Purchasing a horse or a pony
Before you buy, think carefully about what type of horse or pony you are looking for.
When you acquire a horse it becomes your responsibility 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, depending on you for its health, comfort and safety.
There are four main points to consider when purchasing a horse or pony:
- What you are using it for
- The facilities you have available
- The amount of time you have to exercise and look after it
- The cost of both buying and keeping it
Take a knowledgeable friend with you when viewing prospective purchases. Not only will they be able to give you a second opinion on suitability, but they may also be able to spot any potential problems.
Pre-Purchase Veterinary Examination
When you've found your ideal horse or pony it is advisable to have a pre-purchase veterinary examination carried out.
The Five Stage Veterinary Examination or Two Stage Veterinary Examination for Purchase are carried out following guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in conjunction with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).
The examination will be carried out by one of our experienced veterinary surgeons who will report on whether it is advisable to go ahead with the purchase. Having a horse examined, prior to purchase, is not cheap but it may well save you money in the long run. We always advise clients to have a five stage veterinary examination but if you wish to have a two stage examination then we insist that you sign a ‘limited prior purchase examination’ disclaimer.
If the horse passes the examination then a certificate will be completed by the veterinary surgeon, which may be used for insuring the horse or pony when the sale is completed.
Horse Passports
All horses, ponies and donkeys in England are required to have a passport. There are a large number of Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs). A full list of PIOs can be found on the DEFRA website. The passport must contain a section where the owner declares whether the animal is ultimately intended for human consumption or not. This is to ensure that certain veterinary medicines do not inadvertently end up in the human food chain. Vendors of horses are required to possess an up to date passport at the time the horse is offered for sale and a prospective purchaser should ask to view it before purchasing the horse.