Veterinarians and farriers are some of the busiest people
I’ve ever met in my whole life. That’s
why it is so important for you to do everything in your power to be ready for
their farm visit. Being ready will help
to make the time they spend on your farm as quick as possible.
Of course, you can’t control someone else being late
because of emergency calls, but you can make sure that you are ready. When you know someone is coming to examine your
horse, make sure to get him in the barn early.
Half an hour early normally gives you enough time to get settled in case
issues come up. Your horse should have
its halter on its head and the lead line ready and close at hand to attach it
too. Getting your horse in the barn may
take the longest time, so once that is done, you can move on to getting other
things ready. If you are struggling to
get them in there, you may want to drop a little feed in their bucket and then
shut the door on the stall after they go in.
A vet or farrier should never have to wait while you struggle to catch
your horses. Keeping them running free
in the pasture until they arrive is unacceptable! Even worse, your vet or farrier should never
have to catch your horse for you. They
are professionals and need to focus on the job they are called out there
for. They may not ever return to your
farm, if it is a struggle to catch horses every time.
You
want to make sure that your farm is ready.
Unlock your gate and open it if that is possible. Make sure you have enough space for the vet or farrier to turn around
or pull-through with their large truck.
You may need to move other vehicles or objects, so they can get in and
out quickly. Is your annoying dog that
continually jumps on people or gets in the way penned up? A lot of times horses are scared of dogs and
your dog running around them while they are being examined may create undue
stress. Dogs like to eat hooves that the
farrier cuts off and will get under your horse or between their legs to get it.
You may need to brush your
horse before the visit, if your horse is covered in hair or dirt. This will allow your vet to be able to see
your horse easier and help to keep their clothes clean. It’s good to go ahead and spray fly spray on
any horses getting examined or worked on if there are numerous flies or gnats
flying around. Flying and biting insects
only serve to distract your horse. It’s
also good to make sure there are bright lights in the barn and a place where
they can get out of driving rain if needed.
Make sure all your horses have good manners,
even young ones. Your horses should be
able to receive injections, medications, and oral exams. You and other people should be able to pick
up and touch feet and legs, as well as ears and head. Horses need to learn at a young age how to
walk on a lead line. You should never
let your horse eat grass or be given treats while being worked on. This is distracting to the horse and teaches
bad manners. Giving them treats after
the visit is always the best option, so they remember the visit as a positive
experience.
It’s good to be able to tell your vet any
changes in your horse’s condition.
Knowing the temperature, pulse, and respiration rate can help them
diagnose problems. It’s really important not to wait
until a small problem becomes a big one.
If you are not sure about a problem, with most vets and farriers, you
can take a picture of it and text it to them for advice. If they need to come out, they will have a
good idea about what equipment and meds they need to bring along. Many vets get complaints when an animal dies
and the client still has to pay a bill, however, if the vet had been called
earlier when it was a small problem, they might have been able to save the
animal. A vet must still bill for his
expenses and travel whether the animal recovers or not. So, the sooner you get help, the better!
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