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He may seem perfect-but before you call him your horse, determine whether a horse is suitable for the job at hand and whether you can tolerate his inevitable shortcomings.

Published by Joan Norton, VMD, diploma. ACVIM | August 25, 2021 | Articles, Behavior and Treatment, Physical Condition, Dental Problems, Diagnosis and Technology, Eye and Ear Problems, Heart and Cardiovascular Problems, Horse Care, Limp, Other Eye Problems, Other Respiratory System Problems , Purchase inspections, X-rays (X-rays), respiratory problems, sales, sports medicine, veterinarians and professionals, work with veterinarians

After months of carefully selected horses, you finally found the perfect match. You are very excited to connect the trailer and load the horse before the ink on the check dries. However, if you want to make an informed decision, there is one step in the purchase process that cannot be skipped: the pre-purchase exam.

Over the years, pre-order exams-once reserved for high-priced sports and horse racing-have evolved to include an assessment of any horse that changes hands. As all riders, from professionals to weekend off-road riders, have a better understanding of the health of their horses, pre-order exams are becoming more and more common. With the advancement of technology and the ability to bring it to your farm, the pre-purchase exam has also evolved into a highly specialized assessment of the health of the horse.

The most important thing to remember about the pre-order exam is that it is not a pass or fail test. This is a timely snapshot that tells you the health of the horse on a specific date. It can provide hints on how the horse will progress, but it cannot predict the future.

Also, remember that no horse is perfect. If the inspection is strict enough, any horse will have problems. What you want to determine is whether this horse is up to the task you intend him to do, and whether you are willing to solve existing problems. Discuss any imperfections with your veterinarian, and ask you what problems you might encounter from this, and what to do with them. For some problems, the risk may be worth the reward for your particular scenario. As Alexander M. Chan of VMD, owner of AMC Equine in Westchester County, New York, said, pre-purchasing exams should help "help customers make informed decisions."

An important part of the decision is to choose the veterinarian who will perform the examination. He or she should be a horse-specific veterinarian with the knowledge and experience to deal with the breed or discipline of the horse you are trying. This person should be fair; he or she should not work on horses, should not work for sellers or agents, and should not have any financial interest in the sale. The veterinarian who performs the inspection works for the buyer, who pays the fee and reports directly to the buyer. And because the buyer pays for the inspection, he or she has the right to the information obtained, including all results, radiographic images or test results. Unless expressly approved by the buyer, the veterinarian is not obliged to share the inspection results with the seller or agent.

When arranging the exam, please make sure that the seller or agent understands the appointment situation so that they have enough time to stop taking any medications that may change the results of the exam. It is also important to discuss with your veterinarian which tests you wish to perform, as the process can be simple or extensive according to your wishes. Naturally, the cost of the test increases with the scope of the test. There is no rule of thumb for how much it should cost to pre-order based on the price of the horse, and it is even possible that an extensive inspection may match or exceed the price of the horse. How much you spend is your choice, but realize that in the long run, early investment can save you money.

The minimum pre-purchase inspection should include recording a complete medical and performance history and completing a complete physical assessment.

"The most important part of the pre-purchase inspection is the veterinarian's clinical evaluation," Chan said. "Once a horse is deemed to be useful for the expected level of use after assessing its exercise, it may choose to undergo additional diagnosis to further assist the decision-making process."

Chen said that veterinarians should:

During the initial inspection, your veterinarian can also take notes on the horse’s temperament and behavior. Watch out for any bad stable habits, such as knitting or swaddling.

If you plan to buy horses for breeding, either as a main function or as a job at the end of their sports career, please take special consideration during the pre-purchase exam. If the horse is a mare, it is best to perform these procedures while she is riding a bicycle.

The reproductive integrity of the mare includes checking the external structure of the vulva. Veterinarians usually evaluate the cervix, uterus, and ovaries through rectal palpation and ultrasound scans. Your veterinarian should check the tone, ability of the cervix, and any tears that the previous foal may have caused. The tone of the uterus should be palpated and the abnormal effusion and cysts should be scanned. These abnormal effusions and cysts may later be confused with pregnancy. The size, structure, and developing follicles of the ovaries should be thoroughly examined. Your veterinarian can also perform more extensive tests, such as uterine cultures or biopsy, which can reveal any bacterial or viral challenges that may affect fertility.

Stallions used for breeding should also undergo breeding sanity inspections. During this inspection, your veterinarian will collect the semen of the stallion, usually using breeding phantoms (or dummies) and tease the mares. He or she can assess the stallion’s sexual desire and willingness to reproduce, as well as any mechanical problems that may arise, such as limp after breeding. The sperm morphology, concentration and motility of their semen should be checked. If you wish to transport the semen of a stallion, please check the semen after cooling or freezing.

