10/03/2026
Buying a horse is one of the most exciting moments in any rider’s journey… but it can also be one of the most confusing.
One of the areas that causes the most uncertainty for riders and parents is the pre-purchase veterinary examination. What exactly are you paying for? What does each stage actually assess? And how should you interpret the findings in a way that helps you make a confident decision?
That’s exactly why we recently sat down with Janina Kutschka, who joined us for a detailed interview inside the Horse Buying Success Pathway at The EquiCan Academy.
Janina walked us through the entire process of a pre-purchase exam step-by-step, explaining in clear terms what vets are actually looking for and why it matters for the future of the horse and rider partnership.
In this interview we covered:
• The difference between a 2-stage and 5-stage vetting
• What each section of the examination actually assesses
• Why certain findings may or may not be a concern depending on the horse’s intended job
• How vets assess soundness, conformation, heart, eyes, and respiratory health
• What flexion tests really mean (and the common misunderstandings around them)
• How vets approach risk versus suitability for different disciplines
• The most common mistakes buyers make when interpreting a vet report
Our goal with the Horse Buying Success Pathway is simple: remove the guesswork.
Too many riders spend thousands on a horse without fully understanding the information that’s right in front of them during the vetting process. When you understand what the vet is evaluating and why, you can ask better questions, interpret the results more intelligently, and ultimately make a far more confident buying decision.
Janina did an incredible job breaking this down in a way that riders can genuinely understand.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about what a vetting actually tells you about a horse, this interview will make the entire process crystal clear.
Inside the pathway we bring together experts like Janina — vets, trainers, saddle fitters, nutritionists and riders — to help you avoid the most common and costly mistakes when buying a horse.
Because the right horse can change your life…
but the wrong one can break your confidence, your budget, and your heart.
You can learn more about the Horse Buying Success Pathway here:
www.theequicanacademy.co.uk
And a huge thank you again to Janina for sharing her expertise with our community of riders. 🐎
The Academy is specifically designed for riders who dream of learning from ethical, real world experts at home.