IN-DEPTH: PRE-PURCHASE EXAM Purchase Examination of the Western Performance Horse G. Kent Carter, DVM, MS Author’s address: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4475; e-mail: [email protected]. © 2009 AAEP. 1. Introduction 2. Purchase Examination When asked to examine a horse for potential pur- Performing a purchase examination is a very impor- chase, it is important that the veterinarian does a tant service that equine veterinarians provide cli- thorough examination with appropriate record ents. Equine veterinarians have unique training keeping and documentation.1 Partial exams and and expertise that can help the potential horse incomplete record keeping can potentially lead to buyer make informed decisions about the horse be- future problems that would be hard to defend. ing considered for purchase. Although many veter- Although a potential purchaser may ask you to do a inarians consider purchase exams to be an arduous quick partial examination, horse owners can be af- task burdened by potential litigation, purchase ex- fected by selective amnesia when they encounter aminations can actually be a rewarding experience, problems like lameness. Therefore, a complete ex- which often results in a long-term veterinarian/pa- amination and good record keeping/documentation tient relationship. Experience in equine practice are imperative and easily defended.2 and knowledge of the horse’s discipline are both advantages in advising clients about the potential of a horse’s medical condition to affect its intended 3. Western Disciplines use. The goal of the examining veterinarian Western horses, most commonly American Quarter should not be to identify any flaw that the horse Horses, are used for numerous working and showing might have and then discourage the sale based on purposes and often have injuries or problems that those flaws. Rather, the veterinarian should are related to their use. Although some lameness thoroughly evaluate the horse and identify any problems seem to be more frequent with certain abnormalities and inform the client (based on the disciplines, some lameness is quite common in all veterinarian’s training and experience) of the po- types of performance.3–6 Knowledge of these disci- tential for those abnormalities to affect the in- plines, their peculiarities, and the common problems tended use of the horse. This information should associated with each use type (e.g., forelimb injuries be only one of many factors to be considered in and lameness in team roping horses)7 can be helpful whether or not to purchase the horse. to the veterinarian performing purchase examina- NOTES 292 2009 ր Vol. 55 ր AAEP PROCEEDINGS IN-DEPTH: PRE-PURCHASE EXAM tions.8 Western horses compete in a wide variety of tently overlooking part of the examination. A disciplines that all have individual variations of perfect horse is rare, and horses that are in active problems. However, they also have a variety of competition usually have identifiable problems. problems that are similar to those seen in other Assessing how the problems identified may affect types of performance and competition horses. the horse’s ability to perform its intended use is Although knowledge of the intended disciplines when a veterinarians training, experience, and and the potential problems with each is useful, a knowledge of the discipline are important. thorough and complete examination of all purchase cases is essential and should not be substantially 4. Examination at Rest different between disciplines or individuals. The Begin the examination by observing the horse’s different disciplines for which Western horses are overall appearance and conformation. Obvious commonly used have been well described in previous conformational defects are observed, recorded, and proceedings,9–13 and common lameness problems discussed with the client. Although many horses seen in these horses has been described.3–6 There- compete successfully with conformational problems fore, this paper will not go into depth about each (e.g., mild carpal valgus), other conformations like discipline, but rather, it will mention specific aspects very straight hocks and low rear fetlocks can, in of the examination as they relate to the intended use some cases, become problematic or make the horse for the horse. Racing Quarter Horses are pur- prone to injuries, particularly in hard stopping chased at sales similar to the racing Thoroughbreds, horses like reining horses and calf-roping horses. and examination at sales will not be discussed in Suspensory ligament injuries are relatively common this paper. in horses with this type of straight leg and can be Before a horse is examined for purchase examina- career ending in some cases. Hoof conformation, tion, a standard permission to perform the purchase balance, and quality should be observed; many out- examination is obtained from the buyer and seller.14 standing performance horses have poorly conformed These forms are recommended for all purchase ex- feet that are a continuous battle for the farrier and aminations. Although it is yet to be tested in court, owner, and they often result in lameness. this form provides useful information, and at our After observing for conformational defects as well hospital, it is thought to be helpful should any liti- as swelling, lumps, bumps, and scars, a hands-on gation result from the purchase examination. Al- thorough physical examination is performed. The though there can be advantages to having the seller author systematically begins at the nose and pro- present at the examination (e.g., the horse is demon- ceed through the tail, observing and palpating all strably lame), the buyer is your client and deserves structures that could present potential problems for private discussion about the examination of the the buyer. horse and the significance of findings during the A thorough oral exam is an important aspect of examination without the seller being present. If the evaluation. Normally, the age of the horse is the seller is not present, contact information is im- determined by examining its teeth to ensure that portant should permission for more invasive proce- the age is close to what is being represented. The dures (like a nerve block) be desired by the buyer. author has been presented with a horse being sold as History of the horse’s use, show history, periods of a 12 yr old when the teeth indicated its actual age as rest, previous lameness, previous medical problems Ͼ20 yr. Dental problems such as parrot mouth, as well as therapies are all important information to wave mouth, and missing teeth should be identified, acquire from the seller, if possible. However, many and potential maintenance problems must be ex- horses are presented for purchase examinations plained to the buyer. with very little known history. The buyer should The specifics of the ophthalmic examination as it be advised of the risk of purchasing a horse with an relates to the purchase examination have been de- unknown history and particularly, horses that have scribed in detail.15–17 Decreased vision can be a been out of active use for long periods of time. significant problem, particularly in horses that rely This author recommends that the horse being exam- on sight to perform their occupation (e.g., roping ined be in use just before the purchase examination horses and cutting horses that need to see the cattle whenever possible. they are working). The author has observed nu- The purchase examination should include a very merous horses presented for purchase examinations thorough physical examination, a thorough lame- that were completely blind in one eye, and the buyer ness examination, and additional testing as war- and the seller were unaware of the partial blindness. ranted by the examination or desired by the client. Decreased vision and evidence of previous ocular Particular attention is given to all aspects of the disease should be noted, and the significance of examination that could identify potentially perfor- these abnormalities should be explained to the mance limiting problems or maintenance problems buyer. of which the buyer should be aware. The author Palpation of the larynx and trachea should be care- uses the standard hospital medical record system to fully performed. Asymmetry in the dorsal larynx aid in the examination. However, many practitio- could be a result of laryngeal hemiplegia. Palpation ners prefer to use a check list to prevent inadver- should be supplemented with airway endoscopy to AAEP PROCEEDINGS ր Vol. 55 ր 2009 293 IN-DEPTH: PRE-PURCHASE EXAM fully evaluate the laryngeal function. The thorax is a subtle lameness identified in hand may be wors- carefully auscultated before and during forced respi- ened or totally absent when ridden). ration with a rebreathing bag. Careful cardiac aus- In mature performance horses in active use, it is cultation should also be performed at this time. common to find problems. Lameness is the most Careful palpation of all four limbs and the back common abnormality identified. The challenge is should be accomplished, evaluating for swelling, to determine whether or not the lameness can be asymmetry, or pain. The ventral abdomen is care- tolerated. Horses in some disciplines like team fully palpated for scars from previous abdominal roping often perform competitively despite lame- surgeries. Previous colic surgeries in the medical ness, whereas horses in other disciplines like barrel history is an important thing for the buyer to know. racing are more easily made less competitive be- Palpation with hoof testers and careful examination cause of lameness. Many older competition horses should be completed on all four feet. Examination that are no longer competitive at professional levels of the peri-anal area, genitalia, and base of the tail are very useful at youth or novice levels and can be for potential tumors is important, particularly in serviceable for years.