18: Taking the Plunge by Buying a Horse in .NET framework

Printer QR Code in .NET framework 18: Taking the Plunge by Buying a Horse

Lameness: The veterinarian evaluates the horse s conformation (the way the horse is put together) for any faults that may affect the animal s ability to perform in the role you intend for her The horse then undergoes something called a flexion test, in which she s gaited in front of the veterinarian on hard and soft ground and in circles so the doctor can determine any problems in movement Also during the lameness part of the examination, the vet palpates the lower limbs in search of abnormalities and examines the hooves visually and with a device called a hoof tester, which checks sensitivity on the underside of the hoof X-rays At your request, the veterinarian takes X-rays of the horse s legs to further evaluate soundness and health Blood: At your request, the vet draws blood from the horse and has it tested for equine infectious anemia (EIA), problems with thyroid function, and other issues Ask your veterinarian to do a blood or urine test for drug detection I ve heard stories of sellers who tranquilize or otherwise drug horses before selling them, leaving the unfortunate buyer to discover the truth after the drug wears off and the horse s true personality comes out The veterinarian who s conducting the pre-purchase exam should ask the seller about the horse s medical history and current use The vet should also question you about what you intend to do with the horse if you buy her so the vet can determine whether the horse is physically capable of performing the job you want her to do

The veterinarian won t give the horse a pass or fail on the exam; he or she simply alerts you to the horse s condition at the time of the exam The vet may tell you whether the horse seems suitable for certain disciplines or sports depending on the correctness of her conformation, although many veterinarians aren t willing to give an opinion on this subject for liability reasons If the horse is suffering from a serious illness, the vet will indicate the abnormal finding on the horse s report The results of the examination can give you a good idea about any health problems the horse may have Keep in mind, however, that the pre-purchase exam isn t foolproof A disease or medical condition can evade discovery during a vet check You can discuss the results of the pre-purchase exam with your instructor, trainer, or other expert to get his or her input as well, but the decision on whether to purchase the animal is ultimately yours

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Giving your horse a comfortable home Examining feeding options for your horse Keeping your horse clean and attractive Taking care of your horse s health

o you re thinking of adding a horse to your family, an equine companion to care for and ride Before you bring your new horse home, you need to how to take care of him In this chapter, I give you the rundown on how to house, feed, and groom your horse I also fill you in on the basics of equine health, including how to prevent illness and when to call the vet For even greater detail on the topics covered in this chapter, see my other book, Horses For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Wiley)

You re probably not surprised to hear that housing a horse is a lot more complicated than housing a cat or a dog Horses are big animals that have very specific needs And they live outside, so keeping them in the bedroom is out of the question If you re lucky enough to have your own horse property, your horse can live where you do If not, you need to keep him at a boarding facility Both of these options require some careful thought