Thinking strongly about embarking down this road in the fall and purchasing a weanling or yearling hunter prospect. The youngest I have bought previously was a 3 y/o and we did a full vet workup including a lot of radiographs, but I am guessing this wouldn’t be necessary for something much younger?
Those of you that sell the weanlings often, what do most buyers do in terms of a pre-purchase, if anything?
In 2010 I purchased a yearling as a jumper prospect. I had a pre-purchase exam but did not do any radiographs or flexions. I made the decision to not do radiographs for two reasons. My vet and trainer both advised against it because young horses change so much that radiographs really wouldn’t be cost effective unless there was something questionable about her way of going initially. I looked at the filly on two different occasions and did not notice anything that raised question.
I opted out of doing flexions because I don’t think they are necessary on horses this young. Again, my vet and trainer fully supported this.
Now for what I did have done. I had a health exam done. I had the vet check things such as heart rate, breathing, eyes, nasal cavity, etc. the vet also watched the filly move in the indoor arena and on a hard surface. The plan was that if she noticed anything questionable or abnormal then we would do radiographs.
When I initially looked at the filly I watched her walk, trot, canter and free jump a small vertical (2’) in the indoor arena. The seller was very accommodating and was more than happy to free jump the filly a couple of times.
With all that said, I am very pleased with what I now have. My filly is great and was backed this spring. She is enjoying being a horse until this winter when I will start working with her under saddle consistently.
As a breeder, I won’t allow flexions of a weanling or yearling - too easy to permanently damage joints and supporting tissues at that age. I’ve had a few PPEs of younger horses - checking heart and lungs, eyes, general conformation, and just a “lameness eval” watching the youngster go at liberty and in hand.
Also had a few choose to do xrays - personally, I think xrays of young horses are generally inconclusive - with too many showing “false positive” issues, but it isn’t my decision as a seller. My only hard and fast rule - NO flexions!
When we bought my filly last year, I had a full work up done on her, minus the flexions. She was too young.
We did have hock/stifle x-rays taken, because I wanted to know where we were starting from. If I were to do it again I probably wouldn’t have the x-rays done. It was nice to know that my filly had textbook perfect x-rays though!
We also had a full blood-work up done, and a health check. I’m a bit perticular. DH and I decided that if we were going to spend over XX amount of money, that we wanted to know exactly what issues we would be looking at, if any.
I just sold my yearling.
The buyer did a full work-up, minus flexions, and took x-rays of the hock/stifles and front feet.
I just have to brag that my baby boy had all this done without tranq 
When I bought my guy as a yearling we did flexions (I know and trust my vet and she was cognizant of the fact that he was young) and we did x-rays of front fetlocks, knees, and hocks.
Let me say when I buy a weanling/yearling from a reputable breeder, I would be very comfortable with no vet exam. If I was buying sight unseen, I would have a basic vet exam looking at conformation and checking eyes, heart/lungs etc.
Flexions should never be done on a horse this young as it can damage joints. I do not allow them on the youngsters. Most of my buyers have either done no vet check or just a basic check.
For the first time this year I had someone who wanted radigraphs. It was very starnge to me, but to each his own. The vet came alone, so it was just be holding the yearling pony and the radigraph plates and the vet shooting exays. It was like a bizare game of twister! I am proud to say this little guy also required no tranq and was very good about the whole, odd experience.
No flexions or x-rays for me unless there is some noticable swelling or lameness. I also refuse to let customers vets flex my weanlings or yearlings for the reasons stated above.
You x-ray a yearling and you might see nothing. You x-ray again at 18 months and you may see something. I find it a waste of money to x-ray early because the young horse is always changing.
This.
[QUOTE=lotc2005;6367316]
Now for what I did have done. I had a health exam done. I had the vet check things such as heart rate, breathing, eyes, nasal cavity, etc. the vet also watched the filly move in the indoor arena and on a hard surface. The plan was that if she noticed anything questionable or abnormal then we would do radiographs.[/QUOTE]
This is what a buyer did when I sold my weanling. No flexion tests, just trotting on asphalt with mom and then at liberty in the paddock plus general health exam.
I have never had anyone do anything other than a basic PPE on a yearling /weaner and a lot of them didn’t even do that. Most folks seem to start doing at lot more at 3.
With the three babies I have (in the past) purchased, I only had a basic health/ soundness check done. I agree with the poster who said if you know who you’re buying from that does carry alot of weight. All three of mine have been fine and have not had any issues.
Yearling TBs get virtually every joint in their body xrayed as well as a scope or 50 of their throat before selling in a sale.
Thanks everyone for your input! Sounds like the general consensus is to do a health check, and do radiographs from there if anything is questionable. That’s kind of what I was expecting but am happy to hear it from those that have been there and done it!
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
