How do you cope with your equines when you are ill?

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Patchworkpony

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Planning to buy a couple of minis in the spring but we are not in the first flush of youth and no longer employ a groom as there would be nothing for them to do obviously. As I am currently nursing flu it has occurred to me that if we both got it badly at the same time it could be difficult to take care of the ponies properly. They will have a large outdoor shelter and a stable each however our animals have always had the best of everything so I am trying to come up with an emergency help idea. Horsy friends are too far away or busy with their own yards - I hate to impose. Any thoughts and ideas would be most welcome. How do you all cope if you are ill or injured?
 
You just have to suck it up and get on with it, unfortunately! Or pay someone to do them.
My lot don't suffer if they don't get quite the standard of care they're accustomed to for a few days - as long as they are fed, watered, and I cast an eye over them for injuries/illness. It's no fun heaving yourself out of bed when you're feeling dreadful, but it's part of the deal!
 
I make it easy-so ponies live out or can go out in larger/smaller paddocks as required. In 12 years I've only had 4 consecutive days (which was down to real flu) of not seeing them-and then OH checked them for me. Otherwise he pours me into a car/wheelbarrow to go and check on them myself. Likewise when I did my back in the summer.
I do suffer with migraines, so sometimes I need to just check on them and go. If they have food, water, shelter and company-they don't need much else other than a competent eye cast over them.
 
Auslander said:
You just have to suck it up and get on with it, unfortunately! Or pay someone to do them.
My lot don't suffer if they don't get quite the standard of care they're accustomed to for a few days - as long as they are fed, watered, and I cast an eye over them for injuries/illness. It's no fun heaving yourself out of bed when you're feeling dreadful, but it's part of the deal!
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Totally agree with what you say unless you have been severely injured (happened to me a few years ago) - I would willingly pay BUT who and where from? Are there emergency groom agencies - I don't think so.
 
We would have friends etc locally but this year mum has also got a freelancer to do one day a weeks so she gets a lie in that day, partly because it also means we have someone who knows the set up and the horses in case (and when they want to go on holiday). Otherwise if you have minis with a field and a field shelter they will be able to be pretty low maintenance if you need them to be, there are certainly days/weeks I have done the minimum.
 
If there are 2 of you hopefully you won't be ill at the same time, you could also look for a freelance in your area and approach them about if you wish to have days out, a holiday or just need them for sick cover

I have a freelance and she is now moving to Yorkshire, I shall really miss her as she is down to earth, practical, gets on with it and reliable
 
who and where from, you just need to ask around, my friends came up with three possibilities near to us and we opted for one of them. I am sure that they would help someone out at short notice too if they could fit it in (and it's easier when timing isn't too vital).
 
I would suggest you establish whether there is anyone local to you who could step in, should the situation arise for whatever reason. In the case of illness, I would say most people just crack on. I’ve been up to the yard to sort my horse with norovirus (he was very good and stood like a saint while I threw up in a hedge). It’s not pleasant, but not impossible.
 
I'm just recovering from flu and it really put me on my back for a couple of weeks. It came hours after a gout attack finally subsided after a good 7 days of excruciating pain in my foot leaving me unable to walk (you cant even put a sock on its so painful!) so a double wammy you could say. My horses are a minutes drive from home so between me and my none horsey husband (he knows one end from the other actually so is fairly good with them) we managed. You just suck it up and get on with it.

Carrier bag round my gouty foot and lots of waddling and swearing and threatening death to either horse who stepped out of line (they rarely do) they are out 24/7 and on hay and an evening feed so i just saw them less and got on with it. Two minis out 24/7 with access to a shelter .. I'd stay in bed and leave them a day, possibly two! There are lotions and potions out there now that make flu easier so just dose up and get on with it really!

Oh and get the flu jab, saves a lot of hassle!
 
