Pre-purchase vetting explained
Updated · HorsesalesIreland.com
A pre-purchase examination, or vetting, is an independent vet's opinion on whether a horse is suitable for the job you're buying it for, on the day they see it. It is not a guarantee, but it catches most of the problems that turn a good buy into a heartbreaking one.
Use your own vet
Always choose and pay the vet yourself. A vet who regularly treats the seller's horses has a conflict of interest, however honest they are. Many Irish equine practices will travel to the seller's yard; if the horse is far away, ask your own vet to recommend a practice near the horse.
The two-stage vetting
Stage one is a thorough examination at rest: eyes, heart, lungs, teeth, skin, legs, feet, back, and a check that the passport and microchip match the horse. Stage two is a trot-up in hand on a hard surface, flexion tests on each leg and often a look at the horse on a lunge or small circle. It takes about an hour and is suitable for cheaper horses, youngsters not yet in work, and horses bought for light use. Expect to pay in the region of €150 to €250 plus travel.
The five-stage vetting
Stages three to five add strenuous exercise, usually ridden; a rest period during which the vet listens to heart and lungs recovering; and a second trot-up and flexions to see whether exercise has brought anything out. It takes two to three hours and is the standard for any horse bought for ridden work or competition, or costing more than a few thousand euro. Budget roughly €300 to €500 plus travel and any extras.
X-rays, bloods and extras
X-rays of feet, hocks and stifles are optional and add a few hundred euro; they're worth it for competition horses, for a horse you intend to insure for a high value, and for any horse where the flexions raised a question. A blood sample is usually taken and stored, so it can be tested later if you suspect the horse was given painkillers or sedatives for the vetting. Ask for this; it's cheap insurance.
What the result means
The vet reports what they found and gives an opinion on whether the horse is suitable for your stated purpose. Few horses pass with nothing noted; the question is whether what was found matters for what you want to do. A slight finding on a flexion test in a 14-year-old happy hacker is a different matter from the same finding in a four-year-old eventing prospect. Talk it through with the vet before you decide.
Who pays, and when
The buyer pays for the vetting, whether or not they go on to buy. Agree the sale "subject to vetting" beforehand, so a failed vetting ends the deal and returns any deposit. If a horse fails a vetting, the seller is entitled to know why; that information is yours, but it's good manners to share the gist.
Common questions
Can I skip the vetting on a cheap horse?
You can, and plenty of people do on a €1,500 project. Just be clear-eyed that you're accepting the risk. A two-stage vetting is still only the price of a couple of shoeings.
Does a vetting check behaviour or temperament?
No. It's a health and soundness examination. Temperament you judge yourself at the viewing and by asking the right questions.
How long is a vetting valid?
It describes the horse on the day. Insurers usually want one dated within a few weeks of purchase.