THE two most important body systems for the athletic horse to perform maximally are the cardio-respiratory and the musculo-skeletal systems.

For the horse to reach its potential it needs to be athletically sound and so vetting of horses prior to sale is of the utmost importance to the prospective purchaser.

FOALS

Currently the foal sales in Ireland do not have mandatory pre-sales vetting other than a health certificate from the vendor’s veterinary surgeon. This certificate states that the foal does not suffer from any visible clinical disease and that the premises of origin is disease-free and not subject to restriction on animal health grounds.

Many owners will request an additional certificate from their own veterinarian in regard to colt foals having two normally descended testicles. This is particularly relevant to flat-bred colts and avoids the stress to the animal of prospective purchasers checking for themselves at the sales.

Although not involving the sale companies some buyers will employ the services of a vet of their own choosing at the sales to check a foal that they are interested in purchasing. This usually applies only to the more expensive lots and can only be carried out with the permission of the seller.

The practice of scoping the larynx of foals has become common and many owners are pressurised into allowing this to be done, fearing that if they do not give permission then they may lose a sale. However the accuracy of this practice is questionable in animals of this age.

Following the fall of the hammer the purchaser normally has seven days in which to lodge a complaint with the sales company in regard to certain vices - usually crib-biting, wind-sucking and weaving. Normally the animal has to be sent to a referee who is nominated by the sales company who either upholds or rejects the claim.

Foals are rarely X-rayed unless there was a suspicion of something and only at the very top end of the market. However, different buyers can have different requests. It is always with the seller’s permission.

YEARLINGS

Like foals a pre-sales veterinary certificate is not required but the purchaser can request a wind examination following the sale so long as the request is made within an hour of the fall of the hammer.

This is normally carried out by a member of the veterinary panel of the sales company. The animal is returnable if found to be “wrong of their wind”. The purchaser may also request that a blood sample be taken at this time to be checked for prohibited medicines.

Again however the practice of pre-sale checking out by the buyer’s veterinarian is commonplace, particularly in relation to the more expensive flat-bred yearlings. The permission of the seller is required but the examination can be quite rigorous. It usually involves scoping and a set of limb x-rays.

Many vendors will arrange with their own veterinarian, or with a vet of their choice at the sales, to have a set of these x-rays taken prior to the sale and to have these x-rays available for inspection by the prospective purchaser or their veterinary adviser. The flat-bred yearlings, because of their precocious nature and because they have been pushed from a dietary and athletic point of view, are very prone to problems with articular cartilage and it is to detect potential problems that these x-rays are taken.

Again, following the fall of the hammer the same procedure with regard to vices applies.

TWO AND THREE-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS

These are normally sold with a pre-sales veterinary certificate of examination carried out by the seller’s veterinarian.

A second vetting is then carried out by a member of the veterinary panel of the sales company.

In the event of disagreement by a referee from the veterinary panel, if a wind abnormality is detected the horse is then scoped by a three-person group from the panel.

Their findings are final in relation to that sale. X-raying is not normally carried out at these sales although blood samples for prohibited medication can be taken at the buyer’s request. The horse is returnable if found to have one of the aforementioned vices.

SPORT HORSES

Their examination differs slightly from the thoroughbred, in that the initial veterinary examination has to be carried out by a member of a veterinary panel appointed by the sales company.

Following the fall of the hammer the buyer can request a re-examination normally within an hour of the sale, which is normally carried out by another member of the sales veterinary panel.

The veterinary examination following private sales is normally based on the five-stage vetting as laid down by the Veterinary Governing Bodies.

A buyer can stipulate any additional examination procedures which he or she requires in agreement with the seller. This may involve x-rays, scoping, scans, et cetera.

The aim of every veterinary examination is to try and ensure that the animal is suitable for the purpose for which it is to be used.

Conor O’Brien MVB,MRCVS,Cert ESM

Blackwater Veterinary Clinic, Shoulders Lane, Mallow, CoCork

Tel: 022-22340

Email: blackwatervetclinic@yahoo.ie

Web: blackwaterveterinaryclinic.ie