Pre-Purchase exam FAQ's | Yarra Ranges Animal Hospital

Pre-Purchase Exam FAQ’s

1) What is a Pre-purchase Exam?

A pre-purchase exam (also called a vet check or PPE) is a full 5 stage clinical examination by a registered veterinarian of a horse for sale, performed on behalf of the person purchasing the horse. It involves a full check over and examination at rest, including eyes, teeth, heart, lungs, gut sounds, temperature check, skin check, and examination, palpation and flexion of the legs and examination of the feet. The next stage is walking and trotting the horse in a straight line ideally on a firm surface, followed by flexion testing the legs, then examination during fast work and then finally in a cool down phase. A basic neurological exam is also performed.

2) Should I get a PPE when I buy a horse?

The answer to this depends on how much risk you are prepared to take when you purchase a horse and the cost of the horse. However, generally the answer is a firm YES. It is usually far cheaper to rule out medical or lameness issues with a PPE than discover later problems that require expensive treatment.

3) What vet should I use?

It is very important to use an independent appropriately qualified vet. The vet should ideally have no personal or profession connection to the owner/vendor and the owner/vendor should ideally not be a pre-existing client of the practice. If no one else is available that is qualified to perform the exam, the exam may still proceed if the owner/vendor and purchaser are informed in writing of the potential conflict of interest and are happy to proceed. The vet should have a significant level of experience in equine practice especially with medical issues and lameness exams and ideally should be a member of the EVA (Equine Veterinarians Australia).

4) What do the results mean?

You will not get a “Pass” or Fail” result. Instead, the vet will list and report on any abnormal findings and then provide their interpretation of the significance of those findings based on the expected use of the horse and provide advice on whether further testing would be recommended or whether specialist advice should be sought.

5) What extra tests can I get? Should I get them?

The list of extra tests is very long and can include xrays, ultrasound, reproductive exams, endoscopy, ECG, drug screening and blood testing for general health. Xrays are by far the most commonly requested test. The vet can discuss the costs and benefits of further testing and also base recommendations on the intended use and results from the clinical exam.

6) How long are the results valid for?

Unfortunately, things change quickly with horses and so the results of the exam and any tests performed are really only valid for the day of the exam. It is certainly not a warranty as to the future of the horse. It is OK to view sets of xrays taken previously, however would still be recommended to purchase your own set in case any changes have occurred.

7) Should I buy the horse?

The answer to that will not be provided by the vet and is totally your decision based on what level of risk you are prepared to accept. You need to weigh up how much you like the horse, the potential suitability for the intended use of the horse (eg. A grade 5 pony club horse will have different criteria than a high level show jumper), any input from your instructor or

coaches and also the findings from the PPE as to whether you think the horse will be a good match for you, both in terms of performance and also whether you will be able to manage any medical issues that are detected.

Pre-Purchase exam FAQ’s