PLEASE get a PPE, xrays ideally if you plan on jumping this horse.
I paid just over $3000 for a thoroughbred straight off the track last year, he was absolutely beautiful. Built like a warmblood, uphill, stunning hock and knee action, and extraordinarily quiet and trainable.
I had a general vet check done, he flexioned sound as a bell and vet loved him.
6 months later, of VERY gentle work, lots of walking, bringing him up to fitness, I had him ready to go out to his first official dressage competition. A week before the comp, he started to behave differently. Getting quite grumpy under saddle, biting when he was groomed etc. Very unlike him. But didn't seem to be lame. I gave him some time off, got his saddle checked, teeth done, farrier out and had the pysio give him a once over. No one picked anything wrong, and said he was just being a 'typical' tb.
On the lunge, I was starting to pick up hints of unsoundness in one of his hind legs. I took him to our local equine hospital where he had nerve blocks and xrays, and found he had a bone spur and severe arthritic changes in his hock.
12 months later, he is still unsound for work despite my paying an absolute fortune on treatments. I am now looking at having him put to sleep in the next few weeks as he is not looking so good in the paddock now.
Long story, but this has left me absolutely heartbroken as Hugo is such a brilliantly talented horse with the most fantastic temperament that I have had the pleasure of coming across.
Because of this, I have just had a PPE done on my new 9 month old colt, he is costing me a fortune as it is, but I had full xrays done to be sure that his joints were all healthy at this young age.
The initial outlay of cost for the PPE might be significant... but when you then have to spend nearly $10 000 on vet trips, treatments etc. when it could have been avoided is devostating. I will NEVER buy a horse without xrays again, it's just not worth the risk