Pre-Purchase Exams (AAEP 2005)

“A pre-purchase exam is only one factor to help you decide if you are going to purchase an animal,” said Craig Roberts, DVM, an Ocala, Fla., practitioner. purchase exams are designed to discover a horse’s unique concerns and discuss the management
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"A pre-purchase exam is only one factor to help you decide if you are going to purchase an animal," said Craig Roberts, DVM, an Ocala, Fla., practitioner. purchase exams are designed to discover a horse’s unique concerns and discuss the management options for those problems. The potential buyer must decide if he/she is able to manage those problems, and if any abnormality discovered will interfere with the horse’s intended use.

"The concept of finding a horse that is problem-free is unrealistic," Roberts said. "I generally find five to ten things to talk about on every horse. Hopefully most of these will be minor concerns. When searching for your new horse, you have to keep an open mind. Good communication between buyer and veterinarian can make a purchase exam a positive educational experience.

"There are also many other factors to take into consideration when searching for a new horse, such as there may not be a lot of horses available at the level and type that you desire, so you have to weigh the options."

Tools of the trade
Diagnostic tools such as x-rays, ultrasound & endoscopes can all be important tools for adding further information to a purchase exam. "They’re the expensive pieces of equipment that can enhance the veterinarian’s ability to find current or potential problems in horses. Too much emphasis or more importantly, the misimpression that clean radiographs, etc means a sound horse needs to be revised." Roberts said. He warned that diagnostic equipment can have advantages and disadvantages. If they are not used in conjunction with a good physical exam, the information from these tools can be misinterpreted

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Written by:

Chad Mendell is the former Managing Editor for TheHorse.com .

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