The conditions under which a veterinarian is asked to complete a purchase exam have great bearing on how much he or she is able to ascertain about the horse and its current state of health and athleticism. A roomful of veterinarians discussed the ins and outs of purchase exams at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. While some of the attendees said they look forward to performing purchase exams, many admitted that certain aspects of purchase exams can cause headaches and could be much improved with advance planning and modified protocol.

Some of the aspects of purchase exams that veterinarians consider a nuisance or a concern could be improved, but others would be more difficult to ameliorate