Guide to PPE's (Vettings)

The process of vetting a horse is either a 2 stage or 5 stage procedure as dictated by the Royal College of Surgeons. These examinations are undertaken to assess the horse’s current and likely future soundness on the day by identifying any pre-existing conditions, current health status and fitness for the intended use.

If a 2 stage vetting is to be performed, a disclaimer form will need to be signed prior to the examination.

Please ensure that the vendor is aware that the following is required for a vetting:

• A dark box that can be blacked out
• A hard level trot up area
• Areas for lunging on both hard, level and soft surfaces
• Passport
• Lunge line
• Tack (for 5 stage)
• Suitable riding arena for strenuous exercise (for 5 stage)

Please also ensure that the horse has been stabled for at least 3 hours prior to the examination. The horse should been groomed with hooves picked out and cleaned prior to the vetting.

The stages of a vetting are:

1. The first stage is observing the horse at rest. The vet will monitor the breathing rate, examine the eyes in a blacked out area and listen to the horse’s heart. The horse’s skin, limbs and teeth will then be examined.
2. The second stage should be carried out on a hard level surface. The horse will be walked and trotted up in a straight line, looking for any signs of lameness, along with flexion tests of the lower limbs. The vet will then move onto rein back and trotting the horse on a circle on each rein on the hard and soft surface.
3. The third stage requires strenuous exercise; lunged, ridden or loose schooled. The vet will assess the gaits at walk, trot and canter and listen for any abnormal heart or wind sounds.
4. The fourth stage is a period of rest for the horse between 20-30 minutes.
5. The fifth and final stage, the vet will see the horse trot up again with flexions tests repeated, see the horse lunged on the hard and soft surface at the walk and trot and rein back. At this time, a blood sample will also be taken and stored.

Once the above stages have been completed, any further examinations such as x-rays, ultrasound, endoscopy or gastroscopy can be performed.

We can also perform insurance vetting examinations for an existing owner of a horse, this will follow the 5 stage vetting stages but doesn’t include an opinion on the horse’s fitness for purpose.