Purchase Examination

(Pre)purchase examinations are performed daily at SMDC. Besides giving a good, unbiased estimation of the current health status of the horse, the (pre)purchase examination also includes a risk analysis for the future purpose of the horse.  Horses from all disciplines and ages are consulted at SMDC by qualified veterinarians for (inter)national prepurchase examinations.

Our clinic set up is perfectly designed for purchase examinations. We have a good infrastructure and multiple diagnostic imaging modalities to complete a purchase examination with efficiency, care and quality. Before starting the purchase examination, an exam agreement needs to be filled in.

SMDC considers the clinical examination the most important component of a purchase examination. After the anamnesis which consists of the history, current occupation of the horse and the future expectations of the horse, a full physical exam is performed which consists of palpation,checking the reflexes (especially involving the vertebral column), dental examination, eye examination and examination of heart and lungs. After this a dynamic examination is performed including a figure 8 at the walk, walk and trot in a straight line on hard and soft surfaces, walk and trot on a lunging circle with firm footing, as well as walk, trot and canter on a lunging circle with soft footing. After this the heart and lungs are checked again. Last but not least, flexion tests of all limbs are performed.

More and more often, especially for international PPE’s, the horse gets evaluated under saddle as well. For this, we have a riding ring at our a clinic.

After the dynamic examination, a blood sample is taken that can be tested for foreign substances on the clients request. Every examination at SMDC gets videotaped. Normally, these videos do not get sent with the purchase examination report and they are solely for the purpose of internal control and/or if disputes arise. These videos are available to the client on request.

The radiographic component of a purchase examination involves the imaging of bone and joints where abnormalities are often found. According to Dutch standard, this involves only the legs and consist of 22 radiographs.

At SMDC, a standard radiographic exam consists of 24 radiographs which includes a couple of extra radiographs of areas that we deem very important.

Nowadays most purchase radiographs include radiographs of the vertebral column (neck and back). At SMDC we have a lot of experience in acquiring and interpreting good quality vertebral column radiographs. SMDC has a dedicated high power generator to take the best neck & back images.

The horse is thoroughly examined like described above.

At SMDC this involves both a clinical component including dynamic examination as well as an extensive radiographic component with possible ultrasonography of indicated areas and a laryngoscopic exam. The radiographic component involves the radiographs mentioned previously with additional images of the fetlocks, carpi, hocks, and the entire vertebral column (neck and back). This type of purchase exam can also include, upon request, a fullbody scintigraphy, MRI of the legs and a UTC scan.

PROK means Project Röntgenologisch Onderzoek KWPN (Royal Dutch Sport horse).
Of course, a breeder wants to breed a healthy horse. This is also part of the breeding purpose of the KWPN. The predicate PROK is awarded to KWPN-horses that comply with the radiographic requirements of the studbook. For the breeder this means that his horse has good bone quality and is therefore able to pass this quality onto its offspring.
During the radiographic exam radiographs are taken of the front- and hind legs. In the front legs, the navicular bone, the sesamoid bones, the fetlock joints and the coffin joints are evaluated. In the hind legs, the hock, the stifle and the fetlock joints are evaluated. The results of the examination are split up in classes. On the basis of these classes it is decided if the horse complies with the demands of the PROK-certificate.

SMDC has qualified veterinarians that can take and examine these radiographs.  After aquisition the radiographs get immediately sent to the KWPN organization and get assessed by an independent evaluation commitee of the KWPN.

Via the website, MIJN KWPN, the PROK gets reported and the results are listed within a couple of weeks.

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Please note: the PROK certificate does not report on additional findings such as fragments and is therefore not suitable as a final report for the radiographic examination of a sport horse.