Purchase investigation
The Hippocheck has especially in relation to the horse sale and selling a lot of importance. The veterinarian proceeds with the purchase examination according to a certain examination pattern and finally assesses the health of the horse concerned and whether it is suitable for the intended purpose or not on the basis of the examination results .
Colloquially, a distinction is made between a small and a large purchase inspection. While the small purchase examination only includes a general clinical examination, the large purchase examination also includes further examinations. The most common further examination is the radiological examination. Since the beginning of 2018 there has been a new X-ray guideline from the Society for Equine Medicine for the assessment of findings with risk assessment. There are now a total of 18 images per horse. The X-ray classes were canceled without replacement. This allows veterinarians to concentrate better on the assessment and the owner better understand how this assessment comes about.
The clinical examination initially includes the so-called observational and palpatory examination, in which the horse in question is first viewed and palpated in its entirety. Here, the individual organ systems are examined one after the other without or with simple aids (cardiovascular or respiratory system with the stethoscope , the eyes with the help of an ophthalmoscope ). The cardiovascular system is checked separately before and after exercise using the so-called stress test. Attention is paid to abnormal heart / lungs and background noises. The vet also compares the noises heard before, shortly after and a few minutes after the exposure. This enables him to differentiate between physiological and pathological noises and draw conclusions about the horse's training status.
However, the general examination of the standing horse is followed by the examination of the horse in motion. Above all, attention is paid to any existing lameness and gait anomalies or positional errors of the limbs. After this, and in some cases before, the so-called flexion tests are carried out. To do this, the vet bends the horse's joints to reveal possible subliminal problems of the horse based on a timing error / lameness. The joint or joints of the horse are bent one after the other for about 1 minute while standing. Immediately afterwards, the horse has to be trotted on hard ground with the help of a person leading the animal.
During the clinical examination, the veterinarian may become aware of serious findings or findings that should be clarified for safety by a further examination (e.g. X-ray examination , endoscopic examination , laboratory examination ). X-ray examinations are often carried out routinely in Germany. In the United States, in the vast majority of cases, racehorses are also examined endoscopically (endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract) as standard.
The purchase inspection usually takes place before the purchase, possibly it can also take place afterwards if a clause in the purchase contract provides for this. With the examination, the veterinarian guarantees that the horse is suitable for the intended use and does not show any acute or chronic damage. The veterinarian is liable to pay compensation to the horse buyer and the horse seller if he negligently or deliberately overlooks defects (in the past mainly main defects ) of the horse or overinterprets findings.
literature
- Jörg John: Animal Law: a short summary of the most important animal law laws and regulations; a manual for pet owners, animal keepers and animal lovers and for all those who would like to become one . SV SAXONIA Verlag 2007, ISBN 9783937951812 , p. 57.
- Friedrich W. Hanbücken, Andreas Kersten, Dorothee Dahmen: Horse Skills: Working techniques in horse practice . Schattauer Verlag 2008, ISBN 9783794526260 , p. 245 ff.
- Fuhrmann, Benjamin: "Information on the subject of veterinary purchase examinations for horses" .
- Peter Rosbach: Horse Law , 1st edition, Munich 2011, Verlag CH Beck, ISBN 978-3-406-59602-5
Sources and individual references
- ^ Society for Equine Medicine e. V .: X-ray guidelines (2018). (PDF)
