Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Dan listened to each horse’s heart and lungs and checked their eyes, teeth, and general condition. He did flexion tests on all the leg joints and trotted the horses in circles on a lunge line to check for soundness. Then he checked their hearts and lungs again after exercise.

Dan drew blood, explaining that it would be kept on file at the clinic for at least sixty days after the exam, so that if the horses’ behavior or soundness changed dramatically after purchase, the blood sample could be tested for drugs.

“Sometimes even reputable sellers can do things to make horses appear what they aren’t,” Dan told Scott.

Because of their ages, Dan recommended X-rays as both horses had shown signs of minimal arthritis. By the time this was finished, over two hours had gone by.

As they began putting the horses back in their stalls, Scott asked, “Well, what do you think, doc? Should I buy ‘em?”