Correction, Viney: it will cost you (g) less if done before, because then you invest less emotionally AND monetarily.
Whether or not one should vet a horse really depends on that person’s goals for the horse, confidence in the seller, confidence in one’s own assessment of the horse, and willingness to assume a certain level of risk. I honestly don’t think it’s foolish to skip vetting a horse if you can visit it a few times. I also don’t think it’s foolish to vet a horse, even if you’ve gotten to try it on your own farm for a week. You just have to go with your comfort level when determining the procedures you want to follow when buying these animals. Eventually most people develop systems that work for them.
Although I enjoy reading about others strategies for purchasing horses, I become uncomfortable when I feel those strategies become somewhat overbearing suggestions of THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I’ve vetted exactly one horse purchased off the track. He was going to be a resell project and that was why I decided to vet him. That horse developed PSSM, and shivers about a year later. Some I’ve purchased knowing they were a little off but I was willing to do the necessary rehab, and in one case I took a horse knowing she would never come sound. I sure didn’t vet the lame horses 
A thousand thank-you’s to everyone. There are few words to sum up the gratitude I have for all of the input and opinions.
Not much to update on - once there is, I will do so.
Exactly SEpowell. When I’m spending over 20K on a horse…yeah, I do a PPE ideally WITH my own vet or a vet that I know well. That is as much to give me a base line going forward as related to the purchase. BUT I understand better than most that all a PPE can do is give you a snap shot of the horse’s health that day. It does not give you a guarantee into long term soundness or whether the horse will do the job you want.
The biggest issue for me is that a PPE is an opinion of a vet. Well there are some opinions who I trust more than others. So getting a random vet at the track just doesn’t have that much value for me. And if I’m not spending a lot on the purchase price, I take the risk (using my judgment and often run a video and pictures by my vet)… but then I DO work with my vet who I trust before I invest significant time and expense in the retraining. It lets me know what direction I should go with the horse.
99% of the time if I’ve had an issue with a horse, it was a result of an injury at my farm.
But I do understand why others have a PPE done, just for me, I’d rather spend the money with my own vet. And if I was wrong with the purchase of the cheap horse, I don’t have an issue with finding them another home or changing our goals with the retraining and view it as my contribution to helping a horse find a safe landing after racing. And as it was in one case from deception by the seller…I just never buy from them again and warn all my friends. It is also why I typically only buy from people who I know but I’m lucky in that I have that choice.
Ther are a lot of roads to Rome.
Yes, I do the same. I don’t tend to vet low-cost horses though I do jog them (or in one case, have judybigredpony jog them for me!). I trust my eye as much as a random vet I don’t know, and if I am not going to do full Xrays I don’t vet.
If I was buying a horse for purely resale purposes I would do a set of baseline Xrays because the last thing I want is to invest a year in a horse, expect to make good money and then get stuck with a loss because of a vetting surprise on the sale end.
It really depends on your situation though. When you only have room for one horse in your life - due to room, time or money - that one is your $20,000 horse. That person usually isn’t in a situation where re-homing is easy. We all know there are never any guarantees but a pre-purchase at least gives you an idea of what you are starting with (although I didn’t with my current horse and have no regrets but I would in the future)
Except I’ve seen enough bad PPE…where the buyers were really misled that for me that is the bigger issue.
It only gives you a starting idea if it is well done and by a reputable vet…and even then, it only tells you so much. THAT is my point. I’m not saying don’t ever do a PPE…just have realistic expectations for the value that you are getting from that PPE.
[QUOTE=Chouteau;8972732]
It really depends on your situation though. When you only have room for one horse in your life - due to room, time or money - that one is your $20,000 horse. That person usually isn’t in a situation where re-homing is easy. We all know there are never any guarantees but a pre-purchase at least gives you an idea of what you are starting with (although I didn’t with my current horse and have no regrets but I would in the future)[/QUOTE]
This is very true, most of us who don’t vet have a farm, at least a few horses and other options to ride. And/or feel that a good chance with us is as good as most ex-race horses are going to get, and don’t have any deep guilt about euthing a horse that turns out to have serious problems.
If I had just one horse I would vet it fully, knowing it can get hurt in the trailer on its way to my place. I have actually had that happen before, luckily without long term consequences…but while a PPE is no guarantee it can rule out a few areas of heartbreak which is not insubstantial.
I do hear most of those who would forego a PPE saying that they are confident in their ability to judge the soundness of the horse if buying for themselves.
But if a buyer has not developed a discerning eye for conformation, I doubt that persons ability to perceive flaws in the horse’s movement. In that case I do think a PPE is in order.
There are also other tests run in a PPE.
How many folks take a stethoscope with them and know how to listen to the gut, heart, lungs, trachea, and sinuses?
How many can age a horse by it’s teeth, and spot dental issues?
Do you take a thermometer and temp the horse?
Do you draw blood to check for illness and drugs?
There is more to a PPE than spotting lameness.
How many folks take a stethoscope with them and know how to listen to the gut, heart, lungs, trachea, and sinuses?
How many can age a horse by it’s teeth, and spot dental issues?
Yes I do and can…But any Trainer worth his salt will ask if you are a vet and stop you in your tracks…Why because if you think you detect something…take a pass on horse and go and tell others why…With out malpractice and a Vets degree you just may get sued…Same reason why I won t let anyone but a Vet Flex and Jog my horses…Thoroughbreds since thats what we are talking about have a thing called a tattoo that insures age…Only someone with access to a Lab and the correct tube can get a tox screen…
