Horse ownership and working

[SO1]

In the last 3 weeks I have had to take emergency leave at the last moment 6 times due to vet related issues.

I have had my pony for 15 years and half of that time have been on part livery which takes care of most non emergency vet visits which can be scheduled in their working day.

The problem I have had is recently is due to reoccurring colic which means me having to leave work or if I have been up all night on colic watch every hour and then most of the next day unable to work.

Work have been understanding as in this situation he may have had to be PTS. The week in hospital when things were uncertain meant that I took 2 afternoons as leave in order to visit in case he did not make it.

Long term this rushing off at short notice due to emergency vets and colic is not going to be viable. It also means at the moment I am scheduling meetings where possible to end at 3pm in case he colics and I need to leave work to cover yard staff who normally leave at 5pm. I work in London and it can take me nearly two hours to get to the yard from work.

Thank goodness they can cover emergencies that happen during the day I am not sure how I would accommodate them if on DIY.

I actually wonder if horse ownership is compatible with work. To be able be committed to your horse if unwell you have to be to get them during working hours and not all employers are flexible. What happens if you are working away from home and are far away? Sometimes I travel for business and it would take me 6 hours or more to get to the yard in an emergency.

These recent spate of colics has been incredibly stressful in that not exactly sure what is going on, very costly in terms of diagnostics and treatments and also the worry of having to leave work early in case the colic is so bad it is pts and I don't think it is fair to yard staff to have to deal with them.

At the moment I feel I can't really relax as I am so worried he will colic and I can't organise anything that finishes after 3pm or at the weekends in case I need to rush to the yard. If I am on part livery and it is like this I don't know how people on DIY cope.

Pony is on special diet now pending further investigation with no hay and has to be feed soaked chaff at 6.45 1.45 4.20 and 10pm. Also has to have sucralfate 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner and only get turnout for 6/7 hours with muzzle on. There is no way I could manage this without the support of the YO and staff.

There is chance my pony will have to be PTS in the next few weeks if the colic turns out to be due to delayed gastric emptying. The gastric impaction was flushed out he had a week in hospital and the vets don't know if it will return will rescope at the end of the month.

He also coliced on Thursday but the vet thinks that was because he got his muzzle off for 30 minutes and over ate as that resolved with a shot of buscapan within 5 minutes he went from so bad they were saying hospital to absolutely fine and perky.

If I do lose him in the next few months and I hope that I don't I won't get another as I don't think it would be fair because of work commitments and also my elderly parents need help which is mainly falling to my sister as I can't leave pony at weekends at the moment due to colic risk and special diet.

 

[milliepops]

sorry you're still going through this with your pony. i hope he is better soon.

tbh this is why i have stayed in the job i am in for the last 10 years and probably will stay another decade. it's by no means my dream job and i could probably earn much more if i moved about but i am pretty much 100% home based and my role is super flexible. i've spent hours working at the yard tethered on my phone when my horse was having ulcer treatment and needed meds at awkward hours. I worked really odd times when i was on foaling watch. I completely choose my job based on how it fits around my horses as that's the priority for me.
It has worked around my parents this year too who have both been unwell.

previously i had a normal office based job with a long commute and relied on friends or YO to help in an emergency, i found if you're really down a hole people will step up and help you out... works both ways of course. otherwise as you say full livery is probably sensible.

 

[sjdress]

Yes tough when on DIY. I work a normal 9-5 admin job in the NHS so not much flexibility or home working. however my manager is very understanding of last minute leave requests but it does mean I use most of my leave for horse apts.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I've not had to leave work for horse emergencies but when my old dog was ill in 2012 I had to take several half days to get her to the vet.

I've always been DIY (16 years). If there was an emergency my best friend or fiance would be able to help out - same as I would for her.
This year may be rougher as my horse may not be allowed hay or haylage so will need feeds spreading out over winter. I'm saving as much grass as possible for her to try and reduce that.

 

[ester]

On DIY I've always had pretty flexible employers (which works both ways I'll help them out too) who get that stuff happens that needs dealing with.

