Vetting Your Horse

Vetting a horse is the process of having your horse thoroughly inspected by an equine vet; this is an important stage of the horse buying process and it is important that you understand what it all means. The vet will take the horse through a series of steps and thoroughly inspect the horse; after the whole process the vet will either pass the horse or not according to it's suitability for purchase by yourself. The initial costs of vetting a horse prior to purchase will not be covered by your horse insurance provider, and you should also make sure that you check any exclusions on your policy carefully as you don't want any nasty surprises later should you need to make a claim.

The vet will first observe the horse at rest in their stable and check their breathing rate, and listen to their heart. The horse is usually then taken outside for a full surface examination. This will include checking the skin, limbs and teeth. The inspection of the teeth is done to confirm the age of the horse. The vet will thoroughly examine the skin to check for lumps, bumps or abnormalities. The vet will also take a blood sample during the examination.

The next part of the examination will be done on a hard surface and will involve walking and trotting the horse. The vet will be looking for signs of lameness and will also perform flexion tests on the joints of the lower limbs. The next step involves strenuous exercise usually ridden or lunged. Then the vet will listen for abnormal heart and wind sounds after exertion. Then after a period of rest the horse will be examined for any stiffness resulting from the exertion.

The exact tests performed by the vet will depend on what you have asked for and what purpose or duty the horse is going to be used for. The vet will pass the horse if it is physically fit for the purpose intended and after a variety of tests have been done. If you are buying a horse you should make sure at this stage that the vetting has not picked up on any underlying condition which may give you a problem with your horse insurance at a later date.

Are you an Equine Vet? Do you have any advice for potential horse owners that could help when deciding whether or not to buy a horse? Please comment here and share your experiences with other members of the AFI Horse Community.