Vetting for purchase examination

Details of Hook Norton Equine vets 2 stage and 5 stage vetting service for horse purchasers are given below:

Two stage and five stage horse vetting in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire

Buying a horse can be a difficult process which 2 stage or 5 stage vettings are designed to help with. 2-stage or 5-stage vettings comprise an in depth examination of your chosen horse in order to identify potential risks associated with purchase and whether your horse is likely to be able to physically fulfil your requirements.

All our dedicated equine vets are horse owners and are very experienced in a variety of disciplines, from 4* eventing to carriage driving! Please visit our staff page to see individual vet profiles. Our team of very experienced equine vets here at Hook Norton take great pride in offering a bespoke 2 stage and 5 stage vetting / pre-purchase examination service for everything from 4* Eventers, Grand Prix Showjumpers and Dressage Horses to children’s ponies and hacks across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. We will discuss your horse requirements prior to performing the 2 stage or 5 stage vetting and then provide you with a full post-vetting / pre-purchase examination report.

For a free initial discussion about your horse vetting options, please contact us on: 01608 730085 or email: hnvs@hotmail.com

Our Information Sheet and Disclaimer Form is available to download from the Info Sheets page.

The extent of examination required will vary according to your needs, either a 2 stage vetting / pre-purchase examination of a 5 stage vetting / pre-purchase examination may be suitable. This can be discussed with our vets when enquiring about a 2-stage or 5-stage vetting, but here is a brief overview of our vetting process.

From: BEVA/RCVS Guidance Notes on the Examination of a Horse on Behalf of a Prospective Purchaser (2012) (Vetting).

“The aim of the pre-purchase examination is to carry out a thorough clinical examination on behalf of a potential purchaser to identify and assess factors of a veterinary nature that could prejudice the horse’s suitability for its’ intended use. Each pre-purchase examination is carried out on behalf of a specific prospective purchaser so that the opinion can be based on that purchaser’s individual needs and intended use of the horse. Examinations performed on behalf of a seller are not advised except in the case of a few specified auction sales.

Before performing a pre-purchase examination the veterinary surgeon should endeavour to ascertain who is selling the horse and the horse’s identity. If, as a result of such information, the veterinary surgeon feels any conflict of interest, which means he/she cannot act wholly in the interests of the purchaser, the veterinary surgeon should decline to perform the examination. If the veterinary surgeon feels able to act without conflict, the fact that the seller is an existing client of the veterinary surgeon’s practice should be declared to the purchaser in advance of the examination. Additionally, if the veterinary surgeon, or his/her practice, have any prior knowledge of the horse from any source, permission should be obtained from the seller for full disclosure to the purchaser of all such information that might be relevant. If this is not possible, for any reason, the veterinary surgeon should decline to perform the examination.

A standardised clinical examination is performed. Its’ findings will be assessed by the veterinary surgeon, who will form an opinion as to their significance and any possible adverse implications for the prospective purchaser’s intended use of the horse. The findings and opinion may be reported to the purchaser verbally at the time of the examination or soon afterwards, as well as being documented in a certificate that is issued to the purchaser. If the purchase does not proceed a certificate may not be completed unless the purchaser requires one. Certificates are not transferable to another purchaser.

The pre-purchase examination provides an assessment of the horse at the time of examination to help inform the potential purchaser’s decision whether of not to continue with their purchase. It is not a guarantee of a horse’s suitability for the intended purpose.”

Full PDF article is available at BEVA website by typing BEVA Guidelines Pre-Purchase Examination into your search engine.

Our horse vetting and pre purchase examination service (2 stage examination and 5 stage examination)

Five stage examination and two stage examination horse vettings with Hook Norton Equine vets.

Thorough horse vettings across North Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, West Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.

A full two stage or five stage horse vetting examination by Hook Norton Equine vets consists of:

2 stage horse vetting: Stage 1: Preliminary examination
Horse passport examination and microchip examination to ensure the identity of the horse. Thorough external clinical exam of the horse including mouth, skin, eyes, heart, lungs, foot balance and initial orthopaedic examination.

2-stage horse vetting: Stage 2: Trotting up
Thorough orthopaedic / neurological examination including flexion tests, lunging of the horse on a hard surface (if safe to do so) and back / pelvis examination.

A 2 stage horse vetting stops here whilst a five stage vetting continues. If you wish to book a two stage vetting we can provide a disclaimer form which will need to be completed and returned before your vetting.

5 stage horse vetting: Stage 3: Strenuous exercise
Examination of the horse during strenuous exercise, trot, canter and gallop (where appropriate) preferably under saddle. This examination will include 10m and 20m circles followed by repeat cardiovascular exams of the horse. Any horse that is not backed is lunged.

5-stage horse vetting: Stage 4: A period of rest
Rest period where the cardiovascular recovery of the horse is assessed and any stereotyping behaviour can be examined.

5 stage horse vetting: Stage 5: The second trot exam
Neurological and foot examinations of the horse, further orthopaedic examination, trot up and flexion tests if necessary. A blood sample is taken from the horse and stored for 6 months for drug testing if required.

At this stage of a 5 stage vetting, according to your requirements, it may be that further examination is required, which may include Digital X-rays, ultrasonography or endoscopy.

If you are not sure whether you require a five stage or two stage vetting examination, we would be very happy to discuss this with you before booking your vetting. If you plan to insure your horse please contact your insurance company to ask whether they require a 2-stage or 5-stage vetting.

Should your insurance company require a certificate of examination in order to renew your horse’s insurance, or if you did not have a vetting done pre-purchase we do offer vettings for insurance. These can only be requested by the owner of the horse and although they proceed under a similar (2 stage or 5 stage) format to vettings for purchase are not intended to identify specific future risks for an intended use or suitability for purpose. Please contact our equine vets on 01608730085 or simply email us on hnvs@hotmail.com if you wish to discuss such an examination.

We are happy to discuss your 2-stage vetting or 5 stage vetting / pre-purchase requirements throughout Oxfordshire, North Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, East Gloucestershire, West Gloucestershire, Central Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire so please do not hesitate to contact one of our ‘horse only’ vets on 01608730085 or simply email us on hnvs@hotmail.com

Hook Norton Equine vets is a modern and experienced vet practice, providing 2 stage and 5 stage horse vettings across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.