For the most part my pets have been a lot less disruptive to work than people's children

 

[Holsaskew]

I was on a yard with a fantastic group of friends where we have all helped with our fair share of colic watches and vet calls. This was part livery with yard staff on site 8-4, over covid the situation changed and we only had staff at the start and end of the day. TBH it always made me nervous having seen a fair amount of field injuries and escapees that benefit from someone being onsite.

I'm now on full livery where the yard owner lives on site. Currently dealing with suspected peritonitis and honestly worth it's weight in gold to be able to monitor him throughout the day. I know I'm fortunate to be on the full livery situation but I don't think I would have horses not with someone on site now if I didn't have a core group of trusted friends.

Also helps I have a horsey boss who completely understands if you need to go on poop watch ?

 

[Sossigpoker]

Employers should understand that employees have lives outside of work, whether that involves, kids, horses, dogs or anything else. And that emergencies happen.
As such I don't agree that any kind of care responsibility is incompatible with work.
I'm sorry you're going through this . I'm sure your work will be understanding as long as you keep them up dated on what's going on.

 

[twobearsarthur]

I have a job where me being in the building is a legal requirement as the only nurse there I can’t leave until another nurse takes over from me. So I have my boy on full livery due to this, getting another nurse is as likely as getting a unicorn to cover for me. TBH work being compatible with having a horse isn’t something I’ve even considered as I’ve always been a nurse and had to work all aspects of my life around my work responsibilities. I’ve been lucky to have always been on yards where the owner is on site and would deal with emergencies as and when they occurred, when I did have a husband he’s a paramedic. So again he couldn’t stand in for me in emergencies either.

 

[Auslander]

NOt exactly what you were asking, but the thing that jumped out at me was your yard not providing services after 5-pm, for a horse that is on part livery. Looking after/monitoring sick horses doesn't stop at the end of the working day, and I don't think it should be on you to have to leave work to provide that care when you're paying for your horse to be looked after 5/7 days a week.

 

[scruffyponies]

My working pattern changes a lot, but is consistently demanding and often far from home. I have been lucky over the years with horse emergencies, but would never have managed without the help of terrific friends, and my children, who have stepped in to fix fences, attend vet visits etc.

Alternatively, I would look for a freelancer who is prepared to step in on an occasional basis, if such a thing exists.

 

[meleeka]

When I worked full time I had healthy horses! Your current situation is extreme. It not usual that you are having to take so much time off work. You can always return the favour to your employer when you are able.

I think it works much better if there is a group of friends. I have my own field, but there are 3 owners nearby and we all help each other when needed. It’s usually me as I work from home, but I have plenty in the bank if I needed anything in return. My friend that works a standard 9-5 just saves holiday for vet visits and tries to plan things together so any days off include as much as possible.

 

[Goldenstar]

I had a lovely horse who suffered repeated bouts of colic ( it turned out he had tumours on his bowel which we after we put him down ).
I can’t remember how long we lived with it two years ish but for sure I could not have worked or had him on livery .
I could only go shopping when a freelance groom was there when things where at there worse .
The cost was also ruinous .
It was debilitating mentally and physically and financially he had every diagnostic money could buy numerous times .The best vets not only here but abroad as well tried to work out what was going on .
He presented with violent colic and at any point he would just stop and go oh I am fine now .
He broke a rib during one bout and in another shifted the stable building off its brick course, in between he was normal except we learned how we had to feed him.
In end a friend who was vet but not involved persuaded me that everyones health was suffering I could not sleep could not settle when he was in the field if I could see him ( he broke his rib in the field ) and was anxious when I left home which I never did for long .
He was one of the most lovely horses I have ever sat on , I still miss him .
In your case with this horse unless you can find the reason for the colics and deal with it I think you are going to struggle .
The last job I had was very close to home and I certainly would have had to PTS this horse if I had had a job .
I think it’s very hard for people to deal with issues with horses and work unless they are in a staff on site full livery situation .
Happily issues like this are rare but there’s no doubt it’s extremely difficult to manage when they do .I struggled and was was at home with the horse at home with good paid help .

 

[SO1]

The YO and staff cannot be 24 hours on call the cost would be extortionate to have someone on site available for energencies all the time.

