15
EQUINE MATTERS
The aim of a ‘vetting’, or to use its more correct title, the Pre-Purchase Examination
(PPE), is for a vet to carry out a thorough clinical examination on behalf of a potential
purchaser to identify and assess factors of a veterinary nature that could prejudice
a horse’s suitability for its intended use.
Stuart Thorne BVSc BSc PhD MRCVS
Fellowes Farm Equine Clinic Ltd
PRE - PURCHASE
Certificate and opinion
The certificate (Figure 1) reports the
examination findings including all the
significant signs of disease, injury or physical
abnormality. Each PPE is performed on behalf
of a specific purchaser so that the vet’s final
opinion can be based on that individual’s
needs and the intended use of the horse.
This opinion is given in the following format.
‘In my opinion, on the balance of probabilities,
the conditions reported above do/do not
prejudice this horse’s suitability for purchase to
be used for …’
If, for example, the vet feels that their findings
DO prejudice the horse’s suitability as a 4*
Eventer then they will delete the relevant
section and the horse is often referred to as
having ‘failed’. However, the same horse
could be examined by the same vet on the
same day for a client who wants a quiet hack
and the horse may ‘pass’ as the same findings
DO NOT prejudice the horse’s suitability for
the intended use.
It is preferable to move away from the pass/
fail mind-set. The PPE provides an assessment
of the horse at the time of examination to help
the potential purchaser make an informed
decision as to whether or not to continue with
their purchase. It is not a guarantee of a
horse’s suitability for the intended purpose but
forms an important part of the risk assessment
undertaken when someone is considering
buying a horse. It is also often a requirement
from an insurance company if the horse is
over a certain value.
Before the examination can occur it should
be established if the vendor is a client of the
practice. It is standard procedure when a vet
performs a PPE on a client’s horse that the vendor
agrees to allow full disclosure of previous
clinical history held by the practice. If this is not
possible, for any reason, then the vet should
decline to perform the examination. It is important
that there is no conflict of interest as the vet must
act wholly in the interests of the purchaser.
Examination
The standard examination is conducted in
five stages, although the exact sequence of
the examination may vary. If requested by the
purchaser, a limited (two-stage) examination
may be performed. However, written
confirmation is required from the purchaser
confirming that they understand that the
examination is limited in its scope as it may
not detect important clinical factors that could
otherwise influence the decision to purchase
the horse (Figure 2).
Veterinary surgeon
Stuart Thorne
XLEquine practice
Fellowes Farm
Equine Clinic Ltd
Pre-purchase
examination
Figure 1
Figure 2
