05/11/2023
The PPE is not a pass or fail. A PPE gives us the information to best support the horse’s comfort and success.
Being committed to working with the horse with the information you have is one of the most important commitments you can make.
I haven’t brought up the subject of pre-purchase exams for a long time. Because I hauled Bobby for a very thorough PPE just yesterday, maybe the time is right?
Whether you are buying or selling, I can’t stress enough the value of having the horse ‘vetted’ before any contracts are drawn up, or before any amount of money exchanges hands. I believe this even more strongly when such deals are made between friends! A good third-party assessment can be the thing that saves a friendship, when the handshake deal can so easily go awry.
The monetary value placed upon an animal has absolutely no bearing on whether or not I will recommend a PPE. Why? Because an expensive horse will require one for insurance purposes and even a lower-priced horse will benefit from finding need of maintenance and what the costs and options might be for its new owner.
The fact remains that an examination, even with radiographs, will likely be cheaper than an unsound horse who has need of ongoing medical care. To me, being armed with some scientific knowledge is always money well spent, balancing out the wishes of my heart.
To be clear, having a horse vetted is NO guarantee that nothing will go wrong with the horse’s health the minute you sell him, or bring him home! It does, however, significantly raise the odds of the horse not surprising anyone with hidden ailments... or being under the influence of 'mood altering' drugs!
A seller who discourages a PPE being ordered, or refuses entirely, is to be considered a huge red flag.
In addition to basic vitals being checked, including heart, lungs, eyesight and lameness evaluations—aka those dreaded ‘flexion tests’—it is worth your while having blood drawn for drug testing, as well as for the neurological diseases that are becoming more common, based upon your area, as well as the horse’s breed. Radiographs of leg joints, fore and aft, are a good idea in all prospective and proven performance horses, in my opinion.
Now, let’s talk about that state known as being ‘serviceably sound’.
This is a horse who is not going to vet perfectly well and yet, he can absolutely do the job. A lot of really good teenaged horses fit into this category. For the cost of some extra care and ‘maintenance’, if needed, many such horses actually suit more of us than the perfectly sound youngsters who haven’t done a day’s work. I, myself, ride and love a teen gelding who wouldn’t ‘vet’, if his life depended upon it. Yet, he’s a great horse.
Let’s say that we have a nice horse, along with a buyer and a seller. Usually, before a purchase agreement is drawn up, the humans talk, set up one or two trials and verbally agree upon a price. The trial rides have gone well...
Before we get any more excited, however, we agree that the horse will be vetted, first.
The seller will supply the buyer with a list of local vet clinics who are well-versed in performing pre-purchase exams. Not all rural mixed practices are, by the way. The prospective buyer has the responsibility of contacting the vet clinic, ordering the level of exam to be performed, the tests to be done and whether or not radiographs are desired. The buyer will leave payment information and usually, agree to covering the seller’s hauling expenses. The vet clinic and the seller will then set up the appointment, which if it is thorough, will take anywhere from one to two hours.
It is the seller’s job to ensure that the horse can be safely handled, from tip to tail.
The horse will arrive for the appointment and go through all the points of the ordered exam. Then, the attending vet will contact the buyer via phone call and with an email of the written findings and copies of the radiographs, for the buyer’s eyes only. The veterinarian will not share the findings of the exam with the seller, unless the buyer gives permission to do so, as in this case, the buyer is the client of the clinic and not the seller of the horse.
A horse does not ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ a vetting!
The veterinarian will report on any findings, letting the buyer discuss options of treatment or care and whether or not the horse will be up to the performance that is going to be required of him. In some instances, the vet will actually tell the client that the horse should not, in his or her opinion, be ridden due to certain conditions. The vet will also remark upon a horse’s willingness and compliance during the procedures, which can be a telling finding, on its own.
Remember, this isn’t an easy job for the veterinarian. He, or she, is looking for something that nobody wants found. People will often discount a vet who has bad news to share, or grow angry, as though there could possibly be any payoff for the clinic, or for the vet.
If there are surprising concerns about the horse, I will have a frank discussion with the prospective buyer. I will ask to see a copy of the email findings, or else, request to speak with the vet. If there is a consensus of opinion on the horse’s issues, we may renegotiate the price of the horse, or stop proceedings, entirely. It is highly unlikely that I will knowingly sell a horse with an irreversible, or dangerous condition, myself.
If you are the seller, please understand that ‘surprise’ findings are a well-known way for a buyer to request a far lower asking price on a horse! Do not agree to this, without first seeing the written proof from the vet and perhaps, a conversation with him, as well.
Whether or not a buyer wants to proceed with buying a horse with an issue is entirely an individual decision, based on the prognosis of the horse, treatment options and the demands of his new job. I repeat, a horse does not ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ a vetting. We order the PPE to better weigh the health risks and long-term prognosis of an unknown horse, something of benefit to both buyers and ethical sellers, alike. If there are findings, these will be written into the sales contract and bill of sale, of course.
A PPE WILL hold a seller more accountable about ‘hidden’ health concerns and unsoundness. It will educate the buyer, that she now has a baseline of the horse’s current health. It is a sign of commitment, to me, when a prospective buyer will go to the time and trouble of setting up an exam and giving payment information to the clinic. All these things are meant to build teamwork and to smooth the way for a happy transaction… and also, because we want what’s best for the horse!
Only then, do we go ahead and draw up a sales or leasing contract. Only then.
In Bobby’s case, he went through all the poking, listening and prodding, the lights flashing and machines beeping. He had his blood drawn and his legs folded up in weird contortions. He was trotted out and lunged, at different gaits. He stood on little blocks and plates, while his legs were x-rayed from all angles. Turns out he is in excellent health, which is to be expected with a five-year-old pony. I was so proud of my little man, who is not accustomed to entering bustling rooms filled with strangers, nor to standing still and composed for a two-hours-long exam. I was so very proud of him!
We’ve come to an agreement. Bobby will be staying with me, furthering his time under saddle over the winter months. Next spring, God willing, his new family—one experienced with horses—will be coming up from the U.S. to meet him, ride with me, have a few lessons and then, take their new pony home. I can only give my thanks for their enthusiasm and trust.
With that, Bobby and I have our work to do, to ensure he’s ready to ride for the brand.