The YO and staff have to be able to have a life and be able to go out in the evenings. He did colic on a Sunday evening and YO did come out and help when vet was here till 2.00am and I was needing to walk him through the night.

I have a very important work meeting on 21 July so I have booked YO to be available in the evening in case he colics and I cannot get there until after 5.

Weekends are different as staff not available all day so if you need something non standard such as catch in at a different time to normal you have to do that yourself.

They are running a part livery yard not a hospital with 24/7 wrap round care.

NOt exactly what you were asking, but the thing that jumped out at me was your yard not providing services after 5-pm, for a horse that is on part livery. Looking after/monitoring sick horses doesn't stop at the end of the working day, and I don't think it should be on you to have to leave work to provide that care when you're paying for your horse to be looked after 5/7 days a week.

 

[Goldenstar]

I agree with you SO1 a part livery situation can’t guarantee to produce staff to care in a situation like this .
Do you have friends who can step in when you have meetings that you have to commit to while you are in the stage of working out what’s going on .
This horrible thing to go through mine made me ill in the end .
Do you have any idea why it’s happening ?

 

[Auslander]

The YO and staff cannot be 24 hours on call the cost would be extortionate to have someone on site available for energencies all the time.

The YO and staff have to be able to have a life and be able to go out in the evenings. He did colic on a Sunday evening and YO did come out and help when vet was here till 2.00am and I was needing to walk him through the night.

I have a very important work meeting on 21 July so I have booked YO to be available in the evening in case he colics and I cannot get there until after 5.

Weekends are different as staff not available all day so if you need something non standard such as catch in at a different time to normal you have to do that yourself.

They are running a part livery yard not a hospital with 24/7 wrap round care.

I'm sorry - I didn;t intend to offend you. and I didn't mean for a second that there should be someone on the yard 24/7 just in case! However, I still think that the YO/staff should be taking care of a sick horse on part livery, even if it is after hours.
I inform my owners if a horse isn't well, and they can come up every hour through the night if they want to, but I feel that the responsibility for the horses in my care is mine, and mine alone.

 

[wiglet]

I used to be diy and work 8-4.30pm. My employer was not at all understanding if my horses were sick and needed care which meant me leaving work early. He would let me leave but it all came out of my holidays or was unpaid and came with a lot of grumbling from him. Occasionally he would let me work extra and make time up.

Another employer was lovely - his wife had horses and he totally got it. One morning I came into work having been up all night seeing to colicking horse and he sent me back home to get some rest. His wife also called me in afternoon to check how horse was doing. They were great.

I'm now self employed and on Full livery. It should take care of all appointments but unfortunately, a recent change of management at yard means I don't really trust them so I sort a lot of appointments myself.

A sick horse on diy can be difficult but, I also found there was a better community spirit on diy - everyone helped out and returned favours. Not sure if this goes for all diy yards - maybe I was just lucky.

 

[dorsetladette]

I have always made work work around my family and horses. At interview stage I make it very clear that I have responsibilities outside of work and my animals are very important to me. While the kids were at school I worked 9-3 and flexed to 7-1 in the holidays. And had my horses on a sole use private yard. Now the kids are grown I work more hours, but I still expect my role to be flexible to allow me to care for the animals. I don't go on long holidays, so my holiday entitlement is taken up with farrier and vet appointments or mid week competitions.

Location is also important. My current work is less than 5 mins from our field. I check/feed in a morning before work and I'm back straight after work again. We have cameras which I check during the day and we have 1 livery that is usually at the field for 1pm.

I think the key to making it work is flexibility. I often work on in an afternoon in needed or I'm in early for an early meeting. I take phone calls from the boss in an evening sometimes too. So I never feel I'm over stepping the mark when I say 'I'm leaving an hour early today to meet the farrier'

Your current situation is unusual and will hopefully settle very soon. If your a valued member of staff then your employer will be understanding. If they don't value you and aren't understanding it might be time to look for a different job where you are valued and the work place is nearer home/the yard.

Hope pony improves soon.

 

[NinjaPony]

Firstly, so sorry you are dealing with this, it must be incredibly stressful and upsetting for you. You are doing your best for him, really hope he pulls through.

