The Importance of a Pre-Purchase Exam (PPE) for your New Horse
If you are reading this post, then you are probably looking into buying a new horse. First off, congratulations, how exciting! But, buyer beware - before you cut that check and take your new horse home, you need to have a pre-purchase exam done. A pre-purchase exam (PPE) is a standard practice where an equine veterinarian examines a horse for overall soundness and wellness. Regardless of if you are buying a pasture pet or a performance horse that will be in hard work, you should have a pre-purchase exam performed on any horse you are looking to bring home.
Understanding the Purpose of a PPE
A PPE should be done with the intent to assess the horses ability to perform the job that you need them to perform, and to identify any potential costly heath and soundness issues that have gone thus far, undetected or undeclared. A PPE should NOT be used as a tool to bully the seller into lowering the price of the horse. All horses will having findings, and the PPE is to determine if the horse will hold up for its intended use; and to provide the new owner with the information they need to properly care for the horse. If you and your vet decide the horse is sound enough to buy, pay the price previously agreed upon based on the quality and level of training of the horse. If the findings of the PPE give you a reason to request a lower price, then politely move on. Paying less for a horse wont increase the odds it will fill your need. If its worth the risk, its worth the price.
Why Some Sellers Discourage Doing PPEs
PPE’s can be somewhat controversial because they are subjective, they can bring to light issues the current owner didn’t know about, and can result in a sale falling through. Additionally, PPEs can also be used by the buyer to bully the seller into selling the horse for less then its worth. It is a rare find to have a horse that has a 100% perfect vetting, and these days, buyers seem to want a perfect PPE. It’s hard to blame some people for not waiting their horse to go through a PPE when buyers expectations are unrealistic. But on the other hoof, as a seller, I encourage my potential buyers to have a PPE done. This way, I know the horse is going to the right home, and that there are no issues the buyer can come and blame me for. It’s a good insurance policy for the buyer and the seller.
The Horse is Cheap or Free, why do a PPE?
There are some old saying “a free horse is never free” and “the cheapest part of horse ownership is the purchase”; truer words were never spoken. You can always predict the reoccurring costs such as monthly feed, board, basic medical care such as teeth floating and vaccines but, it’s what you don’t know that will get you. Horses are either safe, sound, have high potential, or are cheap; very few are all those things.
If you are looking at a horse that the price seems to good to be true, it is. Margins are tight when it comes to selling horses, no one is going to “give away” a horse they might be able to make a profit off. Before going to look at a horse that you might think is priced reasonably, be sure to find comparable horses for sale, and see where the price is in comparison. If you want a middle age, safe sound husband horse, and the horse you are looking at is in the $5,000 range, then there is a good chance the horse is what it is advertised as. But, if you are going to look at a 12 year old OTTB that evented successfully to preliminary level, trail rides, is beginner safe, and you are looking to pay $5,000, then I would think again, something isn’t right.
I’ve Know this Horse From Birth and I am BFF with the Owner, why do I need a PPE?
This scenario is one where you need an unbiased, third-party opinion the most. If you know a horse and have an emotional connection with them, then you are more likely to overlook or ignore warning signs of lameness or health issues. Also, PPEs often find concealed issues, which means if you have known the horse for a long time, there is a good chance a PPE might turn-up an issue that was brewing. And, if you are not good at picking up slight lameness, a vet check will do that. Most people do not have full blood panels run on healthy horses, or have vets come look at the horse move “just in case”. So, to know exactly what you are getting, you should do a PPE. It is also good for the horse, if there is an issue they were harboring, now it is identified and can be treated and managed.
What Should I Expect from my Vet During a PPE
Each vet is going to be a little different in terms of style, how they grade/score things but, a basic PPE should cover the following things listed below. If you are looking at getting a breeding prospect, you would want additional x-rays and a more detailed exam on the horses physical confirmation, breeding soundness, and an evaluation of how well a horse held up under work. A lot of people breed mares based only on their lineage alone but, if you have a stallion prospect, it should have proven itself in the show ring, and proven it can stay sound under consistent work. Additionally, all breed stock should have genetic testing done, you don’t want to end up with a lethal white foal after unwittingly breeding those two really pretty frame overo horses.
Basic PPE Exam Process
A vet will examine a horse at the standstill and in motion. At the least, a horse should be walked and jogged on a hard surface away from the vet, then back towards the vet, then longed at a canter in both directions. A ridden evaluation is helpful, but often not done.
Body Condition- Are ribs showing? Is the horse severely overweight? Does the horse have a healthy coat or a wormy belly? How is the horses overall health?
Confirmation – Is the horse “put together well”. If it were a machine, would all the cogs, nuts and bolts fit tougher, do the mechanics work without breaking?
Respiratory – Are there any signs of restricted airways? Is the horse a roarer and had tie-back surgery?
Cardiovascular – Are there any irregular heart beats, are things like resting heart rate and pulse normal?
Musculoskeletal – Observation during motion and standing still of the bone structure, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Some old bowed tendons and old splints are visible to the naked eye but, to further asses these, a vet will perform flexion tests, jog the horse on a hard surface, watch the horse under saddle or order x-rays or ultrasounds.
