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Home Articles & Features

Thoroughbred Logic, Introduced by Kentucky Efficiency Merchandise: PPEs and PTSD

July 24, 2025
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“…whereas these exams are sometimes described when it comes to ‘passing’ or ‘failing,’ there actually isn’t any such factor. It’s all a subjective view of the actual vet of the actual horse on one explicit day in time in relation to the wants and wishes of the actual purchaser.”

Welcome to the following installment of Thoroughbred Logic. On this weekly collection, Anthropologist and coach Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, provides perception and coaching expertise relating to working with Thoroughbreds (though a lot will apply to all breeds). This week experience alongside as Aubrey shares her logic on pre-purchase exams (and the PTSD they reveal). 

The primary pre-purchase examination (PPE) I had carried out was extra telling about me than in regards to the horse. It was 2017… I had a post-doc and a job that, for the primary time in my life, paid a considerably residing wage. I used to be making an attempt to have some type of a traditional life (no matter which means) after getting back from a unique post-doc in South Africa. I used to be just about penniless and with no concept what I used to be doing subsequent. I in some way waltzed into essentially the most fulfilling and accepting place at my former alma mater and had the chance to work with a number of scholars who have been a bit like me — ones whose passions didn’t match inside inflexible educational disciplinary divides. In the meantime, I stored up a second job coaching a half dozen horses for purchasers simply south of Atlanta.

So go determine that in that scenario, I jumped on the alternative to purchase a Thoroughbred. The PPE was scheduled to happen after we — the scholars and professors — have been on a retreat … on a lake… with subsequent to no cell service. Incredible. I stored having to “sneak” out of those intense group session to run down the street till I had a bar on my cellphone. “Oh the ankle is flexing a 3 out of 5. Okay, please radiograph it and name the entrance desk to get me and I’ll run down the street and name you again.” The morning went like that till I slumped again in my chair at midday, resigned. The grey I wagered on was an excessive amount of of a threat for my extremely depressed checking account. The ankle is likely to be sound with injections… or it may not. And I wasn’t in a spot to have the ability to tackle a recognized subject and gamble. That was about me and my lack of cash, not the horse. The following horse I pre-purchased had a significant coronary heart murmur. The third… effectively that’s Forrest (Don’t Noc It). And he’s nonetheless right here. Nonetheless annoying (and lovable) because the day is lengthy.

In 2017, I purchased Forrest off this picture, a fast PPE and a few free motion video in an enviornment. Photograph by Jessica Redman.

Again within the retreat, my colleagues and executives have been aggravated, however considerably understanding (they did at the least recognize that I might deal with blood and handle to successfully discipline gown a scholar’s puncture wound with vet wrap later that day although). And it maybe says one thing that they have been a number of the few who weren’t terribly stunned after I left academia in 2019 to decide to coaching full time.

Now, I don’t must sneak out of conferences for pre purchases. Actually, I spend much more time holding and jogging horses for the exams than being the one paying for it. And to inform the reality, I don’t PPE my horses any extra. I simply attempt to purchase by way of trusted contacts, take an excellent have a look at conformation photographs and jog movies, and know that if I get it fallacious and there are points, I can nonetheless do proper by the horse and get them to a significantly good residence. Not each critter must be an excellent higher degree eventer. Hell, most people can’t and don’t wish to experience that.

I purchased this dude (King Swansboro) off of a 5 second trot video in a discipline. I don’t essentially suggest buying horses like this, however by this level, I belief my intestine. He’s going to be enjoyable. Photograph by Kelly Lupton.

Frankly, of all issues in my job, pre-purchase exams stress me out most. I maintain my breath on hock and ankle rads and have gotten actually fairly good at squinting on the X-ray display screen and going, “Please inform that’s superimposition and never a chip.” Generally it’s, generally it isn’t. Generally the patrons are unpredictable and what I believe is a superb examination results in a handed over horse. Generally not. Therefore the stress.

However let’s again up a step. Pre-purchase exams actually might be an vital a part of shopping for a horse. They permit the vet a second to evaluate their common well being, health, and soundness. The examination goals to attract a holistic picture of the horse within the current to debate suitability and upkeep for the longer term. The examination typically consists of: a bodily examination (temperature, coronary heart price, eye sight, listening to, respiration normalcy, intestine sounds, poking and prodding acupuncture factors, feeling joints, palpating tendons and so forth), strolling and jogging in hand, lunging, probably driving, flexions (the place joints are bent and held for a time frame earlier than the horse is jogged off to find out the soreness of the joint), and any requested radiographs, scoping, or ultrasounds (although these aren’t often a part of the preliminary examination).

Crash’s (One Huge Dude) examination was notably nerve wracking as he’s so large, sort and proficient. Fortunately, his PPE didn’t spotlight something exterior of the standard vary of expectation. Photograph by Lily Drew.

And whereas these exams are sometimes described when it comes to “passing” or “failing,” there actually isn’t any such factor. It’s all a subjective view of the actual vet of the actual horse on one explicit day in time in relation to the wants and wishes of the actual purchaser. A cross for one purchaser and vet is a fail for an additional… so we merely attempt to keep away from that language — although it’s robust to completely irradicate from the discourse of the examination.

