You Need a Vet

 In the list of things to do here is another very important step, get a good vet! If you are going to buy your new horse in a private sale then one of the things that you absolutely have to do is get a Vet Check of your potential new horse. This is just a basic physical not an in depth exam however it could end up bringing some problems to light that would then require a more extensive check. As an example, at one point my husband and I were going to purchase a horse and had the Vet Check done. The vet came across something that caused him concern and recommended that we get an x-ray done of one of the legs, he found a that the horse had a hairline fracture. We let the owner know about it and chose not to complete the sale. This saved us, potentially, thousands of dollars. Now if you claim a horse then you don’t have this ability, when you claim it is basically and as is sale so be aware of that. But if you get the horse be sure that you have it checked out fully as soon as you can by your trainer’s vet.

  If you are new to this then there are a couple of things you need to know about dealing with vets, doesn’t matter if they are on the track or training farm. First, make sure that bill is sent straight to you and not your trainer, you’re going to need them for your taxes anyway, this way you know exactly what is going on with your horse’s health. Second if you don’t understand what you’re getting charged for then don’t be afraid to call and ask them, heck with the internet you can look up the medications and such online if you want. Don’t be intimidated by them, in most cases they are more than happy to explain what was done and why.