Im currently looking at purchasing a horse. In my viewfinder im looking at horses under 8 that have only done limited trail riding and hanging out in pastures.
In all cases but one im talking to a single owner the horses entire life.
What would you consider for a basic ppe?
Physical exam, flexions, lunge and ride for the vet. Maybe draw blood.
X-Rays probably wouldn’t be a “basic” PPE item for me, but recommended.
I consider a basic PPE a nose-to-tail evaluation (eyes, heart, lungs checked thoroughly, legs all palpated thoroughly, check for incision scars, hoof test, etc), watching the horse go in hand and under saddle, and flexions. Anything after that is added a la carte (bloodwork, radiographs, scoping, ultrasound). What you choose to add depends a lot on the horse’s history, current use, intended use, and what you’re willing to pay for.
In my practice, my basic PPE includes:
Xrays, ultrasound, scoping, drug testing are all “extras” that can be added as needed.
In what cases would you x ray and what would you xray?
I actually went years before i ever heard of a ppe!
X Ray if basic PPE as outlined above indicates a question. On cheap horses? I’d probably be done if any such question emerged. When in doubt with a horse not currently doing what you intend for it to do? Don’t.
I would xray if there was a positive flexion, some foot soreness seen or if there was a history of joint maintenance. Also, young horses not in much work yet, I would consider xraying joints most commonly found to have OCD.
I also tend to do “full” xrays (feet, ankles, hocks, stifles) on the extremely expensive or the horse with unlimited potential for the upper levels. I find on cheaper horses it usually kills the sale to need xrays, but not always.
Honestly, a normal PPE for me would be more than your entire budget (as described on the other board). At your price point, it’s probably not worth it. Unfortunately, for horses that have very low miles (trail riding or standing around in a pasture), it’s impossible to know if they’ll hold up to work until they’re actually working. It’s the risk you assume with project horses.
True, but that basic PPE as described above is much cheaper, few hundred at most, typically around 200 including farm call. You can get stuck with things like developing cataracts too small to easily see, breathing problems, heart murmurs, small gait irregularities that will eventually developed into lamness, subtle signs of chronic illness, like Cushings, that will require medication. Stuff like that even experienced horsemen miss.
To me it’s worth it plus, if you use your vet, they get a base and have the file started before an emergency and can pull a new Coggins, maybe a fecal to see where they are, possibly vaccinate if they are not up to date. Cost a couple bucks more but then it’s done and you know where they are and what you need to do management wise-cheap horses generally have not enjoyed the best in vet and farrier care and most need to get on that track sooner then later.
I only bought one horse anybody else wanted, most were pretty cheap but I found just that basic saved me a ton of mistakes that went on to be somebody else’s mistake costing far more then that basic PPE.
$200 including farm call for a basic PPE? I wish. In my universe, farm calls alone cost 80 bucks.
Basic PPE…Comprehensive Physical exam , flex, Jog, lunge check cardio recovery. Average cost $372. Not including $50.00 extra if it’s on farm and not at clinic.
Extra s, blood work, scope, x rays , riding the horse .
I had 8 PPE s the last 5 weeks…1-1 person rode the horse and all but 1 did full X-rays including back…1 scoped wind and stomach …everyone pulls blood because I request…their option to test or store.
My PPE as described in my above posts is $350-$450 including farm call. Xrays, blood, scope, etc are all extra. It can easily go over $1000 if all of that is done.
In my experiences, the very least I would do is xray the feet to check for navicular changes…yes even in horses as young as 8…
I like to get foot and hock X-rays. Agree with Obsidian-- esp if the horse is QH/paint type I have seen navicular come up on a 5 yr old horses’ PPE.
If the X-rays aren’t done at time of sale I like to get them in the 1st year as a baseline. If something comes up you don’t know if the horse “was always like that” or not.
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