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Equine Pre Purchase Examination

Many people when looking to buy a new horse will ask us about a ‘vetting’ or pre purchase examination of the horse. This is an examination to check the horse over for obvious and detectable conditions. We follow the examination protocol system recommended by the New Zealand Equine Veterinary Association. Talk to one of our equine vets for more information on the type or style of examination that may be suitable for the horse you are considering buying.

There are two choices for the type of examination Full (Stages 1-5): The full examination consists of five stages. These stages are: 1 examination at rest, 2 examination while being trotted in hand, 3 observation while being exercised, 4 period of rest, 5 Follow up observation trotting in hand after exercise. Partial (Stages 1-2): For horses in work or with a known current competitive history many clients request an abridged or partial examination.

The partial examination consists of stages one and two of the standard examination. Other additional procedures as part of the pre-purchase: We are also able to incorporate other procedures like digital x-rays, endoscopic examinations, ultrasound examinations, blood tests and electrocardiographic (ECG) examinations into your pre-purchase exam. Pre purchase examination request If you are considering getting a pre purchase examination then we have a special form to fill in for this. 

THE BENEFITS

Why VetSouth is a great choice

We're locals

We’ve been in the lower South Island for decades. It’s where we’re from and where we raise our families.

Wide network

We’re plugged into the Veterinary world and our team can call on expertise from all over the world, then deliver it locally.

Handy clinics

We’re close to you for consults, supplements, supplies...whatever you need. Pop on in or organise a delivery.

   

INNOVATION & RESEARCH

A never ending quest for improvement and advancement

Researching animal welfare and pathology is a passion we share, with our work being used by industry bodies such as Dairy NZ, the Sustainable Farming Fund and Beef & Lamb.

FURTHER READING

Latest news

Nipping it in the bud

With calving season getting underway, it’s time to start thinking about one of the key jobs for your spring calendar: disbudding. While it may not be everyone’s favourite task, doing it early andRead more

Managing springtime stress

While we are a resilient bunch down south, it’s important to remember to look after yourself, as well as your cows, ewes and newborns. You can’t do it all, and you certainly can’t do it withoutRead more

Pre-lamb drench use

Times have changed, and we know our advice has also changed… we get that, but we are seeing farmers understand why this is the case, and it is leading to some great shifts in farm systems to favourRead more

“It just dropped dead!”

With activities such as disbudding and tailing around the corner and stock prices looking positive, it’s worth having a quick refresher on the topic.Read more

Spotting sleepy sickness

This metabolic disorder, also known as pregnancy toxaemia, is most common in multiple-bearing ewes during the last few weeks of pregnancy, when their energy demands are at their highest. It canRead more

Two decades of dedication

Georgette (also known fondly as ‘George’ or ‘G’) came to Southland from the Netherlands, after a stint in south Taranaki. She was looking at a few jobs down here, and I remember ringing herRead more

Ionophore toxicity risks for dogs

Ionophore coccidiostats are a class of compounds commonly used in livestock feeds, particularly calf rearing meals, to improve growth rates and prevent certain diseases such as coccidiosis. DogsRead more

Learning from lamb losses – the value of post-mortems

Often, this is put down to the storm that inevitably comes through in the middle of lambing every year, but are there other areas where we have some more control over this wastage? By performing simRead more

Dental care, alpaca style

Not something our vets see every day; our South Otago team polished up a herd of alpaca’s dental health! Just like many other species, dentals are an important aspect of routine care for alpacas. TRead more

Trace elements ahead of calving

While most dairy farmers have a trace element supplementation routine, as we reset for another season it’s worth asking: are you supplementing the right trace elements at the right time? Trace elemRead more

From data to decisions: Using wearables to guide transition management

During the 2025-26 season, one of VetSouth’s Southland dairy farms used data derived from their wearables and the CowSmart service to monitor transition performance, cow recovery, and reproductiveRead more

Give your calves a great start

Good care in the first few months sets calves up for strong growth, disease resistance, and long term performance. Give them the best start at birth by ensuring each calf gets a minimum of 10% ofRead more
 

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