Do They Test for EPM at Sales?

horsenuts · Postby **horsenuts** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:46 pm

EPM is very common throughout the midwest so I suspect KY. is not immune. Do they test for this at the sales? Or only upon request?

tia

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:32 pm

I doube the test for it.. I believe all you need to provide to the sales company are x-rays, scopes, and a clean coggins,

Laurierace · Postby **Laurierace** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:48 pm

It has been my experience that all you need is a coggins. Some sales require a health certificate. Xrays and scope are all optional, but saves your horse from having potential buyers take their own over and over again. Assuming you mean blood test when you are referring to a test for EPM, that only test for exposure, not for the disease itself. That is diagnosed via spinal tap, and I can promise you that they aren't doing taps at sales.

horsenuts · Postby **horsenuts** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:10 am

Laurierace wrote:It has been my experience that all you need is a coggins. Some sales require a health certificate. Xrays and scope are all optional, but saves your horse from having potential buyers take their own over and over again. Assuming you mean blood test when you are referring to a test for EPM, that only test for exposure, not for the disease itself. That is diagnosed via spinal tap, and I can promise you that they aren't doing taps at sales.

When you start paying 10s of thou$and$ for a horse and into the million$ I find it hard to believe these type buyers don't demand a recent EPM test spinal tap or not. I'm sure if they did it would impact the sales in a very negative way as EPM is pretty common.

Laurierace · Postby **Laurierace** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:35 pm

If you spend tens of thousands for a horse that you suspect has EPM, you should treat the horse for the disease. You can demand anything you want, it doesn't mean you are going to get it. I sure as hell wouldn't let you come stick a needle in my horse's spinal column pre-sale, and wouldn't expect anyone to let me do the same to their horse. What you do with it after you get it home is your business.