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The Prepurchase Exam ■ Eyes. Using a light source, the vet will check the health of the horse’s eyes, looking for corneal scarring, cataracts, inflammation, and other signs of disease. ■ Teeth. The vet will examine the horse’s mouth for problems, including missing teeth, overgrown molars, poor alignment, and abnormal wear. Before the Exam ■ Conformation. The vet will ■ Find the right vet. Try to use evaluate the horse’s conforyour own veterinarian, but be mation for any faults that may aware that you might need to affect the animal’s ability to percall in a different vet if the horse form the job you have in mind is located far from your vet’s for him. office. Avoid using the seller’s ■ Passive lameness exam/legs. vet; it’s best to get an objective In this part of the lameness opinion. exam, the horse stands still. The ■ Talk to the vet. Discuss your vet will palpate (expertly feel) plans, with the vet, so he or she the lower limbs, checking the knows how you’ll be using the horse’s bones, joints, muscles, horse. Share everything you tendons, and ligaments. He or know about the horse’s medical she also will likely palpate the history and current use. horse’s back. During the Exam ■ Passive lameness exam/ ■ Vital signs. The vet will check hooves. The vet will look closely for normal temperature, respiat the shape, balance, size, and ration, and pulse while at rest. quality of the horse’s feet and The horse will then be given hooves. He or she will use hoof some light exercise and checked testers (metal pincers) to check again. Abnormal vital-sign readfor any soreness. The vet will ings can indicate illness. also conduct flexion tests (in ■ Gut sounds. Using a which various joints are mastethoscope, the vet will listen nipulated) to reveal any pain, to the sounds coming from the especially those in the lower leg. different sections of the horse’s ■ Active lameness exam. Here, gastrointestinal system. Normal the horse will be asked to move. gut sounds indicate a healthy The vet will watch closely as digestive tract. the horse is led at walk, trot, ■ Heart and lungs. The vet and canter. The vet may then will listen to the horse’s heart ask to see the horse longed in a and lungs with a stethoscope, small circle, preferably on a hard checking for abnormal sounds. surface. Fall sales, auctions, organized rides, and other equestrian events are prime venues for purchasing a new horse. And it’s always a good time to adopt a horse that needs a forever home. One way to help ensure you’re getting a sound, healthy horse is to invest in a prepurchase examination by a qualified equine veterinarian. Here’s a prepurchase-exam checklist.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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During a prepurchase exam, the vet will conduct flexion tests to reveal any pain, especially those in the lower leg.
■ Radiographs. At your request, the vet may take radiographs to further evaluate soundness and overall health. Radiographs are typically taken if the flexion test reveals any signs of lameness. ■ Blood. Blood tests are optional. If you ask for a blood test, the vet will check for equine infectious anemia, thyroid function, and other metabolic problems. You may also request a drug test for sedatives, painkillers, and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. ■ Neurologic problems. The vet might also check for equine protozoal myelitis and other neurological problems, especially if there have been any outbreaks in the area. He or she might bend the horse’s neck, ask the horse to back or turn in a tight circle, or tap the horse to check certain reflexes. If there are signs of a possible neurologic problem, the vet may perform approved additional tests. USR — Audrey Pavia
Fall 2021
