When buying a horse, an equine pre-purchase examination or “horse vetting” by an experienced equine veterinarian is always recommended. Equine vet Jane Nixon (formerly joint senior partner with RCVS accredited Nixon Equine Vets along with her husband Stewart Hastie MRCVS) has a particular interest in horse pre-purchase vetting, in terms of assessing veterinary suitability for the new owner’s requirements when buying a horse, with a special emphasis on correct horse conformation.
In addition to her work evaluating youngstock, mares & stallions for the BEF, SHBGB and other Sports Horse Societies, Jane has the flexibility to offer an experienced and affordable horse vetting service UK-wide.
Pictured: Jane evaluating a yearling for the BEF Futurity
For local clients, Jane also offers special terms for horse vettings and performance examinations undertaken at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre near Buckingham, making use of the superior facilities available at Addington e.g. excellent in-hand trotting and riding surfaces both inside and outside, in a safe and secure environment, plus a dark stable for eye examinations.
When vetting a horse, Jane Nixon follows the British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA) / Royal Collage of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) guidelines; which outline the principles of the 5 stage equine pre-purchase examination and veterinary report.In summary, the full 5 stage pre-purchase vetting examination follows five stages, hence the name, and takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to carry out a series of thorough checks – at rest in the stable, exercise in-hand and exercise under saddle. Here are the 5 stages of the examination provided by equine veterinarian & consultant Dr Jane Nixon:
Examination Stage 1: Observation of the horse at rest
Examination Stage 2: Exercise in-hand
Examination Stage 3: Exercise under saddle
Examination Stage 4: Period of rest
Examination Stage 5: Trotting up
Horse Vetting Report
On completion of the 5 Stage veterinary examination the buyer will be given a verbal “best opinion” on the day of the horse vetting. Whilst there is no obligation to reveal this “best opinion” to the seller, if there is an obvious problem the seller may be given this information. A written report can also be provided if required. Further tests may be required to insure expensive competition horses, including ultrasound scanning of the tendons, or X-rays of the distal limbs and feet, but will only be recommended if there is cause for concern.
You can read the full BEVA 5-Stage Horse vetting procedure document in its entirety using the link below: