X-rays are an optional extra in a pre-purchase examination, agreed in advance with the buyer's vet and with the seller's permission. The German 2018 radiography guideline defines a standard 18-view set for sound warmblood riding horses. X-rays are most useful for high-value horses, demanding work and horses you may sell on, but they are a snapshot, not a guarantee.
Not a substitute for your vet. This guide explains how X-rays fit into a pre-purchase examination so that you can have a better conversation with your vet. It does not tell you whether a particular horse is suitable. Only your vet, who has examined the horse and knows what you want to do with it, can advise you on that.
Few questions in horse buying cause more debate than this one: should you X-ray before you buy? The honest answer is that it depends on the horse, its price, the job you want it to do and how much risk you are willing to accept. Here is how we would think it through.
What X-rays are, and are not
Radiographs show bone and joint structure. They can reveal changes such as bone fragments, signs of joint disease or remodelling that may not cause lameness today. They show soft tissue such as tendons and ligaments poorly; that is ultrasound’s job. They are a snapshot. A clean set of X-rays does not guarantee a sound horse in the future, and many horses with findings on X-ray compete soundly for years.
An X-ray is also not a diagnosis of lameness. If the horse is lame at the vetting, that is a clinical finding in its own right, and X-rays become part of investigating it, not a box to tick.
X-rays are an extra, agreed in advance
In the UK, pre-purchase examinations follow guidance from the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Under that guidance:
the examination is carried out for the buyer, for a stated purpose, and its findings belong to the buyer
radiography is an additional procedure on top of the standard examination
the seller’s permission is needed for additional procedures such as X-rays or blood sampling
anything left out is recorded
Practices vary across Europe, but the principle of agreeing the scope in advance holds everywhere. Tell your vet what you plan to do with the horse, and agree in writing which views will be taken and who pays.
What a standard set looks like
In Germany, the veterinary chamber and the society of horse practitioners published a radiography guideline in 2018 (the Röntgen-Leitfaden). It describes a standard set of 18 views for lameness-free warmblood riding horses aged three or over, covering both sides:
front feet, including the navicular bone
front and hind fetlocks
hocks, in three projections
stifles, in two projections
The back is not part of the standard set, but it can be added by agreement, as can other views. The guideline also recommends removing the front shoes for the foot views, or recording that they stayed on. It replaced the old system of X-ray classes. Findings are now described individually, and those linked to a known risk of future lameness are labelled as a risk. Images should be labelled and stored in a standard digital format (DICOM), so another vet can review them later.
The guideline is not designed to diagnose lameness or to select breeding stock. It is a framework for documenting a sound horse at the time of sale.
When we would lean towards X-raying
High purchase price. If the horse is a significant investment or will be insured for a high value, X-rays add useful information for a relatively modest cost.
Demanding work. Jumping, upper-level dressage and eventing put particular loads on feet, fetlocks, hocks and backs.
Plans to sell on. Future buyers are likely to ask for X-rays. Knowing the baseline now helps you price later.
Insurance. Some insurers ask for veterinary certificates or radiographs for higher values. Check with your insurer before the vetting, not after.
When a basic exam may be enough
a lower-value horse for light work, where the clinical exam is satisfactory and you accept the remaining risk
an older horse with a long, verifiable record in the job you want it for, though your vet may still advise targeted views
Whatever you decide, the decision should be yours, made with your vet, and written down.
Using the seller’s X-rays
Sale horses, especially at auction, often come with a recent set of X-rays. They are a good starting point, but check:
the date the images were taken and the horse’s identity on each image
the views included, compared with what you need
the quality, which your vet should judge from the original digital files, not screenshots
who reported them, and whether your own vet agrees with the interpretation
If the images are old or incomplete, ask for new or additional views.
Reading the report
Ask your vet three things about each finding: what it is, how common it is in horses doing your job, and what it could mean for this horse’s future. A finding is not automatically a reason to walk away. Many purchases go ahead with known findings, sometimes at an adjusted price.
Quick checklist
[ ] Intended use explained to your own vet
[ ] Views agreed in writing (standard set plus any extras)
[ ] Seller’s permission for X-rays confirmed
[ ] Shoes off for foot views, or noted on the report
[ ] Original digital (DICOM) files requested
[ ] Insurer’s requirements checked
[ ] Findings discussed with your vet before you sign
For the full process, see our pre-purchase vet exam checklist guide and the downloadable vetting checklist.