HOW-TO SESSION: PRE-PURCHASE EXAM FOR THE WESTERN HORSE


Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most com- mon advanced imaging modality recommended by the author to obtain adjunctive information. It is particularly helpful in evaluating the high suspen- sory area along with the foot in the author’s opinion. Blood collection for health analysis and drug screening are also frequently employed as part of a pre-purchase exam.


Reiners


Reiners sprint at full speed during the run down to their stops. In the author’s opinion this predis- poses them to a higher incidence of carpal and fet- lock injuries when compared to cutters. Due to the highspeed turns during competition,


reiners can be predisposed to traumatic concussive injuries of the carpus. Hematomas over the acces- sory carpal bone or contusions of the bone and soft tissue on the face of the carpus are also common in reining horses. Lead changes are extremely important to the suc-


cess of a reining horse. Horses that fall out of lead are frequently not lame. However, abnormalities such as stifle inflammation can be a cause of falling out of lead. For this reason the stifle should be examined physically, radiographically, and ultra- sonographically during a pre-purchase exam for subtle early signs of osteoarthritis (OA) and integ- rity of the soft tissue in cases where lead issues are observed.


Cutters


Cutters compete in deep sand, which has been associated by some to causes soft-tissue injuries. The action described as a “draw” is thought to put a high degree of torque on the stifle joint. A draw is the preferred reaction to a cow when it is chang- ing direction. During a draw, the horse will keep its hind feet planted while drawing or re- tracting its body backwards. This is followed by a rapid turn in the same direction as the cow. The torque created by this extension of the stifle followed by an explosive turn frequently is associ- ated by some to create stifle synovitis or injury to the meniscus of the medial femorotibial joint. Ultrasonography can be used in a pre-purchase examination to evaluate any stifle with joint effu- sion if indicated. Reiners, cutters, and cow horses are frequently


loped to bring their energy level down and increase their focus prior to competition. This can fatigue the suspensory apparatus, causing injury. Again, ultrasonography can be employed to evaluate the suspensory apparatus.


Cow Horses


Reined cow horses are considered to be the triath- letes of the western performance horse industry. They compete in 3 events: reining, cutting, and fence work. Fence work is when an individual cow is worked in the arena turning the cow sprinting at


474 2019  Vol. 65  AAEP PROCEEDINGS


a full speed. This has the potential to exacerbate all the previously described injuries of the reiner and cutter. The author has observed reined cow horses with injuries common to both reiners and cutters.


3. Discussion


In a general sense, pre-purchase examination find- ings should be evaluated from two different perspec- tives: the impact on the ongoing performance of the horse and the impact on resale of the horse. Most buyers of western performance horses have a clear exit strategy envisioned for the horse they are purchasing. Some buyers plan to keep the horse for bloodstock or for a lifetime of recreation as a competition horse, trail horse, or pasture horse. Reiners, cutters, and cow horses do not typically begin competition until they are 3 years old. The normal course of business for horses being resold is for yearlings to be purchased for resale as 2-year- olds. Two-year-olds are to be purchased to be re- sold as a three-year-old. It is very important for the veterinarian to garner a clear understanding of the expectations of the buyer and the thought they have put into the exit strategy for the horse they are potentially purchasing.


Some Examples of Common Controversial Findings


Physical Examination Significant findings on the physical examination are rather uncommon but there are few worthy of dis- cussion. It is the author’s opinion, low-grade heart murmurs have little effect on a horse’s success in the show pen, but there are many circumstances where the presence of a low-grade heart murmur has been the deciding factor in a potential buyer’s aborting a purchase of a horse. Tongue injuries, ventral ab- dominal scars, neurectomy scars, tail function, fe- ver, and respiratory disease all create circumstances debatable regarding the long-term prognosis for per- formance or resale.


Musculoskeletal Examination


Low-grade lameness or low-grade positive response to hoof testers or flexion tests must be interpreted with regard to the current athletic activity of the horse. For example, a grade-1 lameness in a horse one hour after competition in the finals of a major event is interpreted by the author much different than in a horse that has been turned out all winter and legged up 30 days. Conformation evaluation is very subjective as some of the worst conforma- tions for racehorses have not been associated with success of a western performance horse in the author’s opinion.


Radiographic Examination


Foot This discussion revolves predominantly around the interpretation of navicular bone. In regard to re-


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