Do you visit your horse in horsepital?

G

goodtimes

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 January 2012
Messages
296
Visit site
My lad is going in today to prep for surgery tomorrow. He will be home on Sunday at the earliest.

Does visiting them stress them out more or not?

He doesn't like change and takes a long time to settle at new yards.
 
we have always vistied ours a smuch as possible at least once a day (even tho it is a three hour drive both ways) i find this helps mine relax as at least one thing is staying the same
 
I've visited mine a few times a week when he's been at a rehab spa, he neighs every time I arrive and stares at me over his door when I leave :o

I take him out for a graze which he enjoys, so worth it for that imho. I was surprised at how quickly mine settles both at the vets (stayed over a few nights) and at the rehab yard :)
 
When my mare had emergency colic surgery the vets advised to wait a few days to see her. They were concerned about her and she didn't seam to be picking up. Once I went to see her she really picked up it was prob coincide but an glad I went
 
he was in for a month and I went at least every other day (plus his owner went other days too), it really cheered him up and meant he could go out for a good in hand graze and have a groom (the staff of course take care of standard stuff but this gave him 'fuss' time).
 
Yes, always, but they do settle very well, even grass kept ones seem quite ok. My mare doesn't cope with yard changes easily, but during a recent 5 nights in hospital, she was as good as gold.

Don't worry too much, I'm sure he'll be fine. The standard of care in the three hospitals I've used have been excellent and the staff have been very caring.
Wish human hospitals could match their standards of hygiene and care.
 
No, I haven't so far. Ive only ever had two stay over at horsepital.
One wouldnt have cared if I was there or not, I didn't really expect her to be coming home and said my goodbyes before leaving her, the other is perfectly happy to be left anywhere that feeds her such yummy haylage. She's perfectly relaxed about it all so she doesnt need me there.
 
He is having surgery on his stifle, so I doubt I can take him for a walk. He really is a mummy's boy so was just worried it would upset him when I left...and upset me too!
 
I have always visited mine when they've been in, every day. Sometimes i think it was more for my benifit than theirs, but my mare was definitely very pleased to see me. :)
 
I always do, not necessarily every day but every other day.

The first day he is quite excited to see me and a bit clingy but after that he's not bothered. He is a mummy's boy but on full livery so he is used to be handled by other people as well as me.

Come to think of it when he went off for rehab for a few months he was the same. Big fuss the first time then accepted my comings and goings.
 
Thinking about this some more, I suppose Im quite relaxed about my horses being away from home, and they are relaxed about being away, as I and they are quite used to it. There are 3 away at stud now, all been away a while, two 3/4 hours away and one in Ireland. Theyre all doing fine there and Im not worried about them.

If I had a horse in horsepital (baring the one I wasnt expecting to make it) and they were 'ok' but not settling I would have to make a decision whether me going visiting would unsettle them further and cause more stress to the horse, or if it would calm them down to know I was still around. I wouldnt visit just for myself.
 
Mine was in horsepital for a month. I wasn’t allowed to see him for a couple of days after his operation but was there as soon as I could be (120 mile round trip). He was standing in the corner of his stable when I first walked in the stable block looking very sorry for himself but his little face lit up as soon as I called his name and he looked much brighter.

I went every Saturday and Sunday, it definitely helped me to go and see him and I think it helped him too.
 
My horse spent 10 weeks at the vets with a fractured leg.

Myself and/or his other mum visited him every day. When he was first admitted we both went every day (sometimes twice a day) - mainly because we didn't think he was going to get better and just wanted to spend time with him.

As the weeks progressed we would make sure one of us went to see him. Quite often we would both go some days. He was cross tied so we used to just go and change his rugs, give him a groom / massage etc. Sometimes I used to just sit in his stable and chat to him.

I don't think he would have been that bothered if we went or not to be honest. He was so poorly that he was checked on every half hour and they were always coming and taking blood, checking things, doing his bandages etc that he never had chance to get bored!
 
I've had mine stay for up to a week before. Sometimes I've gone done once to pat and carrot, but fitting visiting around work, and paying for diesel its much easier to just wait to go to pick them up. I've always had lovely nurses who have rung me daily though.
 
Mine was in for two weeks recently and due to the visiting hours could only visit at weekends. Knew she was in the best possible place with the best care so didn't stress myself about it but enjoyed the break from mucking out!
 
I practically moved in when my horse was in having surgery, he was ill afterwards so I wouldn't leave him. Even the vets commented that he was calm in my presence. But then he is a big woolly woofter pansy pants!
 
I have visited one of mine but when they are very poorly and on drips and things there isn't alot you can do for them and I think you have to be careful that you don't get upset seeming them like that and that can in turn upset the horse.
 
Mine was in horse hospital for two weeks folowing surgery and I visited her every day and walked her out in hand to eat some grass next to the car park. She loved it in horse hospital as she saw so many different horses. I must admit I also found it very interesting seeing all the horses coming and going and I also got the opportunity of chatting to the different vets as she was eating grass in hand.
 
My mare wasn't in 'horsepital' but she did go to a hydrotherapy unit for 3 weeks. It was a while away but I managed to visit her once a week and give her lots of cuddles. If the place was closer I would have gone there daily. If I were you I'd go and visit :)
 
Just got back from taking him to horsepital. He gave me such a sad look as I was leaving.

He is having investigative surgery tomorrow. If they find something they can't fix then he will not be woken up.
 
Ours was in horsepital for 7 weeks with a fractured Tibia.
Due to work and visiting hours could only go at weekends and as he was crosstied some of the time could only groom and spoil him. He was slightly sedated so although I think he enjoyed seeing us he was always being checked on and spoilt by the staff and having various massages and treatments throughout the day. I dont think he had time to miss us or get bored and I dont think he was upset when we left.
 
I'll keep everything crossed for you both that it's good news then. My lad went in last week for a couple of nights after a colic episode but thankfully didn't need surgery because I couldn't have put him through it, but I did visit him both days as he's used to me being around and I could make a fuss of him whereas the staff have so much other stuff to do.

Really hope your boy is ok xx
 
Have to say once he knew I was still around, think mine would have been happy to stay as the rvc have entire herds of vet students and equine techs pandering to his every need and as a regular he is quite popular there.
 
My big horse was never one for neighing to me, he was always very quiet, but the day my friend had to drive him to Langford veterinary hospital, he neighed as soon as the horsebox stopped. As soon as I spoke to him, he quietened. He was there for four days. I visited him after two days and he seemed very pleased to see me and have lots of cuddles and fuss (although the nurses were looking after him beautifully). That was the last time I ever saw him. He had sub-acute grass sickness, although we didn't know that at the beginning, and was PTS on day four, following a sudden and rapid deterioration. I am so glad I went to visit him and he knew I hadn't abandoned him. I am not criticising anyone who could not or would not visit their horse in horsepital - sometimes it's not possible or practical - but I would always visit mine if I could. I hope all goes well for your horse tomorrow. xx
 
I didnt
Roo went to newmarket for a week, 3 hour drive away.
I didnt know that visiting was an option, and I dont think Id have coped if I'd seen her with a drip and feeling poorly straight after surgery
I couldnt say goodbye to her because Id have cried and upset her, so I just made sure she settled and then walked away and let them do their job.
That week was the worst of my life, missed her so much and didnt know what to do with myself
 
Just thought I would update.

I went to visit him twice, and both times he box walked for a while after I left and became quite unsettled according to the vet, so I am not going again until I go to pick him up.

He is not being a very good patient. Won't eat his hard feed with bute and is very grumpy with the nurses.

Roll on tomorrow when he can come home.

The op went went though and they are pleased with his recovery.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top