New equine prepurchase exam (PPE) guidelines are in effect in Great Britain. The guidelines and accompanying PPE certificate first went into effect in mid-September during the 2011 British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress.

The revised PPE certificate and new guidleines describe how a PPE should be carried out. The five-stage PPE is an important procedure to inform prospective purchasers and help them make objective decisions about a horse they wish to purchase. The new documents have been revised by the BEVA PPE Committee, chaired by Malcolm Morley, BVSc, MRCVS.

Morley explained, "The existing documents had remained unchanged for 25 years and amendments were long overdue. The updated certificate has a similar format to the previous version but now reflects modern practice and complies with recent RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) guidance regarding examinations where the seller is a client of the examining veterinary surgeon."

The new document, BEVA/RCVS Guidance Notes on the Examination of a Horse on Behalf of a Prospective Purchaser, is available online and has been written in plain English for ease of reference by prospective purchasers as well as practitioners