The Equine Pre-purchase Exam
The Equine Prepurchase Exam
The vetting is a crucial factor in most horse acquisitions. The fact that it prevents around 10% of expected deals indicates its importance. Therefore, we have spoken with veterinarian Henrik Sten Andersen from Hørsholm Hestepraksis in Denmark about the equine prepurchase exam; its purpose and content, as well as what to be aware of.
Why is the equine prepurchase exam important, and what is its purpose?
"Through the equine prepurchase exam, we determine the horse's condition at the moment it is examined. We don't know if it had any issues the day before or if it may fall sick the day after” says Henrik Sten Andersen, Veterinarian, Hørsholm Hestepraksis.
Thus, the equine prepurchase exam does not guarantee that the horse will not develop any issues at a later time, but it provides valuable insights into whether the specific horse is healthy, sound, and suitable for its intended purpose.
Veterinarian Henrik Sten Andersen from Hørsholm Hestepraksis states, "Furthermore, we only find out if the horse is okay at the specific time and location where we examine it. Even though the horse passes the equine prepurchase exam, it may have issues in areas we do not examine."
Most often, it is the buyer who requests a equine prepurchase exam, but it is also valuable for the seller. This is because the equine prepurchase exam provides a crucial and comprehensive assessment of the horse's health condition at the time of the trade, benefiting both parties in case of any later issues with the horse.
Moreover, it provides reassurance for the seller to know that the horse being handed over to a new owner is healthy and sound at the time of transfer.
The elements of the vetting; how extensive should it be?
The equine prepurchase exam consists of several elements and can vary in scope, depending on what the parties agree upon.
Agreement on the scope of the examination between the buyer and the seller
At Hørsholm Hestepraksis, both the buyer and the seller must fill out an online agreement form at least 24 hours before the examination. In this agreement, they decide which elements should be included in the equine prepurchase exam.
In addition to increasing the guarantee of buying a healthy horse with a more thorough examination, it is also essential regarding insurance for the horse and how much one chooses to have examined. Insurance companies require certain aspects to be examined and approved without any remarks for the horse to be insured. You can read more about horse insurance here.
Therefore, it is up to the buyer and the seller to reach an agreement on the extent of the examination they wish to have performed. The agreement form lists several aspects that can be chosen to include or exclude. For example, whether a riding test is desired, an extended oral cavity examination, or if a blood sample should be taken to check for undesirable substances in the horse's blood. The completed agreement form is sent back to the veterinarian, who performs the equine prepurchase exam based on it.
The clinical part
The examination typically starts with the clinical part, where the veterinarian evaluates the horse. When the examination begins, the veterinarian first examines the horse in the stable.
The following is typically checked:
- The horse's head, including
- Mouth, oral cavity, and teeth
- Eyes
- Neck, neck, and back, including
- Reflexes
- Symmetry
- Legs and hooves
- Any tenderness and swellings are examined more thoroughly
- Heart and lungs
- Neurology
Gait assessment
If everything is fine with the above, the examination continues in the riding arena or on the riding track, where the veterinarian first observes the horse being trotted and walked in a straight line to check its soundness and to see if it moves symmetrically. Next, the horse is lunged in both trot and canter on both reins to assess its movement for smoothness, regularity, and absence of lameness. The horse should be observed in motion on both hard and soft ground, including lunging in trot on a small circle on firm ground.
Furthermore, the veterinarian listens to the horse again after it has elevated its pulse. It can be chosen to have the veterinarian also observe the horse under saddle.
Flexion test
During the flexion test, the veterinarian flexes one of the horse's legs at a time, and immediately after the flexion of each leg, the horse is trotted to check for any lameness resulting from the added stress of the flexion test. The flexion test applies some extra stress on the joints and tendons, and any tenderness or injury may cause lameness in the leg during the subsequent gait assessment. The results of the flexion tests are interpreted in the context of the horse's age, size, intended use, and any previous injury history.
If the veterinarian identifies any "faults" in the horse during the clinical examination, the examination can be naturally discontinued. It is typically the buyer's decision whether a "fault," such as lameness or tenderness, should halt the further equine prepurchase exam and the potential purchase. The veterinarian will express their opinion on the possible implications of the fault for the horse's future, but ultimately, it is the buyer and the seller who determine whether the examination should proceed. If the buyer intends to insure the horse, it is worth considering how the insurance company will view the veterinarian's findings, as mentioned earlier.
The radiological part
Once the horse has completed the clinical equine prepurchase exam, the radiological part can be continued if chosen. In this phase, the veterinarian takes X-rays of the horse's legs and hooves, and possibly its topline, depending on the decisions made by the buyer and seller. The veterinarian assesses the bones and joints that have been X-rayed and evaluates whether there are any changes or abnormalities. The examination is conducted following a standardized X-ray protocol.
Some changes can have significant implications for the horse's durability, while others are often insignificant. The veterinarian assesses the overall health condition of the horse and determines whether any changes are believed to pose an increased risk for the horse's future use. However, based on the general assessment of the X-ray images, the veterinarian cannot predict the horse's future performance level or durability. They can only consider whether there are any changes or abnormalities in the bones that have been X-rayed.
Conclusion: The veterinarian provides a risk assessment, which is for the parties involved in theacquisition to evaluate.
Once the examination is completed, the veterinarian fills out a certificate for the horse. In this certificate, the veterinarian notes which examinations have been performed and whether any abnormalities were found.
Based on the conducted examinations and discussions with the buyer and seller, the examining veterinarian performs an overall risk assessment of whether the horse's health condition on the day of the examination is believed to pose a risk for the intended use of the horse. The veterinarian can conclude that there is (i) a normal, (ii) slightly increased, (iii) increased, or (iv) significant risk that the horse's health condition will affect the intended use. The assessment does not take into account the horse's value, the depreciation of any findings during the examination, or the horse's resale value.
The veterinarian may also conclude that it is not possible to assess the horse's health condition without further examination. For example, if the horse is lame or injured.
Thus, the veterinarian can only provide a risk assessment of the horse's current health condition, and the equine prepurchase exam cannot predict the horse's future performance level or capacity.
If one is pleased with a horse and has chosen to put it through the equine prepurchase exam before a purchase, and it passes without any remarks, it is probably not difficult to decide to proceed with the purchase.
However, if it turns out that the horse has remarks that the veterinarian considers might affect its use and which the insurance company would raise concerns about, then it becomes more challenging to make a decision.
Because of the risk of such a situation, it is essential for the buyer to choose a veterinarian they trust. Regardless, it is ultimately the buyer who decides whether a trade should be completed, and there are often many factors at play; the potential significance of the remarks and thus the risk, the intended use of the horse, how much one desires the horse, the price of the horse, etc.
Thus, the equine prepurchase exam is a crucial factor in an acquisition. It can be nerve-wracking for both the buyer and the seller but remember that it is better for both parties to become aware of any issues before an acquisition rather than afterward.
