The Ultimate Horse Buying Checklist: A Step-by-Step PPE Guide
What to evaluate when trying a horse: temperament tests, flexion exams, radiographic views and trial period contracts.
A pre-purchase exam is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy. It will not tell you whether a horse is perfect — no horse is — but it tells you which risks you are taking on, and lets you price them.
Book your own veterinarian
Never use the seller's veterinarian for the exam. A vet who has treated the horse for years has a relationship to protect and records you may never see. Ask your own vet to review those records separately.
What to include at every budget
Full physical: eyes, heart, lungs, teeth, and a body condition score.
Flexion tests on all four limbs, trotted on hard and soft ground.
Hoof testers and a look at the shoeing cycle.
Front feet radiographs — the single highest-value films for most buyers.
Hocks and stifles for anything expected to jump or collect.
Ride the horse like you will own it
Tack up yourself. Lead the horse in and out of the barn. Ask for the transitions you actually need. A horse that is a saint for a professional and a handful for you is the wrong horse, whatever the films say.
A basic exam runs about 90 minutes. Add an hour if you are taking a full set of radiographs.