Are horses being 'babied'?

Aoibhinn said:
I am in the same boat. I have experienced people around me that I can trust and who know what they are doing. I know that I would have had the vet out every second day when I first got my pony only for them.
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Are these the same experienced people who insisted you hunt your horse even though it was lame/not right and unfit?

P
 
PE, I'm not saying that supplements are bad. I'm just saying that giving them to horses that do not need them could be pointless? Fair enough if you have a horse that has joint issues and you feed him a joint supplement. That is helping the horse and probably improving his quality of life.

If your horse needs the extra support on his legs then it is a good idea to give it to him. Whereas if he did not need it, would you still bandage his legs? I think that that is the difference between 'looking after' the horse and 'babying' him :)
 
Tnavas said:
It is what I have read many a time here in HHF, that people in the IK have had to wait several days for their vet to visit a lame horse.

Here in NZ my vet would be in attendance within a couple of hours, less if a real emergency.
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Round here, some people use small practices with one or two equine vets. Often, these vets have left a larger practice to set up a mobile practice with no equine hospital and consequently lower overheads and fees.

All is well and and good with pre booked appointments and visits, but things can soon go pear shaped if there are multiple emergencies at opposite ends of their catchment area. IMHO they are not staffed well enough to cope with unexpected peaks of demand.

I elected to remain with a large mixed practice with a very well equipped equine hospital and several equine only vets. Additionally, there is always an equine vet on call out of hours. A vet would normally be here in 20 mins in an emergency, or later the same day for something less urgent (and I live out in the sticks).

The charge per visit may be a bit more, but the service I receive is well worth it.
 
PolarExpress said:
Are these the same experienced people who insisted you hunt your horse even though it was lame/not right and unfit?

P
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the horse was unfit, I agree, but I thought that this might make him more manageable which obviously turned out to be wrong. Well, at least I learned my lesson and I won't be doing that again. It didn't do the horse any harm so there's no big issue about it. He was perfectly sound, and still is so that wasn't a problem :)
 
Aoibhinn said:
Totally agree! I have completed all PC tests up to B standard and we had to learn ... 'when to call the vet' which included colic, fractures, severe lameness, azoturia, deep wounds possibly requiring stitches etc.

It is amazing to see that some people do not know how to put on a simple stable babdage.
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Some things truly are amazing!
 
Aoibhinn said:
My farrier has looked her over and said it is most likely a mild ligament or tendon injuring. I have been hosing the leg for 20 minutes 5 times a day and bandaging it with the clay at night. Thankfully, this has been working.

I am not going to ride her until I am 100% sure that she is sound.
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lhotse said:
Your farrier is not qualified to diagnose a tendon injury, and I believe he could actually get in trouble for doing so. You need a vet to tell you what the damage is, tendons take a long time to heal, often appearing to be 'better' when they are not. If you don't want to ruin this pony, then get the vet.
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ihotse is right. A suspected tendon or ligament injury should be scanned by a vet, to assess the level of damage. The horse will go sound long before healing is complete, and if you start working her too early she could break down completely.
 
Tiddlypom said:
ihotse is right. A suspected tendon or ligament injury should be scanned by a vet, to assess the level of damage. The horse will go sound long before healing is complete, and if you start working her too early she could break down completely.
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I think I might get her scanned by a vet to be completely sure. The only problem will be trying to convince dad. He is sure I am over reacting and has asked me if I'll be hunting Sunday. Which I definitely will not be doing!
 
Tell your Dad for the sake of a vet visit, scan and vet advice for the tendon/ligament now could save 20 vet visits, box rest, controlled turnout, medication, bandaging that might even need Robert Jones, other complications such as colic/laminitis and up to 18 months recovery before a 12 week fittening programme before she can go hunting again.
 
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Aoibhinn said:
My farrier has looked her over and said it is most likely a mild ligament or tendon injuring. I have been hosing the leg for 20 minutes 5 times a day and bandaging it with the clay at night. Thankfully, this has been working.

I am not going to ride her until I am 100% sure that she is sound. This pony has been amazing for me, she is possibly the best mannered, greatest pony I have ever come across. She is so obliging and would do anything you ask her. No way am I going to ruin her, she means too much to me.
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Is this the same farrier that told you to hunt your recently lame horse "as soon as possible". ???
 
Illusion100 said:
Tell your Dad for the sake of a vet visit, scan and vet advice for the tendon/ligament now could save 20 vet visits, box rest, controlled turnout, medication, bandaging that might even need Robert Jones, other complications such as colic/laminitis and up to 18 months recovery before a 12 week fittening programme before she can go hunting again.
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Yeah you're dead right! A vet visit now could save her from a year of recovery.
 
Aoibhinn said:
Haha the idea of that will have him racing her to the vets in no time! :D
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Wrapped in cotton wool! :D

Tell him your not over-reacting and getting this issue checked over by vet now could save a world of woe. Remind him you followed advice before with your other horse and it didn't work out so well, so to trust you on this one. Better safe than sorry with problems like this. A poor choice now could end her working life.

Horses are a different kettle of fish to livestock, they don't do well under the same management if you want them to do a job.

Let us know what vet says and I for one will have my fingers crossed that they give you good news. :)
 
It almost sounds like have started this thread to reassure yourself that you are doing the right thing by not getting the vet out for your pony who is lame and has a swollen leg.

I know it can be difficult if you are not the bill payer and have to convince your dad to get the vet out for your pony or to pay for any things you might need. My father used to dairy farm and cows tend to be much more disposable than horses. Yes many farmers can do procedures that are normally done by vets but if the cow does not make it it not such a big deal as it would be if the same thing happened to a horse for most horse owners. Most farmers can easily replace a cow and the job of a cow is very different to that of a horse and the emotional attachment people have with their horses tend to be different than that between a farmer and a cow.

If your horse is lame then it is likely it is feeling at least some degree of pain and may benefit from the some pain relief.

I would not consider a worried owner consulting with a vet if they think their horse has a health problem rather than waiting to see if it gets better or trying to treat it themselves, or checking they are doing the right thing, babying their horse.
 
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I don't think calling out the vet means you "baby" your horse- it just means you are concerned about their welfare... I'm not an expert on horse health so if there is a problem I consult my YM, and then my vet. Better safe than sorry. And frankly, I think the rise in vet treatments, physio, saddlers etc is a good thing! Horses are living longer, they are able to receive better treatment and that can only be a good thing. "Back in the day" a pony like my retired welsh boy would probably have been pts... as it is, he is alive and well and full of life.
 
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