Pre-purchase & Insurance Examinations

Pre-purchase Exams

Pre-Purchase and Insurance Examinations for Horses in Brisbane, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley

The financial sting of unforeseen health problems can be a burden.

Without a pre-purchase examination, you may purchase a horse that is unsuitable for your riding ability or interests, or one affected by undisclosed health problems that lead to financial strain.

Likewise, if you’ve already made the decision to purchase a horse, physical examinations are important in diagnosis existing issues, and are often required by insurance companies for cover and claims.

What does a pre-purchase examination involve?

A pre-purchase examination involves a thorough physical examination of the horse, including:

• Checking their heart rate
• Checking their rectal temperature
• Checking their respiratory rate
• Evaluation of their gaits at walk, trot and canter
• Backing and turning
• Flexion tests
• Evaluation of their movement under saddle

Further diagnostic tests can be performed at your request or our recommendation.

These include:

• Digital radiography of joints or injuries
• Ultrasonography of tendons or soft tissue
• Endoscopy of respiratory tract
• Ultrasonography of reproductive tract
• Blood testing for drug use

What does an insurance examination involve?

These examinations aren’t as involved as pre-purchase examinations. The purpose of insurance examinations are to provide an overview of your horse’s health and determine if there are any existing conditions that affect their level of cover.

Why should a veterinarian perform these examinations?

A veterinarian is the most qualified to diagnose existing or potential problems in a horse you wish to purchase or insure. In addition, they can provide further diagnostic testing, such as digital radiography and ultrasonography, that a lay person cannot.

Your Next Steps

To find out more about pre-purchase or insurance examinations or make an appointment, call us today on (07) 5411 4554 to speak with a qualified veterinarian.