IME, you either need to be DIY with only a short drive to the yard and flexible working hours, with wfh if possible, or on full livery (part but with extra available and preferably someone on site for late night checks when needed).

I’ve done both, I was at an amazing part/full livery yard when I was away at uni and they would deal with an emergency if I couldn’t get there. It wasn’t cheap but I could trust them to deal with problems and get the vet out/stay with the vet.

Now I’m on DIY with a flexible wfh job though with regular days out/office, and it’s hard work. I’m getting up extra early now my pony is on laminitis box rest, and have been known to go up at lunch time for eye drops etc. I’m lucky that the owner is horsey and very experienced and will help out if needed eg checks, holding him for the farrier, but it is largely me. If I didn’t live 15 mins away it would be extremely tricky.

ETA mine is retired, I’d really struggle keeping a ridden horse like this. End goal is to have one ridden horse on part livery so I can go up once a day and go on holiday without worrying!

 

[soloequestrian]

I would also say that this is less to do with work and more to do with being faced with a situation that would be horrible for anyone. Aside from the work issues and the cost you have a horse that is not having a nice time. You mention PTS several times, have you thought about going ahead without further investigation and attempts at treatment? I just had my very old horse PTS because he started having colics. They were short and not severe but he was very wobbly afterwards. It was miserable having him put down but the relief afterwards of not rushing out every hour to check that he was okay pretty much balanced out the grief and I feel I made the right decision for both him and me. He was at home and I have a flexible job so I didn't even have those complications. The horse doesn't know what's happening and doesn't suffer.

 

[Michen]

OP can’t help on the work stuff but set yourself a limit as to what you are prepared to tolerate and your pony.

It sounds miserable, for both of you, and if the vets aren’t able to get to the bottom of why he’s colicing so often I think you have some decisions to make within days rather than weeks.

Huge hugs. Xx

 

[Antw23uk]

What has happened recently that's cause this utterly miserable (for you both) situation, if you've had them 15 years and only your only recently getting this trouble then something is drastically wrong with either the horse or the place you keep him?.
I feel for you, it must be horrendous but there is no way i would be putting a horse or myself through this!

 

[Red-1]

I felt guilty when I had to take a week off for Rigs when he had colic. But...

For the most part my pets have been a lot less disruptive to work than people's children

This!!!

 

[SEL]

My job is full - but it's local and flexible so works around the horses.

I hope you get some answers with your horse soon. It's tough when they're sick no matter what livery package you're on

 

[spacefaer]

Deleted - wrong thread!

 

[spacefaer]

Deleted wrong thread!

 

[Michen]

Deleted wrong thread

 

[Michen]

[QUOTE="Michen, post: 14950371, member: 111431" So he bears down, I have to take a big half half to sit him back, then I’ve killed the canter before a fence. Or I don’t take the half halt and we end up in that flat fast canter.

without meaning to be facetious in any way - can you take a smaller half halt- somewhere between a big one and none at all?

And thinking about bitting, there are two obvious steps between a snaffle and a Waterford universal - either a Waterford snaffle, or a plain universal.... Is it worth trying either of those if the current competition bit is too strong ?

For me, SJ is all about the canter and not about the jumps. If you have a good canter - in balance and with the same rhythm throughout the course, the strides are there. If I ride for the stride, it'll rarely be there as the canter will be too inconsistent and I'll have been fiddling.

I count 1-5 in front of every fence - doesn't matter if I get to the fence on 2, I'm not going to hold for the 1 if it's not there, it just means I'm mentally aware of the rhythm and whether it's even or not.[/QUOTE]

Wrong thread

 

[SO1]

He is under vet supervision.

He has had a long period of no turnout due to tendonitis so originally we thought the colics were related to lack of turnout.

Box rest started July 2021 due to tendonitis. First colic 11 August thought due to lack of movement and hot weather he is not a big drinker.

Second colic 8 October 2021 still on box rest and no turnout with controlled walking. Vet thought possibly too hot and lack of movement so justed clipping and walking 3 times a day.

