Buying a Horse: The Blood Tests Worth Asking For

A horse buyer usually asks for a basic blood panel and disease screening on top of the vet's own examination. A blood count, liver and kidney tests, and the EIA and glanders tests can help show hidden problems before money changes hands. They do not show soundness or temperament. A registered veterinarian reads the results with the horse's examination and history.

Why ask for blood tests when buying a horse?

A horse can look bright, move well and still carry a problem you cannot see. Anaemia, an infection or a tired liver or kidney may not show in a short ride at a sale. Blood tests give the buyer facts that looking at the horse cannot. For a seller, recent reports can help a serious buyer feel more at ease.

Blood tests work alongside a pre-purchase examination, not in place of it. The vet looks at the heart, lungs, eyes, legs and movement, and chooses tests to suit the horse's age and work. Many buyers prefer to use their own vet for this, so the choice of tests is not left to the seller.

What do the general blood tests show?

• A Complete Blood Count (CBC) counts red cells, white cells and platelets. It may show anaemia, which means too few red cells, or signs of infection or inflammation.
• A Liver Function Test (LFT) measures enzymes and proteins linked to the liver. It may show that the liver is under strain.
• A Kidney Function Test (KFT) measures waste products, such as urea and creatinine, that healthy kidneys clear from the blood. It may show that the kidneys are struggling, or that the horse is short of water.

The lab report shows the reference range beside each result. A figure outside the range is a reason to ask questions, not a final verdict. Your vet may repeat the test, add others, or ask about the horse's work, feed and recent illness.

The Horse Pre-purchase Panel typically groups these with a muscle enzyme test, a blood parasite smear and the two disease tests below, so that one blood draw covers them. The exact list is confirmed when you book.

Why do EIA and glanders tests matter at a sale?

EIA stands for equine infectious anaemia, a virus disease of horses. The Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) - Coggins / AGID Test looks in the serum for antibodies, which are proteins the body makes against the virus. A horse that carries the virus can look healthy, which is why buyers, events and authorities often ask for the result. A very early infection can still test negative, so your vet may suggest a repeat later.

Glanders is a bacterial disease of horses. The Glanders (Burkholderia mallei) Antibody Test looks for antibodies to the glanders bacterium. Glanders can pass to people, so samples need careful handling. Wash your hands, wear gloves with samples or a sick horse, and speak to a doctor if you feel unwell.

Both diseases are notifiable. Owners should tell their veterinarian or the animal husbandry department if either is suspected. Official confirmation of glanders is a matter for the authorities, not for a lab report alone.

What can blood tests not show?

A blood test is a picture of one day. It does not show:

• lameness, a sore back or an old injury, which need a physical examination and sometimes a scan or X-ray
• temperament, training, or whether the horse suits the rider
• how the horse breathes under hard work
• what may happen to the horse in the future

A tidy report is not a promise of future health. A horse can also fall ill soon after the sample is taken. For that reason, a vet reads the blood results together with what is found on the examination.

Buyers and sellers can keep a few points in mind:

• agree on the tests before the sale, and who will take the sample
• make sure the horse's name and identification marks are written on the report
• keep the reports with the horse's papers

Read next

If the horse will be moved to another city or a show, Travelling With a Pet: Rabies Titre and Health Checks shows how health checks are planned before a journey, although it is written for pets. To compare bundles and decide which one fits your needs, read Choosing a Health Package for Your Pet or Farm Animal.

Testing in Bhopal

If the horse is in Bhopal, your vet can take the blood and the lab will collect it from the stable at no charge. Call or WhatsApp +91 88175 01118 to book; the lab at C-200, C Sector, Shahpura confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time at that point. From other districts, the vet can send serum by courier or bus parcel.