A guide to Vetting
Once you have found the horse you want to buy, before you agree to the purchase it is important to arrange to have the horse 'vetted'.
You should always use your own vet for this, or one recommended by your own vet, and not a vet suggested by the person selling you the horse. When you contact your vet to arrange the vetting, tell him/her as much as possible about the horse and what you want to do with it. The vet will bear this in mind when he is conducting his vetting; for example, a young, high spirited but perfectly genuine and sound horse may not be suitable as a first time buy for a novice rider.
There are two types of pre-purchase examination - a full 5-stage vetting or a more limited 2-stage vetting. If you are buying a valuable competition horse, you may also want to consider having x-rays done.
Five Stage Vetting
The full '5-stage examination' is divided into five parts following a standard format as laid down by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association.
1. Preliminary Examination
The vet carries out a preliminary examination in the stable, with a check of the eyes, teeth, heart and limbs etc. They will also look at any documentation such as breeding papers, vaccination records and the horse's passport and check for a microchip.
2.Trot Up
Next the horse will be walked and trotted up in front of the vet, who will look at it from different angles. The vet may then carry out flexion tests where each limb is lifted and held in turn before the horse is asked to trot away.
3. Strenuous Exercise
Next the horse, assuming it is broken and fit to ride, is seen ridden. If it is a young, unbroken animal it may be lunged or loose schooled. The vet will see how the horse moves, assess the response to exertion and once again check the heart and breathing.
4. Period of Rest
The horse is allowed to cool down and blood samples may be taken at this stage.
5. Second Trot Up
The horse is trotted up to assess whether there are any after effects of the exercise. The vet may carry out flexion tests again at this stage and may want to see the horse lunged on both a hard and a soft surface.
The '2-stage examination' covers only parts 1 and 2. If you ask for a 2-stage vetting you will be required to complete and sign a legal waiver beforehand to show that you understand and accept that the examination will not give you such comprehensive information as a 5-stage vetting and that some defects may not be discovered.
After The Vetting
Vets do not pass or fail the horse after the vetting, instead the vet will advise you as to whether he thinks the horse is suitable for the purpose you have in mind. It is then up to you to decide whether, after listening to his advice, you want to go ahead and buy the horse. If your horse is to be insured for more than £5,000 Petplan Equine require a 5 stage certificate. If the horse is being insured for more than £2,500 with loss of use, a minimum of a 2-stage certificate is required.
Top Tips
- Always have at least a 2-stage vetting done before buying any horse - you want to be sure that you know what you are buying.
- Make sure that the vet knows the purpose for which you are buying the horse and is also aware of your own level of experience.
- If you cannot be present when the horse is being vetted, try and make sure that the vet can contact you by telephone in case he wants to discuss a potential problem during the examination.
Graham Potts BVet Med MRCVS, of the Three-Counties Equine Hospital guides us through the '5 stage' vetting process.
- Identification & nose-to-tail exam
- Looking for lameness - trotting up, flexion tests
- Strenuous exercise - ridden to walk, trot & canter - heart & breathing checks
- Post exercise exam, blood test
- Final trotting up, findings of vetting revealed to purchaser
Whether you instruct a vet you know, or use one personally recommended - the yourstables vetting video will help you during this key stage of the buying process.
