A pre-purchase vet check provides the buyer with valuable information about the horse's current condition and suitability for the buyer's intended use. In addition, pre-purchase veterinary exams can help the buyer avoid buying a horse that requires expensive maintenance or that doesn't match the seller's representations. If the buyer chooses to buy the horse, the pre-purchase veterinary examination can also serve as a snapshot of the horse's condition on that day, a useful diagnostic tool if the horse later develops problems.
Elements of the Exam:
In general, a prepurchase exam will include three phases:
- Basic health evaluation, including health history, temperature, pulse, respiration, general condition, and conformation;
- Lameness assessment, including flexion tests, soft tissue palpation, and movement evaluation;
- Ancillary diagnostics that might not come into play, including radiographs (X rays), ultrasound, and bloodwork.