Ideally all horses and ponies should be examined by a vet prior to purchase.

We offer vettings / prior to purchase examinations within around a 1 hour radius of the practice. Please contact us to find out more and we will happily give you an estimate.

What are the options for vetting a horse or pony?

There are two options for having your horse ‘vetted’ – otherwise known as a prior to purchase examination.

1. Five stage vetting
2. Two stage vetting

Five stage vetting / prior to purchase examination

A five stage vetting is usually required by your insurance company.

This is a full clinical examination of the horse you intend to buy and is intended as an examination to make sure that the horse is suitable for the purpose for which you intend to use it. It is not a lifetime guarantee, sadly, but a list of findings of that horse on that day.

The examination takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, then a report is written that evening. We would prefer you to be there at the vetting to discuss any findings as we go through but if you are unable to attend we discuss your concerns before we attend and will ring you with findings. Anything serious may cause us to ring you midway through the vetting and you will only be charged for the proportion of the examination that we have performed.

We always take a blood sample unless you have had the horse under your care for over a month to protect you in case of prior drug use. The samples are sent to the lab and held for several months in case a problem arises.

Two stage vetting / prior to purchase examination

Stages 3 to 5 of the vetting procedure are occasionally not performed at the request of the purchaser. We still take a blood sample and you are required to fill in an extra form requesting this type of vetting.

Buying and selling horses is a very difficult and emotional time for all involved . A vetting is an important part of finding the right horse for you.

How do I find out more?
If you’d like to find out more or would like an estimate you can either call the practice during our opening hours on 01653 618303 or you can email our equine team on admin@stationhousevets.co.uk and we will contact you back.

Ideally all horses and ponies should be examined by a vet prior to purchase.

We offer vettings / prior to purchase examinations within around a 1 hour radius of the practice. Please contact us to find out more and we will happily give you an estimate.

What are the options for vetting a horse or pony?

There are two options for having your horse ‘vetted’ – otherwise known as a prior to purchase examination.

1. Five stage vetting
2. Two stage vetting

Five stage vetting / prior to purchase examination

A five stage vetting is usually required by your insurance company.

This is a full clinical examination of the horse you intend to buy and is intended as an examination to make sure that the horse is suitable for the purpose for which you intend to use it. It is not a lifetime guarantee, sadly, but a list of findings of that horse on that day.

The examination takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, then a report is written that evening. We would prefer you to be there at the vetting to discuss any findings as we go through but if you are unable to attend we discuss your concerns before we attend and will ring you with findings. Anything serious may cause us to ring you midway through the vetting and you will only be charged for the proportion of the examination that we have performed.

We always take a blood sample unless you have had the horse under your care for over a month to protect you in case of prior drug use. The samples are sent to the lab and held for several months in case a problem arises.

Two stage vetting / prior to purchase examination

Stages 3 to 5 of the vetting procedure are occasionally not performed at the request of the purchaser. We still take a blood sample and you are required to fill in an extra form requesting this type of vetting.

Buying and selling horses is a very difficult and emotional time for all involved . A vetting is an important part of finding the right horse for you.

How do I find out more?
If you’d like to find out more or would like an estimate you can either call the practice during our opening hours on 01653 618303 or you can email our equine team on admin@stationhousevets.co.uk and we will contact you back.