Vet Guide: What to Know About Pre-Purchase Exams in 2025 🐴🔍📋
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Vet Guide: What to Know About Pre-Purchase Exams in 2025 🐴🔍📋
By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc
Buying a horse is a major investment—financially, emotionally, and in time. Before you commit, it’s wise to schedule a pre-purchase examination (PPE) with your veterinarian. While a PPE can’t predict the future, it can give you a clear view of the horse’s current health and soundness. 🧠🐎
In this 2025 buyer’s guide, Dr Duncan Houston outlines what’s included in a pre-purchase exam, what it can reveal, and how it supports smarter buying decisions. 🧪📋
1. What Is a Pre-Purchase Exam? 🔍
A pre-purchase exam is a veterinary evaluation of a horse before sale, requested by the potential buyer. It is not a pass/fail exam—it simply gives you medical insight into the horse’s condition on the day of the visit. 🩺
The purpose is to assess the horse’s:
- 🫀 General health
- 🦶 Soundness and lameness status
- 📈 Suitability for the buyer’s intended use
2. What’s Included in a Basic PPE? 🧼🧪
Most PPEs start with a general physical exam that covers:
- 👀 Eyes, ears, and teeth
- 🫁 Heart and lungs
- 🩻 Skin, hooves, joints
- 🦷 Oral exam
A standard lameness exam includes:
- 🚶♂️ Walk and trot in-hand (on straight and circle)
- 🦵 Flexion tests (to check for joint sensitivity)
- 🐎 Possibly a ridden exam, depending on the vet and your request
3. Additional Testing Options 🧬📊
Depending on the horse’s use and your concerns, your vet may recommend or you may request:
- 📸 X-rays (radiographs) of key joints—especially for jumping or racing
- 🔬 Endoscopy for airway issues in performance horses
- 🧫 Bloodwork or drug screens for hidden health concerns
- 🔍 Reproductive exam for mares or stallions intended for breeding
- 📖 Review of past veterinary records (if available)
4. Customizing the Exam to Your Needs 🧠📌
A PPE should reflect your goals. For example:
- 🏇 Racehorses: Emphasis on knees, fetlocks, hocks
- 🎯 Barrel horses: Focus on feet, hocks, back
- 🐣 Breeding stock: Include full repro workup
Be honest about what you plan to do with the horse so your vet can tailor the exam to what matters most. 🎯
5. What a PPE Can—and Can’t—Tell You 📋❌
A pre-purchase exam can:
- 🧪 Detect current lameness or illness
- 🧠 Reveal conformation faults that may affect performance
- 📊 Help you weigh risk factors before buying
But it cannot:
- 🔮 Predict future injuries or disease
- 👩⚖️ Tell you whether to buy the horse (your decision, not your vet’s)
It’s a medical snapshot—not a guarantee. Always review findings with your vet and trainer. 🧠🤝
6. Summary Table: Pre-Purchase Exam Checklist 📋✅
| Exam Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| General health check | Screen for visible illness or abnormalities |
| Lameness evaluation | Detect current or potential joint/muscle issues |
| Flexion tests | Reveal joint sensitivity not visible at rest |
| Optional X-rays | Deeper look at bone and joint health |
| Airway or repro exam | Useful for breeding or athletic performance |
7. Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston 💬
A pre-purchase exam isn’t just a smart step—it’s a necessary one. Even experienced buyers can miss subtle lameness or hidden issues without a vet’s help. By customizing your PPE to your needs and reviewing the findings objectively, you give yourself the best chance of a sound, successful purchase. 🐎🧠📋
Need help scheduling or interpreting a PPE? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📲 to access expert equine buying support, vet referrals, and pre-purchase resources.
— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc
