Purchasing a horse
- Get permission to speak to the owners vet to disclose any past history.
- Stand back a little from the stable door and observe. Look for signs of crib biting, casting, anti-social behaviour, weaving etc.
- Lean against the wall and observe. Watch the respiratory action and posture of the horse.
- Measure and compare shoes for both front and back feet. Make sure that you have equal pairs and equal angulation of the hoof to ground.
- Work in a rational and organised manner. Front to back or clockwise or by ‘body system’. Always compare left with right.
- Check dung; consistency, fibre length, smell! Poor dung often means bad teeth, worms or colic!
- Compare shape of eyelids. Eye disease or injury can show in this area
- Compare pupil sizes and reaction and shine a light into eye to look for reflectivity that might indicate a cataract.
- Check glands between jaws and behind jaws. Scars or enlarged glands may indicate past ‘Strangles’ and a possible carrier horse.
- Look at incisor teeth table for ‘guesstimate’ of age (if no papers) Old horses have long teeth with few marks on the table.
- Check the function of the jugular veins on each side of the horse’s neck. Blockage may suggest poor injection technique / intravenous injections and past treatment for a health issue!!
- Check for laryngeal surgery.(transverse pinch test)
- Check that the wings of the Pelvis are at an equal height as they can be damaged in falls or in the box.
- A Vet may pass a horse with sarcoids but THINK carefully before purchasing an affected animal. In many cases you will require ongoing veterinary treatment
- A horse under 8 should be sound with flexion tests! Perform flexion tests on all 4 limbs.
- Pinch test for denervation of lower limbs. Occasionally forelimbs have been surgically denervated.
- Back and turn the horse.
- Get a knowledgeable friend to watch from the ground; from in front, behind, the side and at each pace. Look for variation or shortening of the stride pattern.
- Compare hoof placement with the stride spacing on the ground.
- Circling the horse under saddle can show up a lot of types of lameness. Start on a large circle and work to a very tight circle at the trot on a firm, flat surface.
- Expiratory sounds are usually OK. Inspiratory sounds can mean trouble! Listen carefully when the horse is undergoing strenuous exercise on whether there are sounds when breathing in.
- Respiratory recovery after exercise should occur within 2 to 3 minutes of cessation of the exercise.
- Lift back legs high. Snatching might indicate a ‘shiverer’ or pelvic problems, falling away may indicate pain in upper joints.
- Obtain professional help if you are unsure.
These tips are aimed at lateral thinking in the art of horse purchase as well as some good, sound health objectives to observe during your initial inspection of a horse that you may wish to purchase.