A pre-purchase examination, often known as a vetting, is highly recommended when purchasing a horse. A vetting is an examination carried out by a vet to determine whether a horse is suitable for its intended use.
A pre-purchase examination may also be required by the insurance company. It is worth checking with your insurance provider beforehand as they may also insist on additional tests such as x-rays. This is more likely to be the case when purchasing high-value horses, or those to be used for commercial reasons (e.g. breeding or professional competition).
Some buyers may feel that they “don’t need” a full vetting, or that it “isn’t worth it”. However, the one-off cost of a pre-purchase examination is nothing compared to the financial cost that may be incurred if you unwittingly purchase an unsound or unsuitable horse.
Furthermore, you should take into consideration your safety and the horse’s welfare. An underlying condition could be causing the horse pain or discomfort, particularly if it is asked to do more than it is capable of. This is not only a welfare concern, but it could lead to an accident.
A dream horse that turns out to be wholly unsuitable, unwell, unsound or even dangerous can incur a great deal of frustration and distress on its new owner, not to mention the time and money involved in dealing with something that could have been spotted beforehand.
It is important to note that a pre-purchase examination carried out by a vet is a full clinical examination. It goes much further than simply trying the horse out a couple of times or watching it being ridden by the current owner.
Pre-purchase examinations are available as either a full or 5 stage vetting, or a part or 2 stage vetting. We would advise most prospective buyers have a 5 stage vetting carried out, because this will give a complete overview of the horse’s suitability for ridden work as well as a more thorough look at its general health. However, a 2 stage vetting may be more appropriate in certain situations. For example, when looking to purchase an unbacked horse, a mare in foal or a horse that is only being purchased as an unridden companion.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will be able to advise on whether a full or part pre-purchase examination would be appropriate.
A five stage vetting includes all five of the stages below, whereas a two stage vetting only covers the first two stages.
Stage 1: A thorough clinical examination of the horse at rest to detect any apparent symptoms. It includes thorough palpation of all the limbs, listening to the heart and lungs and an examination of the horse’s eyes with an ophthalmoscope.
Stage2: Observation of the horse walking and trotting in hand, including flexion tests, to detect subtle lameness issues.
Stage 3: Strenuous exercise, normally under saddle/lunged looking to detect subtle lameness or respiratory problems. Assessment of the heart and respiratory system.
Stage 4: Checking the horse’s return to normal heart and respiratory rate after exercise.
Stage 5: Second trot-up to review any stiffness or lameness observed after work.
As you can see, any horse that is intended to be used for ridden work, especially competition, should have a full pre-purchase examination carried out prior to being purchased. The ridden assessment will be as rigorous as possible, whilst taking into account the horse’s age, level of training and intended use. A horse being purchased to do low-level dressage will likely have a different assessment to one intended for high-level eventing.
At Avonvale Equine Vet Practice, we offer full (5 stage) and part (2 stage) pre-purchase examinations. Additional tests, such as an endoscopy or x-rays, are also available.
Full PPE (5 stage vetting) - £389.69 including VAT plus call out fee (dependent on area) (2023 price)
Part PPE (2 stage vetting) - £206.65 including VAT plus call out fee (dependent on area) (2023 price)
Additional services are available on request. Please call us on 01295 670 501 for an estimate.
We are an independent equine vet practice, and our experienced equine vets regularly carry out full and part pre-purchase examinations. Whether you are looking to purchase a child’s first pony, an elite eventer or a project to bring on, we are happy to help. You can book a vetting via the form on our website or call us to discuss your requirements.
