Any time you are purchasing a horse, regardless of the price or use of the animal, it is recommended to have a veterinarian perform a pre-purchase exam. During this exam, the veterinarian can determine the overall health of the animal and identify any potential or existing issues that may affect the horse's health or intended use. Pre-purchase exams range from very basic general health/soundness exams to very thorough exams involving a full range of x-rays. Several factors influence the extent of the exam recommended including pre-existing conditions, age of the horse, intended use and insurance requirements.
Equine insurance can be a valuable asset! Several companies offer equine mortality and/or loss of use policies for the horse owner. Although there are often minimum assessed values for loss of use insurance, horses of any value can be insured for equine mortality. Depending on the coverage required, the policy and the insurance company, a health exam and/or x-rays may be required. Please call the office if you would like more information on horse insurance or to schedule an exam for your horse.
Although we hope our horses walk out of their fields or stalls happy and sound, horses are horses and there are a variety of situations that can cause a horse to "limp" or be lame. Pine Meadow Equine services provides lameness exams ranging from basic evaluations through x-raying your horse's legs and feet.