[JumpersRule]

I'm going to go look at this horse tomorrow morning. He is a jumper and has been trained for the past 7 months. The lady uploaded pictures and video very recently that showed him jumping up to 3'.

I'm going to ride him and definitely go over some jumps. If he feels completely sound and seems to be a happy and healthy horse, is it really worth all the trouble AND money to get a PPE? I really don't want to get one if possible...

Thanks!

P.S. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum!

 

[Eliz]

He can have issues that aren't immediately apparent. Especially in athletic horses like that.

I mean you don't have to- it is just risky not to. He could be perfectly healthy.

 

[eventerdrew]

I would. Could save you TONS of vet bills down the line.

 

[JumpersRule]

Yeah, you are right. It's just that we're not loaded with money (lol) and I know that PPEs can get expensive, especially if you get x-rays. Just a general exam of the vet looking him over really isn't worth it since he couldn't see problems deep down. I don't know...I'd rather take the risk then spend the money.

 

[Dreamcatcher Arabians]

As a seller I note in all my sales contracts that the horse is sold as is, where is and that the buyer has been advised that they are not only permitted to have a PPE but strongly encouraged to have one. I then have the statement,

"Buyer acknowleges that seller has strongly encouraged him/her to have a PPE and understands that the horse is sold as is, where is, with no expressed or implied warranties for soundness."

Buyer ................ (signature of buyer) wishes to have a PPE at his/her own expense or

Buyer ................... (signature of buyer) DECLINES to have a PPE at his/her own expense and accepts full responsibility for declining said PPE.

I then have the buyer sign by the statement that expresses their wishes, either to have the exam or not to.


I wouldn't ever knowingly sell an unsound horse but I've seen 3 year olds who've never been worked fail PPE's for navicular changes and for OCD lesions that the seller knew nothing about. Depending on the price of the horse (can you afford to buy another horse in case this one doesn't stay sound and you can't sell it), I'd say yes or no. I probably wouldn't do an exam on a $500 horse but I certainly would do one on a $5000 or more horse.

 

[BaileyJo]

I look at it this way. Would you rather pay the vet bill for an inspection or do you have the money to pay later if something goes wrong? Really an honest question. You will always say it was a waste of money if the horse was healthy but if something comes back negative, it is the best money ever spent. But I would only do as the last step before you were 100% ready to buy.

I would just consider as part of the cost of the horse.

 

[BaileyJo]

Just a general exam of the vet looking him over really isn't worth it since he couldn't see problems deep down. I don't know...I'd rather take the risk then spend the money.

A general exam is better than nothing. You would be surprised what you find out. It doesn't have to be "deep down."

I have heard of one person who was buying a horse and through the vet exam found out that the mare was ten months pregnant. The original owner had no idea. So yes, you never know what you will find.

 

[JumpersRule]

I'll look into maybe getting a general exam, but a full out exam with x-rays would cost half of the horse's purchase price. To me, that's not worth it. It would be a WHOLE different story if I was about to buy a Grand Prix jumper prospect, but this horse's purchase price is $3,500. BUT, the $200-$400 exam probably would be worth it.

 

[Rachel1786]

Depending on where you are x-rays may not be as expensive as you think, a few weeks ago I had to call the vet out on an emergency. I had 2 x-rays done and my horse was given a shot of bute and it only cost $168. I didn't see the break down of the bill, but I'm sure the farm call was at least $75(the normal farm call fee), if not more since it was an emergency.

I would do a physical exam on any horse more them $1,500 if the vet finds anything during the exam then discuss the cost of x-rays and at that point either walk away to investigate further.

 

[upnover]

If you were looking for something to ride the trails on or ride for fun, I'd say with the price of the horse, meh, a risk but not necessary. But I'm assuming you're going to be jumping this thing? I would absolutely. I make all my clients PPE their horses before they buy them and you'd be surprised at what shows up with horses, young, old, WBs, QHs, long show records, no show record... If your horse is going to be doing anything remotely strenuous you're going to want to make sure he can hold up.

 

[Jumpehunter]

YES YES YES i knew this one person they found tho paint mare they really like and the fell in love with her on their trial period but when they went to get a vet check it turned out she had cancer =( I'm not saying it will be drastic but there are little things that show up. like a pony my instructor bought he has ring bone and we didn't know and neither did the previous owner until the vet checked him out

 

[2SCHorses]

A general exam is better than nothing, and there are things a vet can pick up in the general exam, such as mild swelling and breathing issues. If you are going to jump a lot or do competition endurance, I would get the X-rays. We got one horse with a thorough exam and one of our horses came with the property we bought. I'll give you one guess as to which horse costs us more to maintain ... yeah, it would be the "Free Horse". Ha ha ha. To her credit, however, she's improving.

