WHY HAVE A PRE PURCHASE EXAMINATION?
The purpose of the exam is to alert the buyer to any pre-existing conditions found in a horse they are considering. A full Veterinary examination is often called the ‘Five-Stage' vetting and is performed according to a procedure recommended by the New Zealand Equine Veterinary Association. Many insurance companies request such an examination before giving cover. Having a full examination cannot guarantee that the horse will never develop a problem; rather it is a fact-finding session that can be a useful tool for both buyer and seller. The purpose for which the horse is being purchased is very important - it is important to remember that a horse may not be suitable for one purchaser but perfectly appropriate for another. The buyer should be aware that a pre-purchase examination is rarely completely "clean," as a diligent vet can nearly always find something of note. This is particularly true for older performance horses, who may show evidence of hard work, such as arthritic changes in their joints.
The purpose of the examination is not to pass or fail a horse, and it is not a guarantee, an insurance policy, a value appraisal or a certificate of ability, temperament, or merit. It is a physical examination for evaluating health and serviceability on a particular day. This information ensures that an informed decision can be made by the purchaser.
Ancillary examinations such as blood tests, endoscopy, radiography, ECG or a reproductive examination may also be desirable and your specific needs should be discussed with Dr. Wallace before the exam.
There are two options for a pre-purchase examination, a full examination (stages 1-5) or a partial examination (stages 1-2)
STAGES
1. Preliminary examination at rest (includes checking eyes, skin, heart, lungs at rest)
2. Examination during walking, trotting, turning and backing (includes flexion tests and short trot on a circle)
3. Examination during and immediately after strenuous exercise (includes getting the heart and respiratory rates up to check for abnormal noise or heart rhythm issues, checking for lameness/ abnormalities under saddle)
4. Examination during the period after exercise (Checking on recovery of vital signs)
5. The final examination during walking, trotting, turning and backing (checking for any lameness brought on by exercise eg arthritis, laminitis)
Other ancillary tests would be completed after these stages as discussed.
Prior to conducting a pre-purchase examination we require the following statements (which can be downloaded below) to be completed. It is usual practice for a vet not to carry out a prepurchase examination on a horse owned by a client. In the event that this can not be avoided (eg both the buyer and seller are clients of the practice) the seller needs to complete a waiver of information document which allows the practice to provide the buyer with any clinical history they have on the horse.
If the seller is NOT a client of Granite Creek Veterinary Services, then please download and print the following two statements. These need to be completely filled out and returned prior to the vetting - a good quality scan is fine. If you are not sure of an answer, please write 'unknown', or your best explanation, as blank spaces require us to get you to redo them. If the seller IS a client of Granite Creek Veterinary Services, then please download and print the following three statements. These need to be completely filled out and returned to us prior to the vetting - a good quality scan is fine. If you are not sure of an answer, please write 'unknown', or your best explaination, as blank spaces require us to get you to repeat the form.
These two statements along with the veterinary report combine together to provide the buyer with a lawful, thorough document that can be used as part of the decision making process in purchasing the horse. The results of the examination are the property of the purchaser but the owner may have access to the information with the purchaser's consent.
If a 5 stage vetting is booked and there is a problem found within the first 2 stages, then the purchaser will be contacted on the phone number supplied to discuss. If agreed, the vetting can stop after 2 stages and the difference to the 5 stage price can be refunded. If not able to reach the purchaser then it will be up to the vet's discretion as to whether to continue. This is why it is recommended that the prospective purchaser attend or at least be easily contactable.
PRE PURCHASE EXAMINATION CHECKLIST
If you would like to know any more, or to book a pre purchase examination, please feel to contact us.
The purpose of the exam is to alert the buyer to any pre-existing conditions found in a horse they are considering. A full Veterinary examination is often called the ‘Five-Stage' vetting and is performed according to a procedure recommended by the New Zealand Equine Veterinary Association. Many insurance companies request such an examination before giving cover. Having a full examination cannot guarantee that the horse will never develop a problem; rather it is a fact-finding session that can be a useful tool for both buyer and seller. The purpose for which the horse is being purchased is very important - it is important to remember that a horse may not be suitable for one purchaser but perfectly appropriate for another. The buyer should be aware that a pre-purchase examination is rarely completely "clean," as a diligent vet can nearly always find something of note. This is particularly true for older performance horses, who may show evidence of hard work, such as arthritic changes in their joints.
