Buying Your Next Unicorn?

Buying Your Next Unicorn

Some important points to consider when organising a prepurchase examination:

  1. What is the intended use of the horse

  2. Are you willing to accept any degree of risk with a finding found on the veterinary examination?

  3. Have you considered other tests along with the clinical examination?

  4. Are you choosing a vet with suitable experience to perform the examination for you?

  5. Is there anything that you would run a mile from if found on the vet check?

What are the different types of examinations:

Generally there are two types of examinations performed at purchase time:

 

1 & 2 Stage Examination

  1. Examination of the following:

    • Eyes

    • Mouth

    • Ears

    • Skin

    • Listening to the heart

    • Listening to the lungs

    • Palpation of the entire body

    • Neurological examination

    • Examination at walk and trot

    • Flexion tests performed on all four legs.

    • Written report

5 Stage examination

  1. All of stage 1 & 2 examination

  2. Stage 3:

    • Examination at exercise, either ridden or lunged

    • Listening for any abnormal respiratory noise at exercise

    • Any signs of lameness when lunging or ridden on a soft surface.

    • Listening to the heart after exericse.

  1. Stage 4:

    • Assessing the cooling down period

    • Auscultation of the heart

  1. Stage 5:

    • Repeat lameness assessment on a firm surface

    • Flexion tests if deemed necessary based on stage 2 exam

    • Lunging on a hard surface

  2. Written report


ALL EXAMINATIONS PERFORMED BY TWEEDIE & ASSOCIATES WILL HALT DURING AN EXAMINATION IF WE FIND A MAJOR CONCERN DURING AN EXAMINATION. AT THIS POINT WE WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.


We would recommend the Stage 5 examination for any horses undergoing ridden exercise. This will allow the most thorough clinical examination to be performed and provide you with the most information.

FAQs

 

Should I be there for the examination?

We are comfortable performing an examination with out you present. We will however advise you of the time of the consult and ask that you are available to talk to us during that time.

Will you do pre-purchase examinations on client’s horses?

Generally we prefer not to do a pre purchase examination on a client’s horse that they are selling. We will perform them in situations when both vendor and purchaser are clients. In this scenario we request the vendor release all medical records to the purchaser so we can discuss them with them before the examination.

Who performs the examination?

Currently all pre purchase examinations are performed by Dr Michael Tweedie. He has 18yrs of equine experience dealing with performance horses of all disciplines. This experience allows an honest opinion to be given to you with experience to back those findings.

Does a horse pass or fail?

No a horse will not pass or fail an examination. There is no such thing as a perfect horse. Often something will be identified during an examination that may be of a concern. As vets we will give some guidance as to what the risk of the finding is in regards to the intended use of the horse. This will be in terms of low/ medium/ high risk. A high risk finding does not stop a horse performing their job but it might increase the risk of the horse having issues associated with this problem. An example of a high risk concern: A Stifle cyst in a young warmblood. This would be classified high risk as if the horse goes lame due to this issue there are limited options to fix the issue. A medium risk issue might be a small fragment in a fetlock. This can often be managed with intra-articular medication or surgery.

Will we disclose the information to the vendor?

Generally all information gained during a prepurchase examination is for the purchaser. We have found that if a major issue or problem is identified during an examination, sharing this information with the vendor is helpful to you. Allowing the vendor to see an issue on an x-ray of disclosing that the horse is lame or some other issue will make it easier for you as a purchaser to discuss this with a vendor. This may allow you to negotiate with the vendor easier as they are aware of the issue and can visualise it.