A PPE is a full nose-to-tail exam. We take a look at everything (well, everything that’s possible). While every vet may have a slightly different take on how to do a PPE, here’s what we include
Pre-Purchase Exams
Standing Exam
- Vitals including heart, lung and gut auscultation
- Conformation
- Attitude
- General palpation
- Lymph nodes
- Musculature
- Soft tissue structures (tendons/ligaments)
- Limb range of motion
Movement Exam
- Trotting straight and in circle
- Lunging
- Flexion tests
Neurologic Exam
- Proprioception
- Cranial nerves
Oral Exam
It’s a common misconception that vets “pass or fail” horses. We don’t ever really do that. Instead, we gather as much information as possible and present it to the buyer. It is then the buyer’s decision to purchase or not, based on that information. We are happy to discuss our opinions, and give you educated guesses of what the horse may be capable of long term – but the decision to purchase is always the buyer’s.
