When buying a horse

Horse

The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...

, many buyers ask for an equine prepurchase exam. This serves to identify any preexisting problems which may hinder a horse’s future performance and reduce buyer risk. The inspection usually consists of four phases in which a veterinarian

Veterinarian

A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....

 examines all aspects of the horse’s health

Health

Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...

.

The role of the veterinarian

Veterinarians play a crucial role in prepurchase exams. To best assess a horse’s current and future soundness, it is imperative that the veterinarian be familiar with the particular horse’s breed, prospective use and have a working knowledge of competition rules. According to Pavord & Fisher, veterinarians are to determine the relative ‘soundness’ of the horse; they are really assessing “...the health status of the horse together with medical abnormalities”. Veterinarians are expected to explain and record any medical abnormalities/concerns revealed while performing the exam. They are not, however, guaranteeing the soundness of the horse. It is also recommended that veterinarians remain neutral to both buyer and seller to avoid any future discrepancies.

The importance of being "Sound"

Upon completion of the prepurchase exam, the veterinarian may utilize a variety of terms to describe the horse’s current health status. The ultimate goal for horse buyers is to purchase a horse classified as “sound,” or “...one that cannot be faulted in any physical way, from the inside out”. A horse may be categorized as “serviceably sound” if it has some structural problems, but is able to perform its intended purpose. If a veterinarian deems a horse unfit for its intended use, the horse will most likely be considered “unsound”. An unsoundness usually refers to any condition which will severely inhibit the horse from performing. Examples of unsoundnesses include dental

Dentistry

Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...

 diseases, blindness

Blindness

Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...

 or other eye problems, founder and tumor

Tumor

A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...

s.

Phases of the exam

The first part of the exam involves thorough identification of the horse. This includes documentation of color, age and any distinguishing characteristics/scars/brands/tattoos the horse may have. Vital signs

Vital signs

Vital signs are measures of various physiological statistics, often taken by health professionals, in order to assess the most basic body functions. Vital signs are an essential part of a case presentation. The act of taking vital signs normally entails recording body temperature, pulse rate ,...

 of the horse will also be assessed along with an examination of the horse’s eyes, teeth and manure. A urine sample is usually required of competition horses to ensure the absence of performance-altering medications. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual

Merck Veterinary Manual

The Merck Veterinary Manual is a reference manual of animal health care. It is published by Merck & Co., Inc. and Merial Limited. The Merck Veterinary Manual is available as a reference manual or as an online resource for veterinarians, veterinary students, and others involved in animal health...

, “The date, time and place of the examination should also be recorded”.

The second phase of the exam begins with a general assessment of the horse’s body and skin condition. It is customary for the veterinarian to assign the horse a body condition score ranging from 1 to 9, with 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese. Scores of 4, 5, or 6 are within the acceptable range for performance, breeding and halter horses.

After a visual assessment of the horse has been made, the veterinarian will then begin palpation of the limbs. By watching the horse perform a variety of movements on different surfaces, a veterinarian is able to get a good idea of the horse’s general soundness. Riding

Riding

A riding is an administrative jurisdiction or electoral district, particularly in several current or former Commonwealth countries.-Word history:...

 the horse may or may not be incorporated into the exam, according to the intended use of the horse. Asking the horse to move in straight lines and circles is also helpful in revealing any blemishes. A passive/active flexion test

Flexion test

A flexion test is a veterinary procedure performed on a horse, generally during a prepurchase or a lameness exam. The animal's leg is held in a flexed position for 30 seconds to up to 3 minutes , and then the horse is immediately trotted off and its gait is analyzed for abnormalities and uneveness...

 is commonly performed along with a thorough hoof

Hoof

A hoof , plural hooves or hoofs , is the tip of a toe of an ungulate mammal, strengthened by a thick horny covering. The hoof consists of a hard or rubbery sole, and a hard wall formed by a thick nail rolled around the tip of the toe. The weight of the animal is normally borne by both the sole...

 examination. A basic neurological exam may also be part of this third examination phase.

The fourth and final phase of the exam is known as the ‘diagnostic’ phase. Radiography

Radiography

Radiography is the use of X-rays to view a non-uniformly composed material such as the human body. By using the physical properties of the ray an image can be developed which displays areas of different density and composition....

, nuclear scans and ultrasonography may be necessary to determine soundness with special emphasis placed on the examination of the navicular bone

Navicular bone

The navicular bone is a small bone found in the feet of both humans and horses.- Human anatomy :The navicular bone is one of the tarsal bones, found in the foot. Its name derives from the bone's resemblance to a small boat, caused by the strongly concave proximal articular surface...

 and distal phalanx

Distal phalanges

The distal or terminal phalanges are the terminal limb bones located at the tip of the digits...

. Higher radiographic grades of these areas are usually indicative of lameness and should be noted in a prepurchase exam.