What should a pre-purchase exam include for a hunter jumper horse?

A pre-purchase examination for a hunter jumper horse should be comprehensive enough to reveal the specific physical issues that jumping places stress on, targeting the structures most commonly affected by jumping work and identifying any conditions that would limit the horse's ability to perform safely and soundly at the intended competitive level. The basic physical examination — eyes, teeth, skin, body condition, respiratory system — provides a health baseline that any pre-purchase should include. The musculoskeletal examination focuses specifically on the structures most stressed by jumping: the front feet and hoof balance, which bear the impact of landing; the coffin joints and navicular area, where repetitive jumping impact accumulates; the suspensory ligaments and tendons of all four legs, which are under significant stress during jumping efforts; the hocks, which bear the pushing-off load of every canter stride and jumping takeoff; and the back and sacroiliac region, where soreness is common in jumping horses and can significantly affect both performance and willingness. Radiographs of the front feet and coffin joints are standard, with additional views of the hocks, stifles, and any other areas identified as concerning during the physical examination. Flexion tests that stress specific joints and assess the horse's response provide dynamic information about potential soundness issues that radiographs alone cannot reveal. Watching the horse work under saddle — both on the flat and over fences — as part of the pre-purchase provides the trainer or buyer with the opportunity to observe any performance-related movement abnormalities that only appear when the horse is working. Scoping of the upper airway and stomach ultrasound are appropriate additions when the horse's history or physical examination suggests respiratory or gastric issues. The veterinarian conducting the exam should have sport horse experience and familiarity with the specific demands of jumping.