Pre Purchase Exams What To Expect
Pre-purchase exams are valuable tools, providing context and some level of risk-assessment.
By Glenye Cain Oakford
If you’re shopping for horses to lease or buy, chances are you’ll want to arrange for a veterinarian to do a pre-purchase exam (PPE) before you sign on the dotted line.
Veterinarians caution buyers that a PPE is a snapshot in time. “Any horse can have a bad day, and it’s not necessarily reflective of how the horse is all the time,” said Dr. Laura Werner of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky. However, PPEs are valuable tools, providing context and some level of risk-assessment.
“It’s important to make sure the horse is going to be suitable for what its intended use will be,” said Dr. Werner. “We don’t have a crystal ball, but it’s also good to identify any problems that could occur in the present or future. We can’t predict everything, but we try to see what risks might be there or, if there are problems, which ones might be manageable and which ones are not.”
It’s tempting to regard a PPE as “pass or fail,” but that’s not how a vet approaches the examination, Dr. Werner said.
“We do our exam, find the things that are abnormal in the horse, then present that information to the potential buyer or their agent for them to make the decision as to whether those are acceptable risks or not,” she said. “That also can involve some negotiation between the buyer and seller that we are not part of. So we’re not looking on the basis of a term that’s either pass or fail.”
If you’re considering a PPE — or if a potential buyer has asked for a PPE on a horse or pony you are selling or leasing — here are some basics to know.
Choose a neutral veterinarian
“The most important thing to know is that you shouldn’t use the veterinarian who is the horse’s regular veterinarian,” said Dr. Werner. “You obviously want an exam without a conflict of interest, so find a veterinarian that isn’t associated with the horse, the trainer, or the barn, someone who is a neutral party without any conflicts of interest.”
It’s also good to hire a sport-horse veterinarian familiar with the horse’s proposed discipline or use.
Word of mouth can help you find a reputable veterinarian, and Dr. Werner also suggests the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Get-A-DVM veterinarian locator, available at aaep.org/horse-owners/get-dvm. “When you’re arranging for a pre-purchase exam, make sure to ask who the seller’s usual veterinarian is so you can try to avoid selecting that one,” Werner said. “In some rural areas, that might not be an option if there aren’t many veterinarians available. In that case, it’s worth getting your regular veterinarian to review the radiographs or a videotape of the exam.”
Get the basics as a starting point
A standard PPE should include what Werner called “a basic physical exam,” including:
- Listening to the heart and lungs, typically using a stethoscope
- Examining the eyes
- Determining if the horse has had any previous surgeries, including colic surgery or neurectomy (nerving)
- Jogging and longeing the horse on both hard and soft surfaces
- Joint flexion exams
- Neurologic exams
- Careful palpation and passive manipulation of neck, back, and limbs
“If it’s a horse that’s broke to saddle, ideally I also like to see the horse ridden under saddle, because a lot of times you’ll see something under saddle that you don’t see lunging,” Werner said. The same applies to driving horses, she added. “The idea is to see them performing as they would for their intended use. It’s important to see them doing their normal activity.”
Consider any add-ons you might want
There are a range of other elements you can request for a PPE. These might be available at additional fees, but they are worth considering to give you a fuller look at the horse. These include:
- Radiographs (X-rays)
- Drug screen to test the horse for any illegal drugs or substances in the horse’s system that might affect it during the PPE
- Ultrasound
- Upper-airway endoscopy
- Coggins test
“I’ve even had some people do a standing MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] exam for some of the limbs,” Dr. Werner said.
“Some people also request basic bloodwork.”
Explore the possibility of a trial
Lease-to-buy agreements or the option to take a horse on trial allow more time to evaluate a horse, if the seller is willing. “That’s worked out between the buyer and seller rather than the vet,” Dr. Werner said, "It gives you a bigger window to get to know a horse, rather than just the one time during the exam.”
Be mindful of your veterinarian’s role
Your veterinarian’s role in the PPE is to use their expertise to assess the horse’s condition and provide you with information.
“We just present you with the facts, and we can tell you whether we think something is a mild or moderate risk and whether the horse is suitable for its intended use,” said Dr. Werner. “But we don’t give a ‘pass’ or a ‘fail,’ and we certainly don’t do negotiation — that’s up to the buyer and seller or their agents.”
For tips on buying or leasing a horse, check out the video “How to Buy or Lease a Horse,” featuring US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney, in our online Learning Center at usef.org/learn. You’ll also find USEF’s Equine Transaction Packet and many more resources there.
Photos: Shelley Paulson