VETERINARY CHECKS FOR PURCHASE

by
John O'Leary
Horseman
©2003

The following is a warning to all prospective purchases of horses in Australia:

Last year, I personally encountered three cases where the Veterinary Inspection made on behalf of the Purchaser, did not in fact protect that Purchaser to the very best of the Veterinary Surgeon's ability.

I have always sounded warnings to clients of mine regarding their best course of action when assessing a Veterinary Surgeon to represent them during the purchase of a horse. I have always said that they should have a 'Golden Rule' which says the following.

Find out which Vet the Seller recommends and then do not use that Vet. Especially if the horse is Interstate of in another district away from your home.

If a Vet reads this I want to say that like anything in life, it only a very small percentage of people who ruin it for others. This is obviously the case here but if my small sample is extrapolated across the Country, it may be a little more prevalent. Human nature is a strange and vulnerable thing.

The case that has prompted me to write this regards an Interstate purchase of a lovely horse. I broke him in for the client and she is having a ball on him. She is one of these owners that will keep him all of his life, no matter what. The horse is 4 years old now. When he arrived on the truck, the first thing that we noticed was that he had seriously off set front legs, one worse than the other and was turned in from the fetlock to hoof. 12 months down the track, he has deteriorated in conformation and now the muscle development across one of his shoulders has deteriorated to a concerning degree. I feel very sorry for the lady. The horse came from a major Stud in New South Wales. Clearly, the Vet has erred.

So once again, when you purchase a horse that is away from your home base, ask the seller to recommend a couple of Vets' and then rule them out.

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