Antw23uk said:
I'm just recovering from flu and it really put me on my back for a couple of weeks. It came hours after a gout attack finally subsided after a good 7 days of excruciating pain in my foot leaving me unable to walk (you cant even put a sock on its so painful!) so a double wammy you could say. My horses are a minutes drive from home so between me and my none horsey husband (he knows one end from the other actually so is fairly good with them) we managed. You just suck it up and get on with it.

Carrier bag round my gouty foot and lots of waddling and swearing and threatening death to either horse who stepped out of line (they rarely do) they are out 24/7 and on hay and an evening feed so i just saw them less and got on with it. Two minis out 24/7 with access to a shelter .. I'd stay in bed and leave them a day, possibly two! There are lotions and potions out there now that make flu easier so just dose up and get on with it really!

Oh and get the flu jab, saves a lot of hassle!
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Little bit of a sideline from your post you are about the fifth person this week I have heard has got Gout is it catching? Obviously not but it just seems so many in a short period ., Not belittling the pain in any way and I hope it is easing.
 
ester said:
We would have friends etc locally but this year mum has also got a freelancer to do one day a weeks so she gets a lie in that day, partly because it also means we have someone who knows the set up and the horses in case (and when they want to go on holiday). Otherwise if you have minis with a field and a field shelter they will be able to be pretty low maintenance if you need them to be, there are certainly days/weeks I have done the minimum.
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Thanks ester that's cheered me up! I always feel I have to be so b***** perfect when it comes to looking after my animals. OH says it won't hurt if they are mucky for a day or two - I guess he could be right.
 
Flicker said:
I would suggest you establish whether there is anyone local to you who could step in, should the situation arise for whatever reason. In the case of illness, I would say most people just crack on. I’ve been up to the yard to sort my horse with norovirus (he was very good and stood like a saint while I threw up in a hedge). It’s not pleasant, but not impossible.
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Gosh how horrid - you brave thing!
 
Antw23uk said:
I'm just recovering from flu and it really put me on my back for a couple of weeks. It came hours after a gout attack finally subsided after a good 7 days of excruciating pain in my foot leaving me unable to walk (you cant even put a sock on its so painful!) so a double wammy you could say. My horses are a minutes drive from home so between me and my none horsey husband (he knows one end from the other actually so is fairly good with them) we managed. You just suck it up and get on with it.

Carrier bag round my gouty foot and lots of waddling and swearing and threatening death to either horse who stepped out of line (they rarely do) they are out 24/7 and on hay and an evening feed so i just saw them less and got on with it. Two minis out 24/7 with access to a shelter .. I'd stay in bed and leave them a day, possibly two! There are lotions and potions out there now that make flu easier so just dose up and get on with it really!

Oh and get the flu jab, saves a lot of hassle!
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OMG - gout is absolutely vile. My OH has had it twice and it really is incapacitating. Hope you get better soon.
 
I get paid to look after people's horses for them: I advertised on facebook groups and through word of mouth mostly. I had about 6 job offers in 2 days :D I think people like the idea of semi-competent teen who isn't just looking to nab a cheap ride, which I wasn't.
When I'm ill I usually suck it up and just get on with it to be honest. But if I really can't (which touch wood has only happened once this year, for 2 days) my mum will do mine for me - and I do the same for her when she is working long days or unwell.
 
I have got minging tonsils and feel like poop today. Not riding but have been up this morning to turn out and do stable for tonight. I did nearly pass out after struggling through the mud as naughty horse was not feeling particularly empathetic with his poorly mum! Things get done albeit a lot slower than normal!!
 
Breaking a few ribs in April made me realise how important a support network was if you are a horse-owner with non-horsey BF like me - so I moved back from a DIY yard with one other person who would not help at all, to a yard where I know I can pay for my boy to be looked after in an emergency. It is worth a lot in peace of mind me for me
 
I actually feel a lot better if I go out so the ponies are an improvement on being in the house have never been good at being ill and going to bed. I guess being ill with d and v would be more of a problem as we have no loo and they are 10 minutes or so from home. When I broke my leg oh did them as he is perfectly capable but lacks confidence in his knowledge
 
