Page 1061 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

The horse is walked and trotted up as before to look for any sign of strain or injury that has

become apparent after the exercise and rest.
VetBooks.ir ADDITIONAL TESTS AND SPECIALIST OPINIONS

The vet may recommend further investigation to confirm or eliminate a possible problem at

this stage. Many clients or their insurance companies request radiographs for high-value
horses. However, the limitations of radiography have to be understood and accepted. For
example, minor changes may be seen on radiographs of the navicular bone, but not all of

these horses will go on to experience foot pain.

On occasions, the opinion of a specialist may be sought, e.g. a cardiologist to check out
the significance of a heart murmur. Any additional procedures are recorded on the certificate
or in an addendum to it.

The veterinary certificate

Following the examination, if all is well the vet will issue a certificate with the findings of

the examination and discuss any abnormalities with you. You will receive an opinion on
whether or not the horse is fit for its intended use at the time of the examination. Any
increased risk will be noted on the certificate. Written reports are not always supplied if the

horse is not considered suitable for the purpose intended.

If any stages of the examination have been omitted, the vet’s opinion will be based solely
on the partial examination performed.

Insurance

Obtaining a 5-stage Certificate of Veterinary Examination of a Horse on behalf of a
Prospective Purchaser is by no means a guarantee that the horse will be accepted for cover by

your chosen insurance company. If this is essential, it is advisable to delay purchase until the
insurance company has a copy of the certificate and agreed to the required cover.

Limited examinations

Prospective purchasers sometimes ask vets to carry out a limited examination involving only
stages 1 and 2. Under these circumstances the purchaser is advised of the limitations of the

examination and asked to sign a form acknowledging this.

Summary