So you're shopping for a new horse... and after kissing many frogs you think you've FINALLY found your Prince Charming! (Or Princess - we love our mares!)
What happens next???
Most folks want to have some sort of Pre-Purchase Exam done.
What a Pre-Purchase Exam is - An evaluation performed by veterinarian that will help you gather information to make the best decision on whether this horse is the best fit for you.
A Pre-Purchase Exam will help answer questions like:
Does the horse appear to have the physical potential to do the job you're buying him for?
Does this horse have any management concerns?
If so, what can I handle? What are my "deal breakers"?
A vet will be able to objectively help you answer these questions.
A Pre-Purchase Exam is NOT a pass or fail test.
Horses cannot "pass" a PPE and they cannot "fail" a PPE.
The PPE is a fact-finding mission.
In doing a PPE, you may discover something about the horse that you, personally, are not willing to deal with... For example, after performing flexion test, the vet suggests a joint injection might help the horse perform more comfortably at the level you desire. You decide that doesn't work for you and pass on the horse but another buyer might have no problem with this discovery and happily purchase him.
What do you look for in YOUR Pre-Purchase Exam?
Well, that depends on what you're looking for your potential new equine partner to do! The more you expect out of your new guy or gal, the more things you should probably check out...
A basic PPE will include:
Physical Exam - temperature, pulse, respiration, physical condition and conformation evaluation, hooves
Movement Exam - lameness/soundness evaluation (usually on a lunge line)
Soft tissue palpation
Flexions
Additionally, depending on your goals, you may decide you'd like x-rays done.
Typically with sport horses we may x-ray:
feet
pasterns and fetlocks
hocks
stifles
Depending on the situation, it may also be worthwhile to x-ray the neck and back.
It is really important that you talk to your vet ahead of time so that they understand what you're looking for in your new partner and they can help you evaluate it with your goals in mind.
I like to remind my clients that good vets WILL find something on your horse's PPE. That's exactly what you're paying them for! Any good vet will do their due diligence and more often than not, they WILL find something. Expect that. And be grateful that you have a great vet on your team who misses nothing!
And don't forget to include the horse's history and past performance as you're evaluating him!
For example... A 15 year old horse with a long history of being sound doing exactly what I want to do with him but he doesn't flex perfectly? I probably wouldn't be all that concerned... At the end of the day, we're riding the horse - not the x-rays, etc.
What about you? What do you look for when having a vet evaluate your new prospect?
Any deal breakers? Tell me in the comments!
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