--- library/Zend/Validate/Db/Abstract.php	(revision 18383)
+++ library/Zend/Validate/Db/Abstract.php	(working copy)
@@ -145,14 +145,16 @@
         }
     }
 
+
     /**
-     * Run query and returns matches, or null if no matches are found.
+     * Get Db Adapter
      *
-     * @param  String $value
-     * @return Array when matches are found.
+     * @return Zend_Db_Adapter_Abstract
+     * @throws Zend_Validate_Exception
      */
-    protected function _query($value)
-    {
+
+
+    public function getAdapter(){
         /**
          * Check for an adapter being defined. if not, fetch the default adapter.
          */
@@ -164,15 +166,30 @@
             }
         }
 
+        return $this->_adapter;
+
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Run query and returns matches, or null if no matches are found.
+     *
+     * @param  String $value
+     * @return Array when matches are found.
+     */
+    protected function _query($value)
+    {
+
+        $adapter = $this->getAdapter();
+
         /**
          * Build select object
          */
-        $select = new Zend_Db_Select($this->_adapter);
+        $select = new Zend_Db_Select($adapter);
         $select->from($this->_table, array($this->_field), $this->_schema)
-               ->where($this->_adapter->quoteIdentifier($this->_field).' = ?', $value);
+               ->where($adapter->quoteIdentifier($this->_field).' = ?', $value);
         if ($this->_exclude !== null) {
             if (is_array($this->_exclude)) {
-                $select->where($this->_adapter->quoteIdentifier($this->_exclude['field']).' != ?', $this->_exclude['value']);
+                $select->where($adapter->quoteIdentifier($this->_exclude['field']).' != ?', $this->_exclude['value']);
             } else {
                 $select->where($this->_exclude);
             }
@@ -182,7 +199,7 @@
         /**
          * Run query
          */
-        $result = $this->_adapter->fetchRow($select, array(), Zend_Db::FETCH_ASSOC);
+        $result = $adapter->fetchRow($select, array(), Zend_Db::FETCH_ASSOC);
 
         return $result;
     }