Flexion Test – This is when a vet will hold a join in a very tight position for around a minute, and then ask the horse to jog off immediately. Holding the joint “flexed”for an extended amount of time will aggravate and make identifying any existing issues easier. One should keep in mind that some horses pain tolerance is higher or lower then others. Some sound horses flex terribly. Flexion tests should be used as an indicator for further diagnostics such as ultra-sounds and x-rays of specific limbs or joints.
Ophthalmic – An exam of the eye looking for things like cloudiness as well as responsiveness to motion.
Gastrointestinal System – A vet can palpate and listen to gut sounds to see if the digestive track seems to be functioning. Horses with a history of gastric issues might have an endoscopy recommended or, if they are white and show signs of melanomas, an internal exam to ensure no near future blockages are imminent.
Neurological – During the moving exam, and while standing still, the vet will evaluate if the horse moves or holds itself in a way that might suggest a neurological issue such as; dragging a foot, limited mobility, loss or lack of control of a limb, or having a disconnect between the font end and back end of the horse.
Dental - Looking at gums, teeth, tongue for things like periodontal disease, tooth fractures, loose teeth, and decay.
Lower Limb X-Rays – Any horse that is expected to have a performance career will likely have the vet suggest some x-rays. This is especially important for off-the track thoroughbreds who are started very young in a racing career.
Hoof Exam – An overall exam and assessment of the horses hoofs is performed with the shoes off using hoof testers. This is a good time to ask if corrective showing is needed or, if you prefer barefoot, if the horse is going to be capable of going barefoot..
Once a horse has moved past the basics listed above, and the potential buyer and examining veterinarian have identified a need for additional diagnostics based on findings, the following services are also available.
Additional Diagnostic Available
Additional X-Rays – If a horse flexes poorly or shows sings of weakness, soreness/stiffness, swelling or pain during the exam; additional x-rays might be requested. Like a human, most anything can be x-rayed. Problems often found from additional x-rays because of bad flexion tests are OCD’s in the joint, arthritis, small bone chips, old breaks/injuries or navicular.
Ultrasound – Just like an x-ray, if there is a suspicious swelling of a tendon, the vet might recommend an ultrasound.
Endoscopy
Bloodwork – Bloodwork can be done as good measure or, diagnostically. During a PPE bloodwork might be done to check for Cushing, Insulin Resistance, Coggins (mandatory to cross state lines) or a drug screening. I recommend to my clients that they always have a full panel done, as well as a Coggins.
Brand Inspection
Fertility Exam
How Do I Interpret the PPE Results
Ideally you have a trainer you trust to help interpret PPE results, and help you decide if you need any additional diagnostics but, that isn’t always the case. I would recommend listening to your vet first and foremost. A vet will never “pass” or “fail” an exam. They have a form and they grade things like lameness on a scale. At the end of the exam, if your trainer isn’t present ask the following of the vet.
Is this horse going to be sound for its job? You should have told the vet the job the horse will be performing prior to the exam. They will usually say something like “I think the horse can perform the job”, “I am concerned about...” Or “If it were me, I wouldn’t buy this horse because. ..”
Are there health or soundness issues you see that are not an issue now but, might be in the future?
What type of maintenance will this horse need and how soon?
How much will it cost to “fix” this issue?
Is that issue “fixable”?
Does the age of the horse based on its teeth match what the owner told me?
Is there any other finding small or large I should keep an eye on in the future?
Do you think the seller has been honest with disclosers of the horse?
If the seller lied about anything regarding the horses soundness, there is a good chance they aren’t telling the full truth about other things, think twice.
After asking the questions above, you should have a pretty good idea of if the horse “passed” the exam. I would also recommend having time alone with the vet to ask those questions. It is only right to let the owner of the horse be present for the exam but, the discussion with the vet should be in private. The owner of the horse should also sign the PPE, and a document stating that to the best of their knowledge, they have been honest and forthcoming.
The Horse Failed the PPE – But I WANT IT
If the horse you want failed the PPE or, has findings that will inhibit it to do its job or will be costly even for a pasture pet, you have a few options. First though, if the seller asks for the PPE results, it the right thing to do to give them the results.
Walk Away - I walked into the PPE knowing what I want the horse for, and the issues that I am willing to compromise on. If the horse falls out of these parameters, I walk away. Bring a friend if you need emotional support or willpower.
Lease - A lease will let you ride the horse, treat it as your own but, once it doesn’t meet your needs, you find another horse etc. you can walk away. There are a few different types of lease options depending on the seller. Most seller’s will not want to lease their sale horses but, its not unheard of and cant hurt to ask.
Care Lease - Is great for trail horses or pasture pets. Horses that can still perform usually have a lease fee. With a care lease, you still pay all maintenance, medications, food bills, vet care etc.
Trial Lease - Will let you ride the horse and see how it holds-ups or, see if you can live with its “issues”.
Paid Lease – A good option if you really want that horse but, know in the long run it wont hold-up.
Hopefully I have impressed upon the skeptics the value of a PPE for all horse’s, and have provided you with some guidance on how to work with your vet and the seller to get the right diagnostics to make the decision on purchasing your new horse
If you have any questions or comments on vetting, please leave them in the comments below or, send me a private message via the contacts page.