A FRIEND in England recently bought a horse with undisclosed issues. I got bit annoyed with her because she hadn’t taken a full set of x-rays or really asked specific enough questions. She subsequently felt guilty as the was for her young son to ride. The horse was then sent to a dealer and so “the problem” was moved on.

My friend had very little comeback legally and it got me thinking about the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) recently introducing a new digital Seller’s Declaration as part of its revamped online Pre-Purchase Examination (PPE) toolkit. The Declaration is already being hailed as a win for transparency and trust in horse sales.

In the past, vets often acted as the go-between, passing sellers’ answers about a horse’s history to the potential buyer. Now, with this straightforward declaration, sellers can complete the information directly and share it before a vetting ever takes place. Buyers get an early, (hopefully) honest picture of what they’re looking at, and vets are spared the awkward position of mediating what can sometimes be conflicting accounts.

It’s a simple concept, but one with real potential to clean up grey areas around declarations of previous lameness, behavioural quirks, or medication. It also saves everyone time and money; fewer wasted PPEs, fewer misunderstandings, and a stronger paper trail for all involved. Supported by British Equestrian and the BHS, the declaration forms part of BEVA’s push to make pre-purchase exams more consistent, efficient, and accountable across the UK.

So, my question is, could Ireland follow suit? Could there be a collaboration say between Veterinary Ireland’s equine practitioners and Horse Sport Ireland to adapt a BEVA model to Irish law and practice? A digital form hosted by HSI or the Department of Agriculture would make access universal, and incentives could drive take-up. For instance, sales platforms and auction houses highlighting horses with completed declarations, or insurers recognising it as best practice.

At present, horse sales in Ireland (both private and through agents, dealers or auction houses) are governed mainly by general consumer protection and contract law, not equine-specific documentation. While a vet may ask a seller about a horse’s history as part of a pre-purchase examination, this is usually done verbally or via informal notes taken by the vet, rather than through a structured declaration form.

Behavioural declaration

Many auction houses such as Goresbridge and Cavan do require vendors to provide basic statements or warranties; for example, that a horse has not been fired, nerved, or undergone surgery for unsoundness. However, these are sale-condition clauses rather than a full medical and behavioural declaration like BEVA’s.

Private sales rely heavily on “buyer beware”. A buyer can request information about health, performance, or vices, but unless a specific warranty is written into a contract, the seller isn’t legally obliged to disclose much beyond the basics.

Veterinary bodies such as Veterinary Ireland’s Equine Practitioners’ Group do follow BEVA-style PPE protocols in practice, but no Irish equivalent of the BEVA Seller’s Declaration exists as yet.

Ireland’s private sales system still relies on trust, professional vetting, and legal safety nets, rather than a uniform disclosure document. Introducing a national seller’s declaration, even voluntarily, could significantly strengthen transparency and buyer confidence.

While there are any amount of decent and fair sales made, ultimately, horses that aren’t sold with their true and full medical and behavioural histories, mostly end up the real victims; punished, passed around from dealer to dealer, or sold off cheap into uncertain futures.

Irish vets are already familiar with BEVA’s standards, so alignment could be straightforward. The result could present a shift in how horses are sold here and promote a culture of openness and mutual protection for buyer, seller and horse. In an industry that should thrive on trust, is that a development worth backing?