horse trading Horse trading, in its literal sense, is the buying and selling of horses, also called "horse dealing". Due to the difficulties in evaluating the merits of a horse offered for sale, the sale of horses offered great opportunities for dishonesty, l ...

, an equine prepurchase exam is an examination of a horse requested by the buying party prior to the purchase, in order to identify any preexisting problems which may affect a horse's future performance and reduce buyer risk. The inspection usually consists of four phases in which a

veterinarian A veterinarian (vet), also known as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary physician, is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, vet ...

examines all aspects of the horse's

health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

Role of the veterinarian

An equine prepurchase exam is carried out by a veterinarian, who must also have a knowledge of the particular horse's breed, prospective use and competition rules, to best assess a horse's current and future

soundness In logic or, more precisely, deductive reasoning, an argument is sound if it is both valid in form and its premises are true. Soundness also has a related meaning in mathematical logic, wherein logical systems are sound if and only if every formul ...

. To determine the relative 'soundness' of the horse, veterinarians assess "the health status of the horse together with medical abnormalities", and should explain and record any medical abnormalities/concerns revealed during the exam. However, they are not guaranteeing the soundness of the horse. Veterinarians should be neutral to both buyer and seller to avoid any future discrepancies.

Assessment of 'soundness'

Upon completion of the prepurchase exam, the veterinarian may use a variety of terms to describe the horse's current health status. Buyers are hoping for a horse classified as 'sound' - which "cannot be faulted in any physical way, from the inside out". A horse may be categorized as "serviceably sound" if it has some structural problems, but is able to perform its intended purpose. If a veterinarian deems a horse unfit for its intended use, the horse will most likely be considered "unsound", usually referring to any condition which will severely inhibit the horse from performing, such as dental diseases,

blindness Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment� ...

or other eye problems,

founder Founder or Founders may refer to: Places *Founders Park, a stadium in South Carolina, formerly known as Carolina Stadium * Founders Park, a waterside park in Islamorada, Florida Arts, entertainment, and media * Founders (''Star Trek''), the ali ...

and

tumor A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

Phases of the exam

The first part of the exam involves thorough identification of the horse, including documentation of color, age and any distinguishing characteristics/scars/brands/tattoos the horse has. The horse's

vital signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of a ...

are also assessed, along with an examination of the horse's eyes, teeth and manure. A

urine sample A urine test is any medical test performed on a urine specimen. The analysis of urine is a valuable diagnostic tool because its composition reflects the functioning of many body systems, particularly the kidneys and urinary system, and specime ...

is usually required of competition horses to ensure the absence of performance-altering medications. According to the

Merck Veterinary Manual The ''Merck Veterinary Manual'' is a reference manual of animal health care. It was first published by Merck & Co., Inc. in 1955. It contains concise, thorough information on the diagnosis and treatment of disease in a wide variety of species. ...

, the date, time and place of the examination should also be recorded. The second phase of the exam begins with a general assessment of the horse's body and skin condition. The veterinarian normally assigns the horse a body condition score from 1 to 9, with 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese. Scores of 4, 5, or 6 are within the acceptable range for performance, breeding and halter horses. After a visual assessment of the horse, the veterinarian then begins palpation of the limbs. By watching the horse perform a variety of movements on different surfaces, the veterinarian is able to evaluate the horse's general soundness. Riding the horse is sometimes incorporated into the exam, depending on the intended use of the horse. The veterinarian can also ask the horse to move in straight lines and circles to reveal any blemishes. A passive/active

flexion test A flexion test is a preliminary veterinary procedure performed on a horse, generally during a prepurchase or a lameness exam. The purpose is to accentuate any pain that may be associated with a joint or soft-tissue structure, allowing the practitio ...

is commonly performed along with a thorough

hoof The hoof (plural: hooves) is the tip of a toe of an ungulate mammal, which is covered and strengthened with a thick and horny keratin covering. Artiodactyls are even-toed ungulates, species whose feet have an even number of digits, yet the ru ...

examination. A basic

neurological exam A neurological examination is the assessment of sensory neuron and motor responses, especially reflexes, to determine whether the nervous system is impaired. This typically includes a physical examination and a review of the patient's medical hist ...

may also be part of this third examination phase. The fourth and final phase of the exam is known as the 'diagnostic' phase.

Radiography Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical radiography ("diagnostic" and "therapeuti ...

, nuclear scans and

ultrasonography Ultrasound is sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hear it. This limit varies f ...

may be necessary to determine soundness, with special emphasis placed on the examination of the

navicular bone The navicular bone is a small bone found in the feet of most mammals. Human anatomy The navicular bone in humans is one of the tarsal bones, found in the foot. Its name derives from the human bone's resemblance to a small boat, caused by the ...

and

distal phalanx The phalanges (singular: ''phalanx'' ) are digital bones in the hands and feet of most vertebrates. In primates, the thumbs and big toes have two phalanges while the other digits have three phalanges. The phalanges are classed as long bones. ...

. Higher radiographic grades of these areas are usually indicative of lameness and should be noted in a prepurchase exam.

References

{{reflist Equine injury and lameness Horse anatomy Veterinary diagnosis Horse trade