood sample at the time of the PPE. This is stored for 6 months and can be used to check for medication such as painkillers or sedatives.
Additional procedures such as radiography, ultrasonography or endoscopy can also be undertaken at the time of the PPE. Additional procedures might be recommended to investigate clinical findings such as mild lameness or abnormal respiratory noise. They might also be a requirement prior to insurance of valuable animals. Sometimes, more specialist additional procedures such as cardiac ultrasound are recommended. These cannot usually be performed by our ambulatory team at the time of the PPE but can be performed by one of our specialists on another day.
Following completion of the PPE the attending vet will issue a certificate detailing the clinical findings and whether these are likely to prejudice the horse for the intended purpose. It is very rare that there are no clinical findings; after all we are examining animals not machines. Decisions regarding suitability are often not ‘black and white’ and potential risks are evaluated on an individual basis. Our vets take the time to thoroughly discuss findings with purchasers, taking their individual requirements into account.