Services
Pre-Purchase Examinations
An independent, thorough and comprehensive examination before you commit.
What a vetting is
An independent veterinary assessment
A pre-purchase examination provides an independent veterinary assessment to help you make an informed decision on the prospective horse. The process is essential to ensure that the horse is healthy, in good condition and suitable for the intended use prior to purchase. The examination is performed in accordance with BEVA guidelines.
The examination
The five stages
The examination follows the five stages set out in the BEVA and RCVS guidance.
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Preliminary examination
A thorough examination of the horse at rest — eyes in a darkened area, heart and lungs, incisors, skin and a full external examination from head to foot, alongside the horse’s history and passport. A great deal is found at this stage.
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Walk and trot, in hand
The horse is walked and trotted in hand on a hard, level surface, turned both ways and backed, with flexion tests and trotting in a circle where the surface allows. This assesses straightness, gait and soundness before any work.
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Exercise phase
The horse is exercised, ridden or lunged, sufficiently to raise the heart and breathing rates. This is what shows up problems that only appear under load, and gives the opportunity to hear the horse breathing and to assess how it goes.
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Period of rest and re-examination
The horse is allowed to stand quietly while the heart and breathing recover, and is examined again. Stiffness or lameness that was not apparent earlier often emerges at this point.
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Second trot-up
A final trot up in hand, with flexion tests and turns repeated. Anything the exercise has brought out will show itself here.
A two-stage examination covers the first two stages only, so it is a more limited examination. If that is what you want, it has to be requested in writing beforehand — see below.
Guidance and paperwork
Before you book
The joint BEVA and RCVS guidance notes set out what a pre-purchase examination involves, and what it can and cannot tell you. They are worth reading before you book.
If you would rather have a two-stage examination, that has to be requested in writing beforehand. The limited examination letter is the standard form for doing so — it is already addressed to the practice, so fill in your details and the horse’s, sign it, and hand or send it over before the day.
A five-stage examination is recommended in almost all cases, and many insurers will not accept a two-stage. Please check with your proposed insurer before deciding.
What else is available
Radiographs, bloods and the report
- A VDS blood sample is taken and stored for the standard period, so it can be analysed later if required
- Radiographs are optional and priced separately — the views are agreed with you in advance
- Findings are talked through with you by telephone before the written report follows
It is important to check any insurance requirements prior to your pre-purchase examination with your proposed insurer. Some policies have particular requirements, such as specific radiographic views.
Before the day
Arranging a vetting
- Book as early as you can — a vetting takes around two hours
- Let the vendor know how long you will need and what facilities are required
- Agree the intended use for the horse before the examination begins
What needs to be ready
- The horse stabled overnight, or for at least three hours before the examination
- The horse clean and free from mud, with the feet picked out
- The passport and vaccination record available for inspection
Worth knowing beforehand
- An exact height measurement does not form part of the examination. Where an official height is needed, a Joint Measurement Board (JMB) height certificate is required
Common questions
Vetting questions
What is the difference between a two-stage and a five-stage vetting?
A two-stage examination covers the preliminary examination and the walk and trot in hand. A five-stage adds the exercise phase, a period of rest and re-examination, and a second trot-up. The five stages are set out in full on this page.
Do I need radiographs as part of a vetting?
They are not automatically included. It is worth discussing with your insurer before the day, as some policies require them.
What does the vendor need to have ready?
The horse should be stabled prior to the examination, a hard level surface to trot on, a dark area to assess the horse’s eyes, somewhere safe to lunge or ride, and the passport.
How long does a vetting take?
A five-stage examination usually takes around two hours, longer if radiographs are being taken. It is not a job to squeeze into a viewing appointment, and the vendor needs to know in advance how long you will be there.
How far will you travel for a vetting?
Further than the usual visiting radius. Pre-purchase examinations are undertaken further afield by arrangement, with mileage charged — ask when you book and it will be confirmed before the day.
Can I ask a veterinary question through the website?
The enquiry form is for general questions — registering, availability, arranging a visit and accounts. Clinical questions need a conversation, and the inbox is not monitored around the clock, so anything concerning your horse’s health should come by telephone.
How do I register as a new client?
Send an enquiry through the contact page or telephone the practice. You will be asked for your details, your yard, and a little about your horses so the right amount of time can be set aside for a first visit.
Booking a vetting
Vettings book up quickly, and the best ones are never rushed. Get in touch as early as you can.