veterinary records of sales horses

I know a lot of you clanners go to sales and would be grateful for some information from you. With the season of sales starting, and anabolic steroids very much a live topic, I was wondering: if you want to buy a horse at a sale, how easy/possible is it to get a full veterinary record?

And if they are available, are the vet records specific about what the horse has been given? Can you check if it has been given things like anabolic steroids? Or any other substances?

i no think you have much chance if you get the record the steroids would be missing

The buyer can ask for a full vet record.but more helpful is to do a blood test. That will show but can one cancel a sale?

If u want to buy at a sale you get a full vetting done.....and they charge for it!....not sure if u will have time to do blood tests as well.....

why you will never get these at most sales is simple, be sides the steroids every one is worry about, the vet record show the bleeders it show the joint problems, it show the treatment for problems. all these make the price go DOWN. Look at shongweni and jooste dispersal sales. 99% of that rubbish never win races again. the sell is to get rid of the problems. Only fools buy from these sales and very very few get lucky. go look at history and race records after.

@ flash


the WHOLE USA racing scene is made up by buying horses at sales and sales races (claimers) its NOT the theory thats flawed its the SA way thats buggered

easy when i am buy horse in america i will re member that. i say specific shongweni and jooste sale. is very seldom their is genuine sale and buyers can have the chance

At National Yearling sale and the CT Book 1, full sets of x-rays are available for just about all horses. This costs the breeder more than R3000 per horse, so not generally provided for the other sales where prices are lower. These will show any joint and skeletal problems. Full vet history is not generally made available, but there is nothing to stop you asking the breeder if there is a horse in which you are interested . Most buyers have horses scoped before or after purchase to check the respiratory tract. Windsuckers and weavers must be disclosed and are grounds for cancelling.
Prospective purchasers can have a horse fully vetted prior to the sale, but this is expensive.
As a breeder, I am happy to disclose fully the history of any horse that I put up for sale.