Describe the intended use before the exam, and request the report and imaging records.
Begin with the intended job
A useful pre-purchase discussion starts with the buyer’s goals. Explain the intended discipline, level of work, and concerns before the appointment. A weekend trail prospect and a horse intended for a demanding competition program raise different questions.
Know who receives the findings
Penn State Extension explains that the buyer pays for the pre-purchase exam and the veterinarian reports directly to the buyer. AAEP has also developed a documentation template to support clearer records and communication. Ask how the written report and any imaging will be provided.
Keep the documents together
Save the report, imaging information, seller disclosures, and the questions you still need answered in one place. For sellers, organized records make it easier to explain the horse’s history accurately. For buyers, the goal is an informed decision supported by the examining veterinarian’s findings.
Give the examiner a clear description of your plans
Write a short buyer’s brief before the appointment. Describe the riding you intend to do, your experience, and the questions that led you to request the examination. Share the relevant information directly with the veterinarian, even when a trainer or agent is helping organize the visit.
Also discuss the scope and anticipated costs before additional work is performed. Ask how recommendations for imaging or other investigations will be communicated. A useful conversation leaves the buyer understanding what was examined and what remains uncertain.
Read the report with questions ready
When the report arrives, separate findings, professional interpretation, and your buying decision. If a term is unfamiliar, ask what it means in the context of the intended use. Avoid reducing a complicated report to a reassuring or worrying phrase passed along by someone else.
Keep a list of follow-up questions and request clarification from the examining veterinarian. If you want your own veterinarian to review records, discuss how the report and images will be transferred and what that review can reasonably address.
Keep the sale history organized
For sellers, dated records make it easier to answer questions accurately. For buyers, a single file containing the advertisement, disclosures, report, and correspondence is easier to review later than scattered screenshots. Organization does not remove uncertainty, but it makes the decision and its supporting information easier to understand.
Sources & further reading
Sources checked October 26, 2026. These are the underlying sources; MDhorse’s article is an original explanation.