For Thoroughbreds, even those that haven’t run a lot, there’ll often be findings on the exams. That is regular. Let me say this once more for the oldsters within the again. THIS. IS. NORMAL. Some effusion and a few arthritis is kind of anticipated — at the least in its gentle presentation. In the event that they ran just lately, certified vets will anticipate that they are going to be tight by way of their hind finish and can seemingly “flex” to their higher limb (hocks and stifles), and doubtlessly be sore and palpate to their sacroiliac joint and area of their again. Their entrance ankles typically have some effusion from their observe careers and could also be sore and worthy of a rad or two.

If one have been to radiograph their entire physique, one would inevitably discover one thing — typically many issues. However the findings and whether or not or not the PPE results in buy revolves across the skill to have a look at the problems within the current by way of future-tinted lenses: will the horse seemingly be capable to do the job requested? How will we assist keep their physique in order that they’ll finest accomplish that?

A latest ankle radiograph of certainly one of mine who I believe is destined for giant issues, irksome PPE-findings or not. Radiograph by Early Winter Equine.

So right here’s the PSA: Please cease asking your vets to foretell the longer term. The pre-purchase examination just isn’t a crystal ball. If vets might see the longer term, man, I’m certain all of this might be totally different (they usually had higher be making waaaay extra money). However the PPE can inform us a level of what’s contained in the horse. It might discover boney change, chips and previous ligament points, soreness, coronary heart arrhythmia, and respiration points. What it can not inform us is how these findings will influence every horse.

A horse with arthritis, or shut spinal factors in its again, or an previous, healed fracture doesn’t essentially imply it’s unsuitable for the job at hand, regardless of the job. The PPE tells us about their coronary heart, but it surely doesn’t inform us about coronary heart — the kind that radiates grit, want, and drive. The examination might discover tally-able points on a horse that ran 62 instances, however that horse nonetheless ran 62 instances and had the gumption to maintain going. They seemingly have an excellent shot at an athletic subsequent profession, even with a most likely fairly imperfect skeleton.

Emmett goes locations. I’m going to belief my intestine on this one. Photograph by Izzy Gritsavage.

The extra I help with PPEs (we frequently have one or two per week throughout busy months), the extra I notice that they do two issues: measure the well being of the horse as is AND deal with the equine PTSD of the potential purchaser. Nothing fallacious with that, however it’s a part of the scenario. If a purchaser retired a horse they cherished to stifle points, one can nearly assure that the hind limb flexion (that may possibly not hassle a unique consumer) will finish the examination. If suspensory points led to breakdown or lack of use of a former equine associate, the point out that they’re barely sore in the course of the bodily examination is likely to be sufficient to maintain a purchaser up at evening and have them cross on an in any other case sound, sane horse. Of us will spend tons of on radiographs of elements of the horse which have proven actually no palpable subject (again, neck, navicular views, and many others.) as a consequence of their previous experiences, and even their pal or trainers’ former trauma.

Neil (Lute’s Angel) was handed over for buy after I was not comfy letting a “medium” come speak to him about his observe days after an inconclusive pre-purchase. I suppose I acquired fortunate — his child is destined for the UL and I’m very excited to get to be within the irons for the experience. Photograph by Izzy Gritsavage.

That’s tremendous and effectively on one hand. I don’t ever need somebody to purchase a horse in the event that they’re not comfy with it. However incidental findings as a consequence of a purchaser’s former experiences do drive me kinda nuts. So what if there are shut factors within the again if the horse reveals zero discomfort? Or if there’s sidebone in a foot that doesn’t influence their gait? The PPE is a part of the entire evaluation of the horse, however, man — some days, it seems like the entire entire. With elevated cell viewing expertise, we will know a lot extra a couple of horse from the within out. I imply, hell — it’s means simpler to get a radiograph of an equine ankle than it was for me to get my busted shoulder x-rayed a pair years again. However what horses do with these bones and the way they influence them just isn’t all the time recognized. Once more, that entire vets can’t see the longer term factor.

Thoroughbred Logic, Introduced by Kentucky Efficiency Merchandise: PPEs and PTSD

Extra photographs of one other fairly excellent critter riddled with veterinary imperfections. I don’t care and am simply going to get pleasure from taking Indy (Star Participant) up the degrees. Photograph by Izzy Gritsavage.

So, my advice: Sure, pre buy the horse. However weigh these findings towards the remainder of the animal. Did you like their character? Have they been doing the job for years efficiently? Will it fortunately tote the kiddo round? Does a rider actually have higher degree ambitions and skill or is it simply enjoyable to desire a horse that can transcend the three’6″? On the finish of the day, the query turns into  do you suppose they’ll do the job with you within the irons? And, maybe extra importantly, is it price it to attempt? As a result of they’re all a chance — it’s simply that generally we all know the dangers up entrance and generally we don’t.

So people, excellent or imperfect, go experience. I’m off to sneak a couple of rides in earlier than I’ve to carry for an additional pre-purchase (maintain your fingers crossed).

About Kentucky Efficiency Merchandise, LLC:

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