Save yourself some money (and potential heartbreak) and invest in a Pre-purchase exam by an Equine Veterinarian of any potential performance horse you intend to buy.

Here’s why…

No horse is perfect… or even ‘perfectly sound’ 100% of the time. 

A horse that looks happy and sound trotting down the road to you and I may, in fact be brewing something beneath the surface that only an Equine Veterinarian and X-rays or Ultrasound can uncover.

Also, unfortunately not all horse sellers are the honest type, many lameness issues can be masked with the strategic use of drugs and painkillers, leaving you – the oblivious new owner – with an entirely different horse once you get him home.

Reason #1: To avoid spending money on a horse whose body cannot stand up to the demands of the performance discipline you intend to use him in.

So, are you looking for a Cutter? A Reiner? A Western Pleasure horse?

Maybe you want to run barrels and rodeo.

Whatever you intend to use your horse for will determine the kinds of health and soundness issues you can either get away with or will put you out of the competition instantly.

Knowledge is power. Know what you are looking at so you can make an informed decision.

Reason #2: To avoid spending more money for ongoing treatment and/or rehabilitation costs for a health issue that ‘unknowingly came with’ your new purchase.

So, you bought your dream horse. Without a pre-purchase exam. He looked and felt just fine and dandy when you took him for a test ride.

You brought him home all keen and eager to be ready for the start of show season next month…

Oh oh, he pulls up sore after just one week of riding.

You call your vet. Vet does an X-ray and finds significant arthritis in both stifles that requires costly ongoing veterinary joint treatments and supplementation. Bet that wasn’t in your budget for the year.

Reason #3: To avoid wasting time for any treatment and/or rehabilitation to take effect.

The day after your new cutter arrives, you’re keen to work some cows on him.

Just like you did when you tried him out last week at his trainer’s place. How cool did he feel when you put your hand down while he held those tough cows?

Today, he feels uneven just trotting around while you warm him up.

You call your vet. Vet does an ultrasound and finds a small tear in his front suspensory ligament that hasn’t quite healed yet.

3-6 months rest required. There goes the rest of his Futurity year.

Reason #4: To avoid heartache and stress in having to make the tough decision regarding a horse’s quality of life if an underlying condition escalates.

No one wants to make the gut-wrenching choice to put their horse humanely to sleep.

Unfortunately there are many health and lameness related issues that can rapidly escalate to that level, particularly if they go undiagnosed for a long time.

Everyone wants to avoid this kind of dilemma. Get a Vet check.

Reason #5: To help predict the potential career time span of a performance horse.

As I said before, no horse is 100% sound, 100% of the time. However, knowing what may or may not be underlying is a useful tool in mapping out the potential future for a performance horse.

There are maintenance and treatment options available to help prolong the longevity of a performance horse, depending on what your vet may find in an X-ray or Ultrasound.

As a potential buyer you can then make an informed decision if you think the horse is worth the asking price. Or if you are willing to take the calculated risk.

Who has been burnt before because you didn’t get a Vet check?

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