Governance changes brought about a new procedure at the 1999 American Association of Equine Practitioner’s Convention held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A forum replaced the committee format from previous years. The forum exists to provide everyone who attends a chance for dialogue and expression of opinion, rather than a committee chairman conducting the business among the committee members with the attending audience acting as spectators. Under the old regime the committee would discuss and the visitors would listen. The forum is designed to bring all into the discussion so that the concerns of the membership in the various areas could be aired.

Harry Werner, the liaison to the Forum, opened the Purchase Examination forum and turned the proceedings over to Jerry Black, DVM, who acted as facilitator. If something comes from the discussion that needs to be done, Warner will present that to the AAEP Board.

Old business from last year’s Purchase Committee concerned the guidelines for purchase exam. Rick Mitchell, DVM, the chairman of last yearís committee, was charged to look at the wording and see if the guidelines needed to be changed. Mitchell stated that the guidelines have stood the test of time fairly well. However, some legal issues had arisen concerning the reading of results and it was felt that the guidelines needed additional wording for partial examinations. For example, if blindness were not discovered during a lameness exam, should the veterinarian be held responsible. Additional wording might help the practitioner to avoid being held responsible in partial purchase exams vis a vis a full scope purchase exam.

Following this portion of the meeting, Black opened the forum to discussion of immediate concerns that arise in veterinary practice concerning purchase exams. Foremost in the minds of those assembled concerned the horses sold at public auction because of the type of exams that are conducted there, the partial exam