When you locate your ideal sport horse, you want to validate your investment. To reduce the risk of unsoundness, you contract with an equine practitioner to examine the horse. You're hiring the veterinarian as a consultant to report on the horse's well-being. With a full report, you can make an informed decision to purchase or reject the animal.

Whether you buy a horse stateside or in Europe, this task involves a series of specific procedures. The examination is an inspection for soundness, unlike the examination that focuses on lameness. The practitioner approaches the horse assuming it's in ideal shape. During the process, the veterinarian will record findings and any deviations from normal.

Plan the Paperwork
As the buyer, you and the seller (or the seller's agent) agree on the veterinarian to engage. You and the seller may sign a release form. Consult with the veterinarian about the extent of the examination. Depending on your intended use of the horse and its cost, you may opt for a more detailed series of tests. The veterinarian will give you a report, summarizing the findings in the procedures conducted. Ask what happens if the horse does show lameness the day of the examination. Veterinarians often encounter lame horses to be examined prior to purchase-as many as 40 percent. In this case, you may want to reschedule the examination.

Although there is no "standard" examination, every veterinarian follows typical procedures. When you buy a horse in Europe, you'll usually rely on a local veterinarian to perform the examination. The pre-purchase examination relies on communication among all parties: buyer, seller, agents if involved, and the equine practitioner.

Here's what you can expect, shared by two expert practitioners.