Page 1054 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

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VetBooks.ir VETERINARY PROCEDURES

THE PREPURCHASE EXAMINATION (PPE)

If you are considering buying a horse, it is advisable to have it examined by a veterinary
surgeon who specializes in horses before you proceed. With their specialist knowledge and
equipment, vets are often able to detect problems that are not obvious to the owner or the

prospective purchaser. The Five Stage Veterinary Examination for Purchase is carried out
following guidelines established by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and

the British Equine Veterinary Examination (BEVA). The purpose of the assessment is to
establish whether, on the balance of probabilities, the horse or pony is suitable for its

intended purpose.
It is important to be aware that a prepurchase examination by a vet tells you about the

horse on that particular day, but cannot provide a guarantee for the future nor pick up certain
subtle problems such as intermittent back pain or lameness if they are not present on the day

of the examination.
Prepurchase examinations are carried out on behalf of a specific prospective purchaser

and will take into account their individual needs and the intended use of the horse. The
examination is a very thorough one and on average takes 1–2 hours. If all is well, and the

horse is considered suitable for the purpose intended, a Certificate of Veterinary Examination
of a Horse on behalf of a Prospective Purchaser will be issued (Figure 24.1).