The purpose of the examination is not to pass or fail a horse, and it is not a guarantee, an insurance policy, a value appraisal or a certificate of ability, temperament, or merit. It is a physical examination for evaluating health and serviceability on a particular day. This information ensures that an informed decision can be made by the purchaser.
Ancillary examinations such as blood tests, endoscopy, radiography, ECG or a reproductive examination may also be desirable and your specific needs should be discussed with Dr. Wallace before the exam.
There are two options for a pre-purchase examination, a full examination (stages 1-5) or a partial examination (stages 1-2)
STAGES
1. Preliminary examination at rest (includes checking eyes, skin, heart, lungs at rest)
2. Examination during walking, trotting, turning and backing (includes flexion tests and short trot on a circle)
3. Examination during and immediately after strenuous exercise (includes getting the heart and respiratory rates up to check for abnormal noise or heart rhythm issues, checking for lameness/ abnormalities under saddle)
4. Examination during the period after exercise (Checking on recovery of vital signs)
5. The final examination during walking, trotting, turning and backing (checking for any lameness brought on by exercise eg arthritis, laminitis)
Other ancillary tests would be completed after these stages as discussed.
Prior to conducting a pre-purchase examination we require the following statements (which can be downloaded below) to be completed. It is usual practice for a vet not to carry out a prepurchase examination on a horse owned by a client. In the event that this can not be avoided (eg both the buyer and seller are clients of the practice) the seller needs to complete a waiver of information document which allows the practice to provide the buyer with any clinical history they have on the horse.
If the seller is NOT a client of Granite Creek Veterinary Services, then please download and print the following two statements. These need to be completely filled out and returned prior to the vetting - a good quality scan is fine. If you are not sure of an answer, please write 'unknown', or your best explanation, as blank spaces require us to get you to redo them. If the seller IS a client of Granite Creek Veterinary Services, then please download and print the following three statements. These need to be completely filled out and returned to us prior to the vetting - a good quality scan is fine. If you are not sure of an answer, please write 'unknown', or your best explaination, as blank spaces require us to get you to repeat the form.
These two statements along with the veterinary report combine together to provide the buyer with a lawful, thorough document that can be used as part of the decision making process in purchasing the horse. The results of the examination are the property of the purchaser but the owner may have access to the information with the purchaser's consent.
If a 5 stage vetting is booked and there is a problem found within the first 2 stages, then the purchaser will be contacted on the phone number supplied to discuss. If agreed, the vetting can stop after 2 stages and the difference to the 5 stage price can be refunded. If not able to reach the purchaser then it will be up to the vet's discretion as to whether to continue. This is why it is recommended that the prospective purchaser attend or at least be easily contactable.
PRE PURCHASE EXAMINATION CHECKLIST
- Relevant paperwork filled out, signed and returned before the visit. Check the contact phone number of the purchaser will be appropriate for the time and day of visit; it is preferable if both buyer and seller are able to be present.
- A competant horse person available to hold horse, trot, lunge and ride horse (riding not need for 2 Stage Examinations).
- A dark quiet area, preferably a stable, to fully auscultate chest and examine eyes.
- A flat, straight and hard area for trotting the horse up. A quiet road is fine; arena surface is too soft.
- An appropriate area for exercising the horse for Stage 3 of the Examination - ideally an arena or flat paddock as the horse will need to be walked, trotted and cantered to exertion on both reins.
- Shoeing - It is preferable that the horse has been shod or trimmed regularly but not immediately prior to the examination. If it is found that the horse loses, or is about to lose a shoe/s then it may well be that the examination will need to be rescheduled for after this is done.
- A clean horse - it is necessary to thoroughly examine skin and this is much easier with a clean horse.
If you would like to know any more, or to book a pre purchase examination, please feel to contact us.
