Horse Vet Check -- what are some of the things that should be checked before buying a horse?

Question

Does anyone have advice regarding the health check of a horse before purchase? What are some of the important things that should be checked? Also, have you run into problems with the purchase of a horse that you wish you would have known about before the purchase? I am considering the purchase of a horse and would appreciate any experience you could share so that I (and others) can avoid making the same mistakes.

An additional question: Should I be concerned if the horse likes to grind its teeth while working on the bit? This seems like just a bad habit as the teeth have been regularly floated, but I just worry that there might be health and/or performance problems as a result of this habit. Anyone have any experience with this problem?

Thanks so much for your help !!!

Answer 1

i agree with the other poster, you want to make sure the hooves are in tip top condition (you dont want laminitis) and check all limbs, stay apparatus, teeth are especially important. i would also have the vet check for gut sounds, make sure everything is sound on the insides. not sure about the grinding of the teeth thing.
have the vet do a prepurchase exam, they will know what to do.

Answer 2

Have your own vet check the horse - NOT one recommended by the seller.

As for the vet check - what do you want to use the horse for? Trails, halter shows, jumping? If you're looking for a specific riding/driving discipline, make sure to tell your vet that - s/he may have some additional ideas about what exactly to look for.

Find out when last vaccinations were and by whom. Is the horse on a regular de-worming programme? Who shoes/trims the feet? All questions YOU should know the answer to before having the vet out. If you can, talk to the farrier about the health of the horse's feet - both past & present - s/he will know better than anyone.

Your vet should check the teeth - they may need to be floated but teeth grinding can come from frustration over something too. Or the bit might be causing discomfort - or the bridle not fitting properly.

Also have your vet do a flexion test on all 4 legs - this tells you alot about soundness & potential.

If the horse is at a medium to large barn, there's bound to be gossip. Try to talk with other boarders who know the horse (out of ear-shot of the current owner) and see what they know about the horse's attitude, temperament & health - both past & present. Also, you'll want to know if the barn has had any major illnesses run through there in the past 6 mos. - i.e. strangles or equine flu.

Avoid sellers that say things like: Anyone can ride this horse! Never been lame a day in his/her life! Aw shoot - never noticed that before! Now that there doesn't normally happen! -- They're usually more interested in getting your money than they are finding a good home with a loving, new owner for their horse.

Bottom line - even if the horse passes with flying colors - get everything in writting!! It's best to have a grace period built into the sales contract - say if the horse isn't going along as you'd hoped within 30 days, you can return him/her and receive 80% of your down payment back (of course if anything happens to the horse while in your care should also be stated in the contract).

Good luck!!
=D

Answer 3

If you take the horse to an experienced equine or large animal vet, they will know all of the vital health problems to check for. We also get an experienced farrier to check a horse out before we buy. He will know if the horse is being shod in a specific way to correct tracking problems and/or lameness. Grinding teeth can be caused by several things: 1. bridle not fitted correctly so bit rides too low or too high in the mouth, 2. some bits just don't work for certain horses. 3. he's unhappy with what he's being asked to do and taking some steps back in training can correct this nervous behavior. 4. sometimes certain teeth on horses have to be removed because they interfere with the bit(wolf teeth). If the horse still grinds the bit/teeth or gapes his mouth, then use a caveson. That's what it's made for.

The seller should also declare things like if the horse is a cribber, etc. It's just proper horse selling ettiquette.

Answer 4

See if you could get a two week trial. When I bought my horse, the seller and I agreed to a trial, and the sale would be void if the horse didn't pass the vet check. Also, it is a good way to see how you and the horse really get along, and if the horse was drugged at his previous barn. I know that sounds bad, but people will sedate their horses to make them seem calmer. With a trial, you will see the horses true personality. But I would never buy a horse without it passing a vet check. In regard to your question, your vet should have a standard of checking the horse. Also, always use your own vet... in other words, not the vet the seller uses. This way, there will be no conflict of interest.

Answer 5

I just want to ask you a question if I may? Have you reviewed all the records of vet checks from the current owner. I use to keep mine in a folder and always had it handy.

