General Health and the Pre-Purchase Examination

Question:  I recently purchased an 8-year-old Arabian/Welsh mare at auction. I am friends with her previous owner and know the mare was injured several years ago. She is completely sound, (I have noticed no heat or swelling, but I have only done few very light rides) but she has a "hole" in her near side shoulder muscle, where I believe she hit a gate latch quite hard. Is there anything that can be done to "fill in" or repair the muscle, as she would make a lovely show horse?

Answer: Anything done to repair the defect or scar is considered unethical and probably illegal on most breed associations. She should still be able to participate in performance classes instead of conformation, though, and if you want to breed her, the offspring should not have the defect.

Question: I'm interested in purchasing an AQHA gelding that has been shown extensively and very successfully at a national level for several years. My concerns are how do I determine whether or not this horse has been given drugs for pain or mood alteration?

Answer: If the shows are USEF, it is forbidden to give mood altering drugs to the horse and the USEF performs testing during the shows. If you are just now checking this horse, you can have the same tests privately done. It does require some blood and urine to check for specific substances. Your veterinarian can send the samples to a lab, obtained during the purchase exam. Or you can also try the horse for a few days at your own place knowing that the horse is not being given any drugs and observe how he goes.

Question: If a hind suspensory ligament is injured, (but not torn, no holes) how long should I expect to treat conservatively before returning to riding?

Answer: I would recommend periodic ultrasound evaluations to be able to answer your question properly. The time will vary according to the size of the lesion and the horse healing properties. Most animals need full stall rest for 90 days followed by hand walking for another 30 days before they are able to trot or be turned out in a very small paddock. The final ultrasound exam will be very important in determining that the ligament has healed. Your horse may need less time off if the lesion is not extensive.

Question: If a horse has foundered in the past, would that be a reason to NOT buy them? What are the chances the horse would founder again?

Answer: This is a very difficult question to answer. It all depends on what exactly happened to the horse's feet when it foundered. Sometimes there are permanent damages that may affect future performance. It is best to have a veterinarian examine the animal first and take radiographs of the feet and, if not conclusive, an MRI may give more information. It also depends on what you are planning to do with the horse in regards to riding. Some broodmares founder often and are still able to deliver healthy foals, while for a hunter/jumper horse, even without any visible changes on the radiographs, the founder may end its career or shorten it considerably.

Question: What is the best method of switching from one type of hay to another?

Answer: The best way is to each and every day feed about 10 to 20 percent more of the new hay and less of the old hay. It should take you around 5 to 7 days to completely switch foods. The same applies for grain.

Question: I looked at a beautiful Arabian mare that had taken a fall with an irresponsible teenager. The horse and rider were fine, but the horse does have a three-inch scar on her front cannon. She is sound, no lameness and rideable. It looks to me she does not have any issues in her trot and canter. Is this a horse to stay away from in terms of the injury? She is priced a bit low and and a bit leary becasue of his.

Answer: If the scar is over her cannon bone, right on the front part of her shin, and the wound is completely healed without anything oozing from it, it is very likely to be only a cosmetic defect. If it healed with hairless skin over it, it may predispose her to cut herself in the area again. Unfortunately, if she fractured the cannon bone during the fall, she may still have soundness issues over time as some of these fractures are very small and do not cause lameness all the time. Some will aggravate only when exercised to extremes such as in a race. Some will have a bump on the fractured area, but most are undetectable without x-rays. It would be advisable to have a veterinarian examine her before you buy her, and possibily take some radiographs of the area questioned to make sure you don't have a saucer fracture, a crack or even a sequestrum, as those conditions may make your horse lame for a long time.   

Reprinted with permission from AAEP. To view the entire article please visit www.aaep.org/ask_the_vet.php