Definitely get the vet check. A quick look-see by your farrier isn't a bad idea either if you have one you love and trust and who has the time and is, for once, ON TIME. Ha ha.

Good luck!

 

[JumpersRule]

Ok, question....you should use a vet in the horse's are instead of your own, right? It would cost huge bucks to have my vet travel 2 hours away to do this stuff...

 

[blue eyed pony]

Ditto to the "get an exam". I have a friend (very experienced horse people in her mother and her instructor) who bought a mare for eventing. Lovely horse, no sign of unsoundness at all... they put her into eventing work and she broke down within six weeks, and now sits in the paddock doing nothing because they don't think she'd carry a foal, and have recently gotten out of breeding due to a series of disasters. They had a PPE but it was without x-rays, which would have been needed to pick up their mare's unsoundness. This was an expensive mare so if it was me I'd have had x-rays done, but that of course is only after having heard what happened to my friend. Before that, I didn't think it was really worth it.

Re the "which vet to get", probably one in the horse's area, but not the one the owner uses as they might be biased. My vet would NEVER travel more than an hour in any direction, and if he did it would cost a fortune just in callout fee! If there is only one horse vet (SPECIALIST vets - large animal vets often don't know horses beyond the medical problems and how to treat them) in the seller's area (or none at all) then just make sure you take someone experienced with you, preferably someone who knows how to do flexion tests and ALWAYS someone who knows about conformation. For an eventing horse, where I am, the PPE is a flexion test on each leg and a general health and soundness exam. The vet will also look at conformation if they are a horse vet as it is a good guide for long-term soundness.

I have never had a PPE done on a horse I have bought so this is kind of a case of do as I say, not as I do - BUT, I always have experienced help with me, and that experienced help is an ex-vet-nurse with 27+ years of experience with horses. If I was selling, I would encourage PPE's, regardless of the value of the horse.

 

[Annnie31]

Depends on so many things. We bought a horse last year that had been xrayed and owners were told was foundered. We loved the blood lines so we went and looked.

The horse definately was lame but we felt she was not foundered and told the owners they should get second opinion. They declined, we bought her dirt cheap, took the xrays to our Equine Specialist along with video of her moving and he watched the video, read the xrays and said no founder, no rotation, but check for abcess. She blew 2 abcesses (one old that was never treated properly).

The vet did tell us to lay her up for a possible stifle problem which we have done for several months and she is now almost 100% sound again. (we noticed a glitch in her hind end when she stopped or was loping)

In this horses case we felt her training (she had an awesome start) and pedigree warranted some time off to see if she would come right. No matter what we will have a great brood mare if she becomes a pasture puff as she has a nice pedigree and confo.

So we bought her because at the price we could afford to wait and see.


If you dont get a PPE because you are tight for money you risk running into a problem you can not see such as stifle weakness, ulcers, injuries that may or may not recurr..etc.
Get a PPE with xrays and have them send a digital copy of the xrays and results of PPE to your vet so you have a second opinion. It will cost nothing to get the digital xray sent via email (at least we didnt have to pay) so make it clear to the vet doing the PPE you want that done.
Best of Luck

 

[Horseman56]

A PPE? Gosh... why would anyone ever spend that kind of money? :wink:

Cheers,
Mark

 

[gigem88]

If you are adament about using your own vet, is it possible to trailer the horse to your vet?

 

[LetAGrlShowU]

I got a PPE on both horses and both cost me under $1000. I call it peace of mind... there is a lot they can detect if its not an apparent problem. I rather spend $400 now rather than thousands later.

 

[mls]

Ok, question....you should use a vet in the horse's are instead of your own, right? It would cost huge bucks to have my vet travel 2 hours away to do this stuff...

Ideally not the sellers vet.

Jumping isn't your casual trail ride mount. $3,500 + feed, etc is a lot to spend on a pasture pet. I would suggest at the minimum a flex test.

 

[Lakotababii]

Like everyone else said: Its a jumper, think of it this way: Would you buy a car without first checking the function of the engine and transmission?

A PPE is just making sure everything works that needs to work. For 3500 I would think it would be worth the 400 or so to make sure your investment is worth the dime you're gonna pay. Jumpers have a tough job, and it can be hard on them. I would be sure to get one.

That said, I did not do an exam on my boy. But I bought him for 400, knowing he had a past injury (healed), and then had the vet come out and check him after I bought him. I was sure there was a kill buyer trying to get him though... So I thought it necessary to keep him alive with a quick purchase. He won't probably ever be anything but my trail horse, and maybe fun shows. But I would have been fine with a pasture puff or light riding horse, just in case.