-Joan Norton, VMD, diploma. ACVIM

In addition to a general physical examination, most veterinarians also recommend a limp examination, especially if the horse is an athlete. Therefore, it is best to choose a veterinarian with lame experience. The shape of the horse while standing can provide early clues as to how he will move. The veterinarian should carefully check the integrity and balance of the hoof and use a hoof tester to determine if the sole is sore. He or she should evaluate the gait during walking and trotting, and perform a flexion test to detect any limp. Observing horses circling or even working under the saddle can reveal less obvious gait abnormalities.

"The robustness should be assessed in different gaits, on various surfaces, on the hands and under the saddle, on straight lines and circles," Chen said. “Under certain circumstances (for example, in a set, in a certain direction, the weight of the rider, after bending, when backing, etc.), the horse may exhibit subtle movement abnormalities.”

Likewise, the impact of lameness depends on the horse's expected work. Two horses may have the same pre-order results, but it may be acceptable for a child's walking pony and may be a deal breaker for the Grand Prix vault.

X-rays are a common (if not recommended) part of the pre-purchase inspection. Which part of the limb in your veterinarian's image depends on several factors.

"Depending on the situation, a set of X-ray investigations may be taken to confirm the veterinarian's clinical findings to find the potential source of lameness, or just as a baseline," Chen said of his approach. "If the cost of a set of'standard' films is too high, I will radiograph which parts of the horse based on my clinical examination, discipline or intended use, breed, age, and final resale considerations."

A standard set of X-rays can range from a few views (minimal forefoot, foot, hocks and/or knee joints) to the widest package of more than 36 images, for example, many auction houses require prospects to sell before the game . 

Although more advanced imaging is not considered a standard for pre-order examinations, some buyers require ultrasound evaluation of forelimb tendons and ligaments. Buyers participating in sports such as dressage and equestrian competitions may benefit from these additional exams because tendon and ligament problems can affect their performance. Chen said that if he finds abnormal palpation of soft tissues, a history of tendon or ligament injuries in the horse, or radiographs that cannot explain lameness, he recommends an ultrasound. Larger equine hospitals provide nuclear scintigraphy (skeletal scans), which may help veterinarians identify areas of bone remodeling that did not cause obvious abnormalities in the claudication examination or X-rays. Another advanced diagnosis that your veterinarian may use based on the initial examination is upper airway endoscopy. This inspection is particularly important for horses that make abnormal breathing sounds at work; it can be done while the horse is resting, on a high-speed treadmill, or under a saddle.

If the veterinarian hears a heart murmur, he or she usually recommends an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). But even so, it is difficult to predict whether the detected abnormalities will change the horse's performance or whether they will improve over time. Therefore, although many murmurs may only be discovered accidentally and will not affect the horse’s career or lifespan, owning a murmur horse may mean arranging annual inspections to track its development. An electrocardiogram (ECG) can help the veterinarian diagnose any arrhythmia found during auscultation. In some cases, he or she may choose to have an ECG check while the horse is exercising or order a 24-hour continuous ECG (through a Holter monitor) to determine The meaning of arrhythmia. 

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Your veterinarian may also perform blood tests. Evidence of a negative Coggins test for equine infectious anemia is required, and the law requires any horse to move from one state to another. A complete blood count and serum chemistry can indicate the overall health of the horse. Veterinarians can also conduct drug screenings to detect any recently used drugs that may change the performance or health of the horse. The most common drugs tested include anti-inflammatory drugs such as phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine, both of which can mask claudication. He or she can also determine steroids and short-term or long-term sedatives through blood or urine tests. You can order these tests individually or combine them as part of a wider panel. Drug testing can be very expensive, so in some cases, Chen suggested that the horse be tried instead to see how he behaved. However, long-term sedatives of fluphenazine or proserpine can last for several weeks to several months. If you are concerned about using these drugs, your veterinarian recommends testing.

Likewise, pre-purchasing an exam does not imply a pass/fail barrier. It is a data set that helps you as a buyer make the most informed decision about your purchase. Based on your comfort and financial goals, decide how many different checks and tests you want the vet to perform. Work with your veterinarian to gather as much information as possible for your budget. All in all, the pre-purchase exam will help you determine whether the horse you think is best for you is one that you and your veterinarian can manage together to stay healthy and be successful at work.

Joan Norton, VMD, diploma. ACVIM has created Norton Veterinary Consulting and Educational Resources to promote equine veterinary education to horse owners, professionals and veterinarians. She is the author of the horse first aid manual.

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