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Performance Evaluation
At Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley, we offer equine performance evaluations to keep your horse going at the peak of their abilities. Equine performance evaluations include a thorough physical examination, an evaluation of fitness, a lameness examination, a cardiac and respiratory exam, diagnostic testing, and more. Whether you’re practicing good stewardship with regularly scheduled evaluations or are considering purchasing a new horse, our veterinarians can help you determine your horse’s condition and help you spot early signs of lameness or disease.
What to Expect During an Equine Performance Evaluation
During a performance evaluation, we will assess a horse’s medical history, perform a hands-on physical examination and visual appraisal. Our veterinarians will evaluate your horse in-hand or under saddle, and may perform hoof testers and flexion tests. We might also recommend running general diagnostic tests, such as a blood panel, a fecal exam, and x-rays or ultrasound. We will also evaluate and record the horse’s vital signs and thoroughly examine the horse’s respiratory and cardiac systems looking for signs of disease.
Equine Pre-purchase Exams
Similar to a performance evaluation, we offer pre-purchase exams to prospective horse buyers. If you think you’ve found the perfect horse for you, we strongly encourage you to schedule a pre-purchase examination before you make your final decision. Our veterinarians will talk to you about your expectations for the horse and then evaluate the horse with respect to its health, history, fitness, and age.
Equine Performance Evaluations and Wellness Care
Performance evaluations and lameness examinations are integral components of your horse’s ongoing wellness and preventative care routine. Depending on your horse’s fitness level, work duties, seasonality, and activity level, we may recommend scheduling multiple evaluations each year.
It’s important to schedule these evaluations and exams for your horse before you notice any significant signs of lameness, reduced activity level, or changes in temperament. Horses often do not exhibit obvious outward signs of illness or lameness until a medical condition has progressed significantly.
With regularly scheduled performance evaluations, our veterinarians can develop an ongoing baseline of your horse’s health. This will make it much easier for us to detect the earliest signs of medical conditions as they begin to develop. With early detection, we are able to perform the necessary diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the problem at hand and begin administering treatment right away.
As a result, horses who receive regular performance evaluations and lameness exams can often be treated much more successfully than horses with chronic health problems.
Equine Performance Evaluations and Wellness Care
With regularly scheduled performance evaluations, our veterinarians can develop an ongoing baseline of your horse’s health. This will make it much easier for us to detect the earliest signs of medical conditions as they begin to develop. With early detection, we’re able to perform the necessary diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the problem at hand and begin administering treatment right away.
As a result, horses who receive regular performance evaluations and lameness exams are treated much more successfully than horses whose health problems aren’t diagnosed until late in the disease’s progression.
Schedule a Performance Evaluation for Your Horse
If you’re considering purchasing a new horse, have a horse due for an evaluation, or have concerns about your horse’s performance, we welcome you to contact Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley. Our experienced veterinarians will bring our mobile equine services to you and establish your horse on a schedule of regular examinations designed to optimize health and performance.
