Equine Medical Service
3021 W. County Rd. 64
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Office
(970) 568-9445
FAX
(970) 568-0705
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The decision to buy a horse is a major commitment. It involves an outlay of time, emotion and money. For most current horse owners these are expenses that they have already considered many times. The choice to purchase "that horse" should be a joint venture between the prospective owner and the information that may be provided by professionals such as a trainer or coach and their veterinarian.
Veterinary purchase exams are designed to uncover as much medical and soundness information on the prospective horse as is possible in a limited time frame. They should include a thorough musculo-skeletal soundness exam as well as an exam of all major body systems including respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, ocular and gastrointestinal systems. Although it is impossible through a single clinical examination to predict the future wellness of any particular animal, it is quite valuable to know as much as possible regarding the animals current medical condition and musculo-skeletal soundness. The exam is not designed as a "pass or fail" test, rather it is designed as a medical information report that can help in deciding if a particular prospective athlete may perform their intended job, and how they may hold up in the future. Although no one can make any guarantees as to the future, the horse's current medical conditions may be very good indicators of what you as the new owner can expect.
A major red flag within the purchase exam is the detection of lameness. Although a red flag, this does not mean that the horse is not suitable for purchase. The decision for purchase is based on many factors including the age and condition of the horse, the level of training, the intended use of the horse, the severity of the problem, and treatment options for the condition, as well as the purchase price. In fact, many valuable performance horses are purchased with full knowledge of existing medical conditions including lameness. They are purchased based on their ability to perform their jobs and to excel in a particular sport.
The decision to have a purchase exam performed prior to buying an animal is usually a sound investment. To limit the amount of money spent on such exams the purchaser should spend as much time researching the horses abilities and suitability prior to calling for the veterinary exam. The cost of the exam or exams and any additional diagnostics, may well be offset by the negotiating power that is gained when one is aware of the medical issues that the horse may have. It is important that you utilize a veterinarian who will be as thorough as possible in both the examination of the horse and their communication with you as their client. Remember, different veterinarians view these exams differently and not every veterinarian is willing to perform these exams due to the perceived liability issues. Among those veterinarians that are willing to perform these exams, there is a wide variety of styles and significant variability in the thoroughness of the exam. Regardless of who performs the exam the amount of time spent both in examining the horse and communicating with the buyer will certainly help to dictate the price of the exam. So the next time you are considering the purchase of a horse consider the "insurance" of a pre-purchase examination.
