Hunt/knackerman numbers - just curious, don't worry!

Shantara

Shantara

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Firstly, don't worry guys!! Ned was in fine health when I saw him an hour ago :) he's not going anywhere yet!

Though, as I was reading a sad thread about someone who sadly lost their horse, I realised I don't actually have any numbers of people who could come out and deal with him if there was an accident.
It's a horrible thing to think of, but I'd like to be prepared.

So, if anyone has any useful numbers for that sort of thing in the Milton Keynes area? Many thanks.
 
Chan, well done for putting on here what some may only think of.

I'm one of those who keeps such contact numbers pinned in my yard on a laminated A4 sheet (in the feed shed) which has everything in the way of phone numbers from trusted friends if am away, to farrier, vets, fence menders, farmer, knackerman (x3) Hunt and farriers etc.
Also, on a different sheet is the details of each horse currently on the yard - name, height, sex, DoB, if on any regular medication, allergies and their owner contacts as well as Farrier details & preferred vet.

To answer your question, your vet would be a good starting place as they usually will have numbers for emergencies.
 
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The Fuzzy Furry said:
Chan, well done for putting on here what some may only think of.

I'm one of those who keeps such contact numbers pinned in my yard on a laminated A4 sheet (in the feed shed) which has everything in the way of phone numbers from trusted friends if am away, to farrier, vets, fence menders, farmer, knackerman (x3) Hunt and farriers etc.
Also, on a different sheet is the details of each horse currently on the yard - name, height, sex, DoB, if on any regular medication, allergies and their owner contacts as well as Farrier details & preferred vet.

To answr your question, your vet would be a good starting place as they usually will have numbers for emergencies.
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That's a great idea! I know there's a sheet with all the owners numbers, but I will admit I haven't had a real look around to see if there's any vet etc numbers about.
 
I have a knackerman's business card in my purse at all times, he does emergency livestock work so useful to have his number to hand.
 
We had a couple of guys come to do two horses at my old yard. I completely forgot to ask for their numbers, as I was so upset (had known the horses for years) and I regret not getting it! They were so kind and gentle.
 
I'm in Bicester so not far from you, I use The Grafton Equine Bereavement Service.
I can vouch for them they are excellent, I have been there while Mick has shot 2 horses (one my own & one for a friend who couldn't face it), he has also picked up several horses from my yard who were put down by injection. He a nice guy who I can't fault.
Website www.equinebereavementservices
Phone 07710 694338
Good idea to be prepared, hopefully you won't be needing it anytime soon. But if you keep your horse for life it's sadly inevitable that you will be needing it at some time.
 
turkana said:
I'm in Bicester so not far from you, I use The Grafton Equine Bereavement Service.
I can vouch for them they are excellent, I have been there while Mick has shot 2 horses (one my own & one for a friend who couldn't face it), he has also picked up several horses from my yard who were put down by injection. He a nice guy who I can't fault.
Website www.equinebereavementservices
Phone 07710 694338
Good idea to be prepared, hopefully you won't be needing it anytime soon. But if you keep your horse for life it's sadly inevitable that you will be needing it at some time.
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Brilliant! Thank you so much. I really hope I won't need it any time soon, like you say, but who knows! I would rather be prepared than have to frantically try and find someone if he was in pain
 
Hi, sensible to be prepared, for Hunt details go to the MFHA website and look for your local hunt, just be aware that not all provide a fallen stock service so you need to check.
 
Chan said:
Brilliant! Thank you so much. I really hope I won't need it any time soon, like you say, but who knows! I would rather be prepared than have to frantically try and find someone if he was in pain
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Quite right - it's hard to think straight if you're in a panic, so having the numbers to hand will make things a bit easier at the time; he came out & shot my horse who had a twisted gut, he was so gentle & kind with her. He was also very nice to my friend's horse who he also shot. I stayed with them both at the end so I've seen him doing his job very well.
Just a tip, think hard about if you want to be there for your horse to be loaded into the truck, I always stay with my horses to be put down but leave before they're taken away.
Although I have been there when other people's horses are loaded which I don't mind but doing with it my own is a step too far for me.
 
turkana said:
Quite right - it's hard to think straight if you're in a panic, so having the numbers to hand will make things a bit easier at the time; he came out & shot my horse who had a twisted gut, he was so gentle & kind with her. He was also very nice to my friend's horse who he also shot. I stayed with them both at the end so I've seen him doing his job very well.
Just a tip, think hard about if you want to be there for your horse to be loaded into the truck, I always stay with my horses to be put down but leave before they're taken away.
Although I have been there when other people's horses are loaded which I don't mind but doing with it my own is a step too far for me.
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I think I want to be there. I managed to hold it together long enough for the dog and the two horses who I saw PTS. I completely lost it when the cat went, but that was my first experience of such a thing, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
By loaded into the truck, do you mean after the deed is done? I must admit I didn't watch that bit, they advised us against it but I saw them both done.
 
Grafton Hunt do an excellent job, their number is on the pin board at our little yard. He has done 4 in the 6 years I have been there including 1 for me :( Very very professional, very good horseman and tbh that is everything you need when the time comes.
 
Just been reading the website and it made me tear up! Not because I'm worried about Ned, but just because he seems like such a nice man! I hope I won't need him for a while, but I now know I want him when the time comes.
Thanks :) this website has been so much help over the past few years, goodness knows what I'd do without it!
 
Chan said:
By loaded into the truck, do you mean after the deed is done? I must admit I didn't watch that bit, they advised us against it but I saw them both done.
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Yes, the body is normally winched in to a truck or occasionally if a low loader is being used it may be that a bucket on a tractor is used to move the horse from where it fell on to the trailer. It is not the most dignified exercise to witness happening to a loved horse.

