This is for buyers and sellers: What sorts of things do you want done at a PPE for a weanling or yearling? Do you get bloodwork? Which xrays?
Am I crazy to think x-rays on a weanling or yearling are pretty pointless? I’m interested to see responses, cool question Callaway.
OK I’ll jump in here. We have had many PPE exams done on weanlings and yearlings and pretty much everyone has done x rays. No flexion tests however.
I think you do have to realise the results on x rays taken on weanlings especially, may very well change. You may see a little something which quite possibly a year later is totally clean but it does give a buyer/breeder a base line radiograph to go on from. If the x rays are clean as a weanling again it give you a baseline to go on from.
Blood work for a PPE we are seeing as pretty standard.
We are taking a 2 yr old for a PPE tomorrow and expect to have full x rays,bloodwork and in addition, they have already told me they will be doing neck and spine.
Gotcha, makes sense as a “baseline” 
Hi Lesley,
This is Kim–Phyllis’s friend. Thanks so much for your input. I just had my Riverman yearling vetted today, and the vet found a smashed tarsal (?) bone in his right hock. I was curious to hear your comment about xrays changing, as I obviously hope this xray will. The buyer isn’t sure if she wants to take a gamble.
The vet said that this happened in the womb, and that there is some bone remodeling. The vet also said that he could be 100% sound, or not. He may get arthritis, etc. Anyhow, thanks for the information. I’ll pass it along to the buyer.
The potential buyer also had 10 vials of blood drawn for drug testing. I was surprised at that!
We’ve only had about half of the young horses we sell vetted. Alot of the buyers know us and we are very open about information. We do NOT allow flexions testing on any of the youngsters under 2. Sorry - but some of these Vets are just too drastic and they can damage a youngster. The AAEP has discussed eliminating the flexion test from PPE’s. It varies so much from Vet to Vet that it’s not reliable.
X-rays in my opinion are probably a waste of money because week to week there are changes - but if people want to spend the money - it’s their money. ’
As far as blood samples - I never understand why some Vets pull so many viles. They only need very small samples to run complete blood screens. I know some Vets keep a sample to protect themselves against any claims in the future.
Callaway - I would definitely get a second opinion on the “smashed bone”… Some vets have a flair for drama and make things sound far worse than they are.
Getting radiographs on weanlings is a waste of time in my opinion. With a yearling I think the magic number is 14 months in order to get meaningful x-rays.
I think it’s much more important to watch a youngster’s way of going and conformation, as well as teeth, eyes, etc. and then look at the mare and get as much info as you can regarding the stallion.
Just my opinion…
Thank you, Siegi. I was so upset when I found out about it. The vet who did the PPE is emailing the potential buyer’s vet the xray for his review.
The vet that did the PPE also mentioned that she graduated from vet school in 2006 and had never seen this kind of abnormality other than in school!
Thats was my train of thought on x-rays. In laymens terms If they’re clear you could still end up with major issues and if they aren’t you could pass up what could be an amazing and completely sound young horse. They just seem like a catch 22 with weanlings/young yearlings
