08/24/2025
For many buyers, a pre-purchase exam (PPE) feels like the ultimate green light. If the horse “passes,” the future looks bright. If not, the deal is off. But according to Dr. Julie Vargas of Spy Coast Farm, that view oversimplifies what a PPE can really tell you.
At a recent Plaidcast In Person event, Vargas shared a candid perspective on the limitations of pre-purchase exams and why buyers need to think of them as a risk assessment, not a guarantee.
“Pre-purchase is a statistical evaluation of risk on that day,” Vargas explained. In other words, a PPE captures how a horse looks and performs under examination at a single moment in time. It cannot predict the future or eliminate risk entirely.
That’s especially important when considering the growing use of advanced imaging. Many buyers now expect radiographs of joints, backs, and even necks, even when no clinical issues are present. These images may show anomalies (changes in bone shape, small lesions, or other findings) that may or may not ever affect the horse’s performance.
With better technology, Vargas noted, veterinarians are simply seeing more. But that doesn’t mean every finding carries long-term significance.
This creates a challenge for both veterinarians and buyers. How should a finding be weighed? Some changes might remain clinically silent for a horse’s entire career, while others could indicate a greater risk for future problems.
Vargas acknowledged that veterinarians are put in a difficult position: “I hate pre-purchases and I love them. Every other vet will say the same.” They can provide valuable information, but also place vets in the role of predicting the unknown—an impossible task.
🔗 Continue reading the full profile at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/08/21/why-pre-purchase-exams-are-a-snapshot-in-time-not-the-only-decision-factor/