The hunt are however normally brilliant at providing such a service and understand totally; I always say up front what I am going to do (hold the horse), when I am going to walk away etc etc.
 
gunnergundog said:
Yes, the body is normally winched in to a truck or occasionally if a low loader is being used it may be that a bucket on a tractor is used to move the horse from where it fell on to the trailer. It is not the most dignified exercise to witness happening to a loved horse.

The hunt are however normally brilliant at providing such a service and understand totally; I always say up front what I am going to do (hold the horse), when I am going to walk away etc etc.
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Ah yes, I don't think I want to see that.
I'm a bit of a worrier, so have played it through in my head several times and I think I want to be there as the deed is done...say goodbye and be out of the way while he's loaded onto the truck and then see the truck off.
 
I have stayed whilst they did 2 horses, both belonging to friends. Held them, stayed whilst they were winched on to the truck and made sure everything was tidy afterwards before friend came back on to the yard. Didnt find it at all distressing..,however when it came to my own I just couldnt do it. I had planned to but when the huntsman arrived I bottled it. I just couldnt watch my lovely boy hit the ground for the last time so I gave him a final pat and a whole packet of polos then gave the lead rein to the chap and went inside until he left. He was very understanding, obviously used to emotional women running off at the last moment :)
 
Chan - Thanks for starting this thread. I'm in the same area as you and have 3 veterans one of whom has cushings and has been unwell. Every time the vet comes out I steel myself to ask about what numbers I should have to hand for when the time comes, but I can't bring myself to say the words. :(

I will have mine PTS by the vet but I do need to think about who to call to have them removed. Very hard to think about, but very necessary.
 
southerncomfort said:
Chan - Thanks for starting this thread. I'm in the same area as you and have 3 veterans one of whom has cushings and has been unwell. Every time the vet comes out I steel myself to ask about what numbers I should have to hand for when the time comes, but I can't bring myself to say the words. :(

I will have mine PTS by the vet but I do need to think about who to call to have them removed. Very hard to think about, but very necessary.
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It's such a horrid thing to think about. We lost the dog in the summer and I was working away from home. Every day I called home asking if she was ok and still with us and weirdly, my heart sank when my parents said "Yea, she's still here" Because it meant we were probably going to have to PTS instead of her passing peacefully in her sleep.
Sadly, we did have to call the vet in the end and it all went as well as it could, but I had never thought about having to call someone as my parents dealt with everything. Ned is 100% mine though, so they can't really do anything like that for him.

I can actually deal with death, but like you say, it's having to make the call and think about everything that goes with it.
 
Just to add another personal recommendation to this excellent thread, Holts are based in Stanstead Abbotts in Herts and cover a wide area. Their number is 01920 870002. I used them because several friends sang their praises and because they were a bit cheaper (which may or may not be a consideration of course). They were happy to spend 40 minutes on the phone to me the day before going through everything and two lovely chaps came on the day and were prepared to work round whatever we had in mind. I had a large difficult gelding who was nervous of men but took to the chap instantly. They were so considerate, completely unhurried and utterly unobtrusive.
 
My vets (you know them!!) use Grafton - and make all the arrangements then invoice later on, which makes it a relatively stress free process. Olwen euthanised Lola by injection, then Grafton collected her. It was horrid, but they were very kind, calm and respectful
 
It never ceases to amaze me how many horse people do not have the knacker mans number to hand (not directing at you op!) - I have lost count of the times people call me for his number….

I suppose some people would assume their vet to be the first port of call, but if they were unavailable in an emergency, people need another option to hand, especially if the horse is suffering.
 
Auslander said:
My vets (you know them!!) use Grafton - and make all the arrangements then invoice later on, which makes it a relatively stress free process. Olwen euthanised Lola by injection, then Grafton collected her. It was horrid, but they were very kind, calm and respectful
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Stress free!!!! not in my case. They were rude atrocious and more never again horrid horrid experience. My mare deserved better than the service I got and I paid premium to have the best care.
 
I have our local animal crem number (act as knackerman) and the lcal hunt number in my phone, as does sister. I also think everyone should have the number to hand. I did suggest that our Riding Club have the knackerwoman come and do a talk, you would have thought I had suggested that she come and do a mass pts! Have had more than one person ring me for the number....
 
L&M said:
It never ceases to amaze me how many horse people do not have the knacker mans number to hand (not directing at you op!) - I have lost count of the times people call me for his number….
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Not at all, I was actually shocked at myself when I realised!

Thanks for the PM HGA-12, that's interesting to know :O
 
YorksG said:
I have our local animal crem number (act as knackerman) and the lcal hunt number in my phone, as does sister. I also think everyone should have the number to hand. I did suggest that our Riding Club have the knackerwoman come and do a talk, you would have thought I had suggested that she come and do a mass pts! Have had more than one person ring me for the number....
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That's a brilliant idea! I think more people (including me) should be more clued up on PTS and everything that goes with it. Same with human death to be honest! If something happened to my family tomorrow, I literally wouldn't know what to do!
 
Chan said:
That's a brilliant idea! I think more people (including me) should be more clued up on PTS and everything that goes with it. Same with human death to be honest! If something happened to my family tomorrow, I literally wouldn't know what to do!
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Ithink you are right about human death too, and when you are bereaved is not the time to find out. It is worth making a list of what would need to be done (from cancelling credit cards to registering the death) and putting it somewhere safe, to hopefully not be used for a very long time.
 
HGA-12 said:
Stress free!!!! not in my case. They were rude atrocious and more never again horrid horrid experience. My mare deserved better than the service I got and I paid premium to have the best care.
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I'm not speaking about your experience. I am speaking about mine. I used them recently and they were quick, kind and empathetic in a distressing situation. I woudn't have recommended them otherwise
 
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