A Pre-Purchase examination is a complete health assessment including a lameness evaluation to ensure the horse or pony that you are wanting to purchase will SUIT YOUR athletic requirements. This should be a personalised examination tailored to your requirements following a consultation with the performing Veterinarian
I do hear many clients and experienced horse people say ‘I DO NOT NEED ONE’, mostly because they have brought many horses and never had an issue. I would like to give my professional opinion on this and comment, ‘YOU HAVE SIMPLY BEEN LUCKY’.
In my every day work I see my clients spend a lot of money of treating problems that horses arrived with. Some of these issues cannot be fixed, only managed at marked cost to the new owner. Without a Pre-Purchase examination, you are also unlikely to be able to get your money back during a disputes tribunal (I have seen them go both ways).
This article is a little guide as to the pro’s of having a pre-purchase examination:
It is a legally binding document that owners sign to declare any previous known health history: TIP If you are purchasing the horse through an agent, you MUST also request the owner to sign the disclosure
It protects the SELLER: Many sellers are taken to the disputes court because the pony arrived and it wasn’t behaving as advertised or is lame. A Pre-Purchase Examination protects the seller here.
It is NOT a PASS OR FAIL examination: It simply highlights any abnormalities, and provides the purchaser with a risk profile of purchasing the horse for likely future veterinary intervention or clinical disease
FLEXION TESTS: Can be positive or negative and the horse is still suitable for purchase. It is about taking into account the whole picture including age, riding history, flexion test symmetry and clinical examination.
Purchase Price: Buying a cheaper horse should not be a reason to avoid a pre-purchase examination. Many horses purchased for $1000 have cost 2-3 times in veterinary bills.
Veterinarian: They should be LICENSED TO PERFORM pre-purchase examinations. They should also as mentioned above, tailor the pre-purchase based on your individual needs!! Not all vets are licensed for this procedure.