Secondly, hoofs are important and teeth are important, but the vet should pull blood for things like Coggins. If the horse is up to date on its shots according to the owners records then no worries.

Further, the legs should be suited to the type of riding you want. Ask a vet to check the length of the forearm and see if it is long enough for say jumping and dressage.

Chewing on the bit is a bad habit and it is not good for their teeth, it wears them down.

Rubber snaffles can be used to help protect the teeth. Or you can try hackamores.

Good Luck and Take Care

P.S. Be sure to ask the current owners if the horse has had any tendon injuries in the past. They might be honest with you.

Answer 6

Here's one about the bit playing thing. an old friend bought this Arab and after looking it over and test ridding it, I told my friend this horse has had some really bad habits. He asked...How do you know? I said for starters, this horse is only 7 years old and has had 9 different owners (BIG RED FLAG) also, all the teeth on the left side were gone. We all know what that means, he takes the bit and turns into a run away and what was left of his teeth on the right side, needed floated but all wally saw was a $900.00 price tag and wanted the horse, BAD MOVE! this horse turned into a killer horse, not untrained, not scared and not just hyper...this was a true killer horse and after he hurt a dozen people he asked me to sell him. I said no, be my luck some young girl will end up with it lookin for a gymkhana horse and the darn thing will kill her and I wasn't going to live with that on my conscience. wally's now afraid of the horse, no one but me can ride him and he's now just a hay burnner oh, did I leave out the part where he's tummy didn't sound good nor did the look of his stool and when I told wally to have a vet check out this horse, he didn't want to spend the money and said "na, he's ok" Well the moral of this true story is....There's no such thing as a good $900.00 Arab, teeth missing on one side, when a horse looks at you with cross hairs in his eye's that your afraid to ride it and your so tight with your money that you wont pay for a vet, Don't buy it! and dang sure, don't ask someone that knows better with a conscience to sell it! what happened to the horse?? I put it down with a .45 instead of using drugs so we could give it to "Little out of africa" and they fed him to their tigers, panthers and lions. at least someone got some use out of him.

Answer 7

ok well first you want to check there gums and make sure there not white. If they are this could mean they are sedated. You want to touch them all over to make sure you can and that when you do they won't kick you or try to bite you. If he does he might need some attention from the vet because he is hurting. Make sure you pick up his feet and they look ok. Get all of his records...shots, pedigree...so you can research the horse. And make sure if you want to be riding it that the previous owner will ride it for you and you watch. If they won't you will know something is up. Find out how it does with other horses, what the feeding schedule is and what he or she has been eating. Ask if the horse has ever colliced or foundered before. Also just find out what kind of basic training he or she has.

Answer 8

The others answered the vet thing but I just wanted to throw in that if the horse is in a pasture you want to either catch it yourself or have them Catch it for you while you are there watching. Nothing I hate more than a horse that you have to chase around the pasture for an hour trying to catch. When you tack it up, watch to see if it is touchy in the girth like when you cinch it tight, does it kick, or try to bite, or something along that line. When you pick up the feet does it stand quietly for you or try to pull away. make sure that you ask if it is spooky towards anything, lawn chairs in the yard, garden hoses laying around, anything like that. If I was you I would go and see the horse at least a couple of times before buying, and maybe make a surprise trip out to see it and how it is when they are not expecting you.. you never know what they can do if they know you are coming to quiet a horse down..

Answer 9

If the horse grinds its teeth while working on the bit it may also crib. I would check about that. The vet can confirm the approximate age. I would ask an experienced farrier to check the feet, ask for shot and worming records. Check the legs for soundness. The vet may suggest some other checks that will help you make your decision. Good Luck

Answer 10

well you can have the vet do a special "vet check" for buying a new horse. i would without a doubt do this before you buy one. that was one of my biggest mistakes when i bought my horse. a vet can check (or should be able to) everything about the horse.

my old stable used to have a lesson horse that ground his teeth all the time when you were riding him. it drives you nuts. but i don't think it's a medical condition or problem. just a little annoying.