I live in the U.S., but am looking at a horse a bit southeast of Vancouver, British Columbia soon (after getting numerous videos from the trainer). Recommendations for a vet near there to do the PPE would be greatly appreciated!
As a bonus, suggestions on what you would have x-rays done on would also be welcome (the goal is eventual mid-level hunter or jumper, horse is still too green to know which ring it’ll end up in).
Paton and Martin Vet Clinic in Aldergrove - Ask for Dr Paton or Dr Virgin… ( no one else). 604 856 3351.
Dr. Kleider in Langley area.
I always do hocks, front feet, and lately I’ve decided back and neck are must-haves too 
I used Paton and Martin. I had X-rays, ultrasound and two trips to check the horse. Cost: $1500 Canadian Dollars. It was amazingly thorough and cheap.
Dr. Robyn Kopala
fantastic Vet and she is a rider too. I’ve never heard Paton and Martin described as ‘Cheap’ Haha but that bill does seem reasonable.
I used Dr. Kleider once and was a little underwhelmed, but it was all long distance and some vets are just better over the phone and such than others. Just with what was relayed to me and after my own vet’s review of the report and x-rays, I didn’t feel he was as thorough as I might have liked. I passed on the horse after my vet identified some issues on the x-rays that Dr. K hadn’t mentioned, but maybe mine was being too picky, I don’t know.
I do front feet and hocks for sure. Then depends on the exam findings and the horse. When I was buying young warmbloods, I did stifles. Kind of depends on price, age, build, and what they are currently doing or expected to do in the future.
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll check out the vets mentioned.
Compared to what I have paid in the US, it was astonishingly affordable. That’s what I meant - sorry for any confusion.
I used Dr Paton for my horse’s PPE. He did an excellent job and was professional and helpful in his post-exam discussion with my trainer and I. I will say his office asked me for a max budget for the exam and I said I didn’t want to go over $2500 US and they spent every last dime lol so just be aware of that. Worth it in retrospect but I might have said a lower amount if I’d known they were going all the way to the max.
Follow-up question: just found out owner of horse had baseline x-rays done on fetlocks, hocks, and stifles last fall, but that was before horse was started. Would taking new views of these joints have any value in your opinion?
Personally I would still take my own set of X-rays and then compare them to the baseline! I never take what a seller says/does a face value, it’s just not worth the risk. You want to make sure that the horse isn’t showing any major changes and can stand up t9 the work he’s to be intended for!
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