Information for buyers and sellers on pre-purchase exams by Mount Baker Veterinary:

During a pre-purchase exam of a horse the veterinarian is working on behalf of the buyer, not the seller.  The veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical exam and possibly other diagnostic procedures, as agreed upon with the buyer, to evaluate the horse on that particular day.  The buyer needs to let the veterinarian know the proposed intended use of the horse.  Additionally, the buyer needs to let the veterinarian know any specific diagnostic tests that the buyer would like the veterinarian to conduct as part of the pre purchase exam.   In the course of performing the pre-purchase exam the veterinarian may observe things that may justify further diagnostic efforts. These will be discussed with the buyer and can be carried out at the buyers request.   The pre-purchase exam can be costly especially if further diagnostic tests are used.

The pre-purchase exam does not result in a pass or fail. Rather, the veterinarian will give his/her opinion on any indications of problems or concerns with the horse at that moment in time.  There is no warranty expressed or implied that can be made by the veterinarian based on the pre-purchase exam.   If a warranty is wanted, the buyer must contract this with the seller.  Horses may have sub-clinical problems at the time of the exam, which do not present themselves during the pre-purchase exam, however, may become clinically apparent in a relatively short period of time.  Additionally, horses may develop new clinical issues relatively shortly after the pre-purchase exam.  It is not the veterinarian's job to tell the buyer whether or not to purchase the horse. The veterinarian will point out any concerns or issues found during the pre-purchase exam that may impact the ability of the horse to perform the intended use that the buyer is wanting the horse to do.

The seller has the responsibility to be truthful and forthright in relaying the horse’s medical history as well as in supplying any medical records that may exist.  The seller must be aware that the findings of the pre-purchase exam, along with any diagnostics completed as part of the pre-purchase exam, are the sole property of the buyer and may only be shared with the seller with the express consent of the buyer.

If the seller is a client of Mt. Baker Veterinary and/or the veterinarian has previously treated the horse that the pre-purchase exam is being performed on, a potential conflict of interest exists.  If at all possible, the seller should not be a client of the veterinarian completing the pre-purchase exam, in order to remove this potential for conflict of interest.  If no other veterinarian is available to perform the pre-purchase exam or if the buyer and seller are both aware of the situation and are agreeable to having that veterinarian perform the pre-purchase exam, given the potential for conflict of interest, the pre-purchase exam may be completed by the veterinarian who has a preexisting doctor-client relationship with the seller. Both the buyer and the seller will need to sign an acknowledgement of the potential for a conflict of interest in this case before the pre-purchase exam can proceed.   The seller will also need to agree to allow the veterinarian performing the exam to release all previously obtained medical records concerning the horse the exam is being completed upon to the buyer for inspection.   Additionally, the seller needs to realize that information generated during the completion of the pre-purchase exam is privileged information between the veterinarian and the buyer and can only be disclosed to the seller with the express consent of the buyer.