A PRE-PURCHASE EXAM IS A GOOD INVESTMENT

Jeske Noordergraaf, VMD

July 2005

Horses seldom come with money-back guarantees and that is why it is so important to investigate before you buy.  We are often asked to do a post purchase exam- a physical exam on a horse that a person has already purchased and may have grown attached to.  If there is a problem, it may be too late to return the horse.  Also, if you bring home a horse that is sick, your other horses may end up sick also.  Take your time buying the right horse for you, and consider having a pre-purchase exam done.

I have three rules that I recommend for people buying a horse.  These are based on my experience as a veterinarian

1. Go for a ride. Always ride the horse before you buy it (If you are buying this horse as a riding horse), unless it is too young or hasn't been trained yet.

2. Check for lameness.  Don't buy a lame horse as a riding horse. Not all lameness problems can be fixed.

3. Buy safe. If you end up in the emergency room while trying out the horse you are thinking of buying, don't buy it.

The purpose of the pre-purchase exam is to determine if the horse you are considering will meet your needs. The veterinarian's job is not to pass or fail an animal.  It is to provide you with information regarding any existing medical problems and explain the possibility of future problems, especially in light of the horse's intended use.

The pre-purchase exam usually includes the following:

• Review the horse's medical history, including vaccinations, deworming and any medication the horse is taking.

• Monitor pulse, respiration and temperature.

• Listen to the heart and lungs both at rest and after exercise.

• Check nostrils, ears and eyes.

• Evaluate confirmation.

• Palpate body and limbs.

• Draw blood for Coggins and other tests.

• Examine teeth and mouth and verify the age of the horse.

• Evaluate feet visually and with hoof testers.

• Watch the horse travel in a straight line at a walk and trot.

• Watch the horse walk, trot and canter on a longe line.

• Perform flexion tests on joints.

• Observe the horse's behavior.

Radiographs are optional in a pre-purchase exam. Radiographs can determine if there is arthritis or bone or joint problems. If your are buying a horse to use for breeding, a thorough reproductive exam should be done to help determine fertility.

No horse is perfect in every respect.  Some medical conditions and conformation faults are manageable or may never seriously affect the horse's performance.  Also, determine if the horse is ready to be used for the purpose you have in mind or needs further training. Buying a young horse is great if you can invest the time and money in training - but if you want to hit the trails this year, buy a horse who has been out there already.  I once had a client who purchased two yearling Arabian colts for his little girls, age 3 and 5.  These horses  had never been handled and were wild.   When I asked why he hadn't gotten an older, trained horse, he said that these were less expensive.  That was true, of course, but by the time they grew up and were trained he would have invested more money.  The daughters were scared of these wild youngsters, luckily, and lost interest and the so the horses were sold.  An older, quiet horse would have cost more but would have been safer and more fun for all involved.

Be cautious if you are buying a thin horse.  Thin horses are often quiet because they only have enough energy for survival.  Once they gain weight, their attitude may change as now they have energy to misbehave.  Ask the seller why there is a weight issue and if the horse has been recently ill. 

We are often offered free horses.  There is a reason that the horse is free.  In general, horses are an investment and have value.  If the owner will, in addition, deliver the horse for free, be aware that there is a problem.  Not all free horses are bad, however, I was given a warmblood who could no longer perform at a high level because of problems with arthritis.  But he could still be used for  light riding and was a dream to handle.  My house was his retirement home and he was wonderful here.

Buying a horse can be fun, but take the time to buy the right horse for you even if this isn't the horse you have dreamed about since you were a child.  Not everyone can own the Black Stallion or National Velvet.