Get to know freelance grooms, and use at least one on a regular basis.
I have just been laid up by doing my back in, and my daughter has just had an operation so is out of action too. OH is horsey but disabled, so makes life difficult but in absolutely worse case scenario, he would go up and check them, and throw hay at them etc.
I called one of the freelancers this week, and although I have still gone to the yard and done lighter Jobs,, I haven’t done the mucking out because of the back.
 
popsdosh said:
Little bit of a sideline from your post you are about the fifth person this week I have heard has got Gout is it catching? Obviously not but it just seems so many in a short period ., Not belittling the pain in any way and I hope it is easing.
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I was thinking the same - just had it myself! Oooooowch! 4 days sitting with my foot up, one day I could not even have fluffy real sheepskin slippers on, had dressing with fluffy cotton wool and looooooose bandage. I had never really heard of it before, now it seems to be popping up all over the place.

To OP, I have a couple of people in the village where i can help them if they are stuck and vice/versa. I still give a bottle of wine when we have had to make use of them, usually when OH and I were on emergency services shift work, and there was an emergency so despite not being on the same shift, neither of us could come home!

For illness I have details of a groom service, qualified and insured people who could come twice a day. If that failed a friend has a livery yard and in emergency could squeeze mine in.
 
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I do as little as possible. If I start to feel ill I get everything ready, nets, extra water buckets, feeds etc.
They then get turfed out in the hardstanding with their stables opened. Then I only need to quickly full buckets, throw hay out or nets up give feeds.. Poo picking waits!
Takes me about 5 minutes then I can crawl back to bed and die quietly.
 
I just have to carry on, but when I had flu and really couldn’t do anything, my husband took over. Failing that, I would have to pay someone to take over.
 
Lévrier;13697261 said:
Breaking a few ribs in April made me realise how important a support network was if you are a horse-owner with non-horsey BF like me - so I moved back from a DIY yard with one other person who would not help at all, to a yard where I know I can pay for my boy to be looked after in an emergency. It is worth a lot in peace of mind me for me
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I broke my collar bone in July and it was a godsend that my horse was on full livery already as I didn’t have the extra stress of extra cost either. I couldn’t cook for myself, letalone drive 10 Miles to do the Horse with one hand!
 
A lot of pet sitting firms have people on their books who are able to deal with horses. I would think your best plan would be to google the local ones, get in touch, explain you really only need to be able to call on them in an emergency or to cover holidays and see if they could help you. Minis at home can be made really easy if you are ill, as others have said, leave them to it for a few days, as long as they have food and water they will be fine. Ive just had 10 days with some flu like thing, all over Xmas and havent moved off the sofa for most of it. Fortunately I am at a small diy yard with a very longstanding friend who jumped in and took over my boy. Without her I would have been totally stuck but we both know we can rely on the other in a crisis, if ever we were ill at the same time, we would be stuck! It has made me seriously think whether I need to move to an assisted yard, just in case :(
 
Well, so far in my life I have looked after horses whilst suffering from: pneumonia; broken ankle; broken fingers (several, at different times); 'flu (many, many times); broken femur (from a wheelchair, later crutches); broken/dislocated jaw; mumps; general malaise....If necessary I will call for help, but that has been rare (mucking out from a wheelchair is possible, pushing a wheelbarrow is not). I usually just do what I can, which turns out to be quite a lot.
 
I have a friend who has horses just up the road who would step in or my OH can throw some hay in if I really couldn’t make it. They would be left out with stable doors open and probably waste more hay than they’d eat, but at least they wouldn’t go hungry and could be done once a day if necessary. I have pigs too but OH would be fine to do them as normal.
 
I have been ill this week with a heavy cold, temperature etc and I have just about managed to keep mine in a respectable state :) I think when you have to do something you find a way. I have felt a bit faint at times while mucking out but I just sit down for a min, wait for it to pass then carry on. Although it probably slows down the recovery a bit, I think some fresh air actually helps.

I do have a few freelancers near me who I could call on but I figured they would be ultra busy this time of year.
 
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