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Vetting/Pre-Purchase Examination 2 or 5 stage examination in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire & Lincolnshire.

Before buying a horse many things should be taken into consideration, including:

1. Have you fully investigated the cost of buying a horse?
2. Are you aware of the cost and work involved in the day to day keep of a horse or pony?
3. Do you have the experience and time available to properly look after the horse or pony?
4. Have you got or arranged, e.g. a livery yard, a suitable place for the horse or pony to be kept?

If the answer to all the above questions is yes then you can begin to consider the type of horse you should look for. This is a very important consideration and will be determined by your budget, your experience and the type of activities you intend to do. For example, there is no point a novice rider wanting a horse to hack out buying a lively 4 year old thoroughbred.

When going to see horses or ponies with a view to purchase it is very important that you take everything into consideration and ask plenty of questions. You must be sure that the animal is capable of the job you will require it to do and can be kept in the accommodation you have. You must carefully look for any vices and check certain things that may be important to you, e.g. is the horse good in traffic, does it kick, is it good with the farrier, vet, dentist etc, is it good to clip.

If you are not very experienced it is advisable to have someone more experienced with you to help in making the decision. It is advisable to see the horse or pony as many times as possible before making a final decision.

Once you have found the horse that you believe to be perfect for you the next stage is to have the animal vetted.

Buying a horse is a big and often expensive decision so it is important to make the right decision and to buy the right horse. You may have found a horse that is good to ride, has a pleasant manner and fits with all your requirements, as listed above, however, you also need to know that the horse is likely to remain healthy and is suitable for the type and amount of riding that is anticipated. To make a mistake and buy the wrong horse could be costly and heartbreaking.

A pre-purchase vetting can not only identify any existing health problems but may also identify potential problems that may occur in the future.

The vetting is carried out on behalf of the purchaser and it is important to discuss fully with the vet beforehand the intended type of and regularity of use that the horse is intended for. This ensures that the vet can give an accurate assessment as to whether the horse will be fit for the purpose intended based on its health.

A vetting not only gives you a professional opinion about the health and suitability of a horse but may also be required for insurance. Many insurance companies require a vetting before they will insure the animal. They will tell you whether this needs to be a full 5-stage vetting or only a 2-stage vetting.

The stages in the vetting process are outlined below:

The first stage of the vetting is a preliminary examination with the horse stabled and any abnormal behavior, signs of unsuitable temperament, etc will be noted. The vet will also note the general condition of the horse and then move onto examining the horse examining the heart, lungs and eyes.

The vet will then examine the horse outside whilst stood on a level surface to allowing to ensure that the horse's weight is distributed evenly and that it stands straight. The vet will examine the horse all over to check the eyes, nostrils, lymph glands, muscular development, spine and limbs and also to check for wounds, swellings, growths, scars, heat, etc.

Once the vet has checked the horse over thoroughly the vet will view the horse at walk on a firm, flat surface to check that the horse shows regularity, suppleness and shows no sign of pain when moving.

During Stage 2 the vet will require that the horse is trotted up on a flat, hard surface viewing the horse from behind, in front and from the side. The vet will look for regular, straight movement without restriction and any indication of lameness or pain.

The vet will also view the horse being turned and moved backwards to further assess the movement of the limbs. The vet may also carry out a flexion test - where each limb is lifted and held for a period and the vet views whether there is any abnormality in movement resulting from this. The flexion test can be useful in assessing seriousness of problems already identified and can expose lameness problems not otherwise found. However, flexion tests can cause lameness if applied too vigorously and so any doubt over the results of this part of the test should be discussed fully with the vet once vetting is completed.

The vet will then watch the horse carrying out strenuous exercise in order to note the horse's respiration and heart rate. If the horse is unbroken then exercise will be carried out on the lunge, otherwise the horse will normally be ridden. The horse will be required to walk, trot and canter with the vet listening for abnormal sounds and at the end of the exercise the vet will examine the heart and lungs.

After completing Stage 3 the horse will be rested for up to 30 minutes when the heart and lungs will be examined again and blood tests taken.

The horse will be trotted up again in order to note that it continues to move soundly after completing stage 3.

Once the vetting is complete the vet will record any abnormalities and will then assess the significance of these findings alongside what the horse is intended to be used for and then either "pass" or "fail" the horse.

The vet may then recommend further tests, e.g. x-rays in light of what has been found some insurers will require x-rays if the insured sum is to be over a certain amount.

The vet simply gives you a professional opinion, however, it is still up to you whether you buy the horse or not.

Some people choose not to have a full 5-stage vetting, but instead opt for a limited pre-purchase examination or 2-stage examination. This is obviously not a complete examination, as it does not include stage 3-5 of the standard vetting. Some conditions may not be picked up during it. For this reason a disclaimer must be signed before a 2-stage vetting for purchase is undertaken. A copy of the disclaimer can be downloaded from this website.

Please open the following PDF file. Print two copies off. Complete the form in ink and return by post/fax or hand the completed form to the examining Veterinary Surgeon retaining the other copy for your own records.

Vetting Disclaimer Form

Site created by Mark Boettcher

Sileby Hall, Cossington Road, Sileby, Leicestershire. LE12 7RS