Third colic 15 May thought to have been change on to dry course hay from soaked hay and too hot not drinking. He had stopped eating soaked hay so had been having it dry for a few weeks. Was having turnout in small paddock as still recovering from tendonitis. Vet said needs to be on soaked hay again changed hay to one he will eat soaked. (Three types of hay available at yard, very low sugar which he was on and then decided he would not eat soaked, normal which he swapped to after colic and eats fine soaked, and top quality hay which is for poor doers)

Fourth colic 12 June really bad this time vet out twice and walking throughout the night multiple tubing to get water in and buscapan and pain relief discussed surgery I said no as he is 20. This happened the first day of turnout after 3 days no turnout due to arthramid injections but as due to his on those 3 days he was allowed to come out for a walk 3 times a day and hand graze for 30 mins. Fine the next day.

As previous colics were all resolved with shot of buscapan and yet the last was was so bad decided need to do more investigations. He doesn't drink much.

Vet does bloods on Wednesday all ok. Decide to scope on Thurs for ulcers. Stomach still full after starvation bit weird but vet says sometimes happens comes back Wed pm Thus am and pm, Friday am and pm stomach still full despite starvation and tubing. Friday pm scan stomach nothing odd seen. Tube with coke Sat morning stomach still full admitted to hospital as vet worried stomach may rupture obviously something not normal going on and needs to be flushed and tubed more often.

Agree if stomach not empty by Wed will probably have to PTS as at 20 too old for operation. Vets finally managed to empty stomach on Tuesday morning. Find a glandular ulcer and stomach very stretched due to gastric impaction.

No evidence of tumour and biopsy of stomach done pathology results come back clear of fungal and bacterial infections but there is chronic inflammation.

Stays at hospital until Monday to reintroduce feed and turnout. Back home on Monday on no long stem forage diet for one month with rescope in 4 weeks and treatment of ulcer with sucralfate and omeprazole injections.

Vet has put him on very restricted diet for one month of 6/7 turnout on short grass with muzzle on as well as four meals of one scoop dengie mollasses free and pink mash soaked 4 times a day 6.45am 2.45pm 4.20pm 10pm (thankfully on part livery so fine to accommodate). YO had topped his small paddock half of which was rested as was strip grazing ready for return and I raked up and removed the toppings as he is not allowed to strip graze and we open it all up for him so he has more space for movement.

Also on Tues start him on lamigel to get some more fluid into him this is mixed in with lunch.

Fifth colic. Thurs get his muzzle off for 30 minutes (he is closely monitored so soon. Fine at 3.50 when having his sucralfate syringe but down with colic when they went to give dinner at 4.20 emergency vet arrives at 4.40 suggest he needs to go the clinic but cannot see anything on rectal. Shot of buscapan and within 15 minutes completely fine. Vet then changes mind thinks spasmodic due to grass. I arrive at 6pm and then monitor till 9.20 absolutely fine. YO checks at 10.35 as part of her late night check and he is fine.

Vet in contact with specialist as only 1% of colics are caused by gastric impaction and what we don't know is if it was caused by a problem with his stomach such as delayed gastric emptying or just a bad luck thing that will not happen again as long as he gets turnout and plenty of movement and drinks enough to not get dehydrated.

He also has a glandular ucler so we don't if that has also been a problem or for how long.

It is just a very rare thing and I am following vets advice. We have both agreed that if the scope shows he has delayed gastric emptying he will have to be PTS.

He has been at same yard for 8 years and we had orginally thought the two colics last year where linked to lack of turnout due to box.

Obviously this cannot go on indefinitely not fair on anyone and vet who is looking after this case is in almost daily contact with me or YO to monitor his progress even checking in on his days off.

 

[NinjaPony]

You are doing everything you can for him. He’s very lucky to have such a dedicated, caring owner.

For me, work always comes second to my pets (within reason!!). If your child was ill, you would be in the same situation work wise. Your life has to come first and he is a huge part of that so don’t feel guilty about making work move around to fit that.

 

[YoLaTango]

Agreed with comments about children. Haven’t had horse that long so can’t comment on that. But… the number of times I have left work early, not turned up at all, etc because of kids?! I’m lucky my employer is understanding, but I do think they all should be (if possible). I think I’m a better worker as I don’t have to worry about the consequences of being a good mother. And that goes for being a good horse owner too.