Owning a horse can be a big investment in time, money and emotion. Unfortunately, horses seldom come with a money-back guarantee. That’s why when confronted with the question of optimal health, it is important to investigate the horse’s overall condition through a purchase exam. A purchase exam differs from the yearly physical you should routinely give your horse in that its function is to establish a working problem list at the start of ownership. This will change with time but can be an invaluable baseline if the need should arise. Whether you want a horse as a family pet, a pleasure mount, a breeding animal, or a high performance athlete, a purchase exam to establish care and maintenance will yield the best results for maintaining optimum health and satisfaction. Investing in the best horse to fit your budget as well as your needs takes time and research to accomplish. Veterinarians many times see this or the lack thereof when the new horse is brought to them shortly after purchase to treat some issue that might have been discovered on a purchase exam. ( UNCLEAR, SEE WHAT?MONA FIX)The result(OF WHAT?) is all too often an animal that is not physically capable of serving the intended function it was originally purchased for.
Perhaps this is why business owners have adopted the “pre-hire” physical. Much like the “pre” purchase it is a foundation of health status of the individual, since it gives a background as to the abilities of the individual. Just as you would not expect a person with two herniated disc to load boxes for UPS without having some performance limiting issues (regardless of the rest of the interview), an equine athlete with navicular issues will likely have a decreased performance level as a jumper even though he might be perfect in disposition size and style. This may or may not be a reason not to buy the individual depending on your expectations for his or her performance level and the economic investment. However, armed with this information one certainly has more ammunition for which to base a sound decision.
Purchase examinations can vary widely, depending on the intended use of the horse and the veterinarian performing the examination. Deciding exactly what should be included in the purchase examination requires good communication between you and your veterinarian. The following guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will help ensure a custom-tailored exam:
- Choose a veterinarian who is familiar with the breed, sport or use for which the horse is being purchased.
- Explain to your veterinarian your expectations and primary uses for the horse, including short- and long-term goals (e.g., showing, then breeding).
- Ask your veterinarian to outline the procedures that he or she feels should be included in the exam and why.
- Establish the costs for these procedures.
- Be present during the purchase exam. The seller or agent may also be present.
- Discuss with your veterinarian his or her findings in private.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request further information about your veterinarian’s findings in private.
Remember the veterinarian’s job is neither to pass nor fail an animal. Rather, it is to provide you with information regarding any existing medical problems and to discuss those problems with you so that you can make an informed purchase decision. Your veterinarian can advise you about the horse’s current physical condition, but he or she cannot predict the future. The decision to buy is yours alone to make. But your veterinarian can be a valuable partner in the process of providing you with objective, health-related information.