Buying & Selling

The Pre-Purchase Exam: Why X-ray Grades Are a Thing of the Past (Since 2018)

"What class is the horse?" is the most common question when buying a horse, and since 2018, it's the wrong one. The X-ray guidelines have abolished these classes. Here's what you'll find in the report instead, who pays for the exam, and what should be included in the purchase contract.

Equidara editorial team · 4 October 2026 · 5 min read

Hardly any conversation about buying a horse goes without the question of its X-ray class. Class one would be ideal, two is still acceptable, but anything from three upwards becomes problematic. The issue is: these classes haven't existed since the 2018 X-ray Guidelines.

What Has Changed

The guidelines come from the German Society for Equine Medicine and the German Federal Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons. With the 2018 revision, the old X-ray classes were abolished. Instead, the vet now describes every abnormal finding and assesses whether it poses a risk for future lameness.

The difference is greater than it sounds. A class was a grade you could compare, even without fully understanding it. A description, however, requires you to read it. But in return, it tells you something meaningful: a finding that might never be an issue for a pleasure horse could be a real risk for a show jumper. A simple letter grade couldn't express that.

So, if you read an ad today stating "X-ray Class 1," you're either looking at old images from before 2018 or an entry someone wrote out of habit.

What the Examination Includes

A pre-purchase exam consists of two parts, which can be ordered separately.

The clinical examination is the foundation: heart, lungs, eyes, teeth, limbs, flexion tests, trotting up on hard and soft ground, often under saddle. It shows how the horse moves today and where it might be sensitive.

The X-ray examination is added if the buyer or seller requests it. A standard set of images is common; the exact number depends on the specific request. Every additional image costs money and can reveal findings that may never cause problems. This isn't an argument against X-rays, but rather a reason to discuss with your vet beforehand what is truly necessary.

Who Commissions, Who Pays, Who Owns the Images

Typically, the buyer commissions the vet and pays them. In this scenario, the vet works for you and is obligated to provide you with a clear explanation. The seller makes the horse available for the examination.

If the seller has the examination done beforehand, it's convenient, but it doesn't necessarily replace your own commission: you would then receive a report that was prepared for someone else. It's best to clarify in writing with the veterinary practice beforehand who is allowed to pass on the images later and for how long they will be stored.

What Should Be Included in the Purchase Contract

Three variants are common, and all three should be stated in the contract:

Examination performed. Include the date, vet, and scope in the contract, with the protocol attached as an appendix. This documents the horse's condition on the day of handover.
Consciously waived. This is also a decision and should be documented. The buyer then bears the risk of hidden defects.
Agreed as a condition. The purchase is contingent on an examination without significant findings. If findings emerge that restrict the intended use, the buyer can withdraw from the contract within an agreed period.

In our sample contracts, there are dedicated fields for all of this, including the horse's training level and intended purpose. This isn't just an accessory: what's stated there defines the agreed-upon condition, and the seller is liable for it even if the warranty has been excluded.

"Small" and "Large PPE" Are Not Fixed Terms

Both terms persist stubbornly but don't refer to anything binding. What is examined results from the instructions given to the vet, not from a name. It's more sensible to specify the scope: a clinical examination, plus a certain number of X-rays, and if desired, a blood panel, ultrasound, or an examination under saddle.

The same applies to documentation. Have the scope provided to you in writing before the examination and receive the protocol afterwards. Both should be part of the purchase contract and will later answer the question of what was actually discussed.

If Findings Emerge

A finding doesn't end a purchase; it opens a conversation. Four paths are common:

Proceed as planned. The finding is irrelevant for the intended use, the vet explains why, and this is noted in the protocol.
Adjust the price. Both parties agree on a lower purchase price that reflects the risk.
Seek a second opinion. Especially in borderline cases, another assessment is well worth the money, particularly if the purchase price is high.
Withdraw from the purchase. This can only be done cleanly if you've agreed upon it beforehand. Without such an agreement, the purchase is binding once concluded.

Therefore, the sequence should be consistently included in the contract: first formulate the condition, then have the examination done, then decide.

What the Vet Does and Does Not Provide

The examination describes the horse's condition on a specific day. It is not a guarantee for the next few years, nor is it a promise of rideability or performance. A horse with findings can work soundly for twenty years, and one without findings can go lame six months later.

What the examination can provide is an honest basis for decision-making: it shows what risks you are buying into. What you do with this information remains a decision between buyer and seller, and it belongs in the contract, not just in memory.

A Finding Is Not a Verdict

Two sentences to remember. First: A finding without clinical signs is initially just an image. Second: What matters is what the horse is being bought for. Therefore, before the examination, discuss what you expect the horse to be able to do, and after the examination, talk to the vet about what the findings mean for that specific plan.

Common questions

Are there still X-ray classes for horses?

No. The 2018 X-ray Guidelines abolished these classes. The vet describes any abnormal findings and assesses whether they pose a risk for future lameness. Information like "X-ray Class 1" in ads refers to old images or is simply habit.

Who pays for the pre-purchase examination?

Typically, the buyer, as they commission the vet and receive their explanation. The seller makes the horse available for the examination. A report commissioned by the seller themselves is merely information for the buyer, not their own commission.

What images are included in an X-ray examination?

That depends on the specific request. A standard set is common, which can be expanded. More images mean more costs and more findings, not all of which will cause problems. Discuss with your vet beforehand what is sensible for the horse's intended use.

What from the pre-purchase examination should be included in the purchase contract?

The date, vet, and scope, with the protocol attached as an appendix. If the examination was consciously waived, that should also be noted. If you want the purchase to be contingent on the results, agree on a withdrawal period in case findings restrict the intended use.

Does a finding make the horse worthless?

No. A finding without clinical signs is initially just an image. What matters is what the horse is being bought for: what might never be noticed in a pleasure horse could be a risk in a sport horse. The 2018 guidelines provide precisely this kind of assessment, which the old classification system could not.

Sources

Written by Equidara editorial team. Last checked: 4 October 2026.