Urgent Help Required

[HBST]

We have a horse who needs moving within a few days, completely out of our control and cannot leave horse on site. He is relatively unhandled and vet has recommended dart gun (after a lot of other options tried). We are in touch with a few vets who dart but most not in the area and too far to travel. Anyone know someone local to the South East area who darts?

 

[Star_Chaser]

could you try the local RSPCA?

 

[ruth83]

Will he eat from a bucket? Can you get him to eat something mixed with sedative? (If not already tried)

Do you have any wildlife parks near you? They will know of a vet who darts if this is really the only option.

 

[HBST]

Can't use ACP as he is intact. Dormosedan didn't touch the sides, could only get half in mouth.
Vet has said against injection as likely would shoot off and break needle causing us more problems and darting is best option this late in the day.
Local wildlife parks/zoos will only do in house. One has done outside once but only as was a loose cow in dangerous situation. All have been helpful and passed on details and several yet to call us back but it is really worrying me having so little time. I did not want this as his first move.

Really at breaking point with this. He is an incredible horse, truly one in a million but time is against us

 

[AmyMay]

I would speak to someone like the Horse Trust or Redwings, to see what advice and or help they can give you.

 

[Abacus]

Is there no chance at all of handling him over the next few days, working towards herding him into the lorry? I've never tried it and have no idea if it's actually possible.

How old is he, and how much (or little) handling has he had?

 

[HBST]

No chance with the handling. Herding not particularly an option, have tried lorry and trailer. Both with coaxing, feed, sedation, lunge lines. He thinks it through and hops his way out. If he was a panicker it would be easy!
He's very gentle and easy, but not enough time to take the next step in such a rush.

Very brief handling and daily scratches but nothing more. Brief handling stopped when owner got ill, has since passed away and he has basically been turned away whilst everything gets settled. Now we have a handful of days to move him off site.

5 others in similar situation and were all moved with relatively minor hassle, this one isn't going to happen as fast though.

Will contact RSPCA, Redwings and Horse Trust, thanks.

 

[SusieT]

Has he got a headcollar on?You probably need to get someone in with panels to guide him onto a box so he can't jump out.

 

[Mare Stare]

Can you borrow a wagon and a quiet horse off somebody?

He may load if he can see another horse, especially if he's been on his own a while.

 

[Dolcé]

Herding and travelling loose is probably the safest option you have, I know you said that cannot be done but it may be easier to work out a way to do that than anything else, having travelled wildies several times I wouldn't do it any other way. You need solid barriers that are too high for him to jump (or even attempt to jump), be wary of gates and such like as he is likely to try and may get legs caught. Can you get hold of some of the wire panels used by builders to make a sort of funnel narrowing down to the ramp. I hope you manage to find a solution and all goes safely.

 

[rockysmum]

I agree with herding, seen it done many times at our old yard.

Bottom line is you need a livestock transporter, not a posh horse transporter.

Ring your local bin end horse sale, they will know of someone.

Sounds dreadful but these guys know how to get them on a wagon with the least stress.

 

[PandorasJar]

,,,,

 

[HBST]

Herding not an option. We have used panels and lorry and trailer. Not novice at loading unhandled horses and we have loaded 5 other youngsters in this fashion (not without hitches but all okay) this week, this one is simply not playing ball. Our vet believed that the kindest way way to blow dart or dart gun and other vets agreed.

In the last couple of hours the response has been great. We now have a number of vets all assisting move and found a vet (and very well regarded one amongst our local vets) willing to blow dart. (All of the back of a couple of local vets who have been amazing).
Also National Trust allowance to herd onto their land if not moved in time to buy us a few more days. An overwhelming amount of people willing to help us in the professional community and on here.

Thank you all so much for your responses, truly appreciated.

 

[Star_Chaser]

Great the National Trust has stepped in if you need it. Hope you find a solution that works out.

 

[Littlelegs]

Didn't respond sooner as no useful suggestions, but pleased to hear you might have a solution.

 

[spike123]

Not sure where in the South East that you are but if you do have no joy finding a vet who will dart then give Montgomery Vets a ring on 01303 813756. The vet you need is Jane who is the vet for port lympne and howletts. I'm sure they will try their best to help. The vets is located near Ashford, Kent

 

[Patterdale]

With my sec D he was unhandled and totally wild.

We herded him into smaller paddock, drove the trailer against a fence. Then got 3 people and a 50ft roll of 6ft high insulation sheet.
We walked it across the field, squashed him up tight against the fence, and into the trailer.
Drove him home, backed trailer up to the cattle pens and put the ramp down and left him. 10 mind later he walked out into the cattle pens, where it was easy to herd him through the crush and put a headcollar on, then let him into a nice stable.
Stayed in for about 2 weeks being handled every day, by the end of which he was almost like a normal horse.

Whole operation took about an hour including travel time.
Maybe not the NH waybut quick, efficient and IMO low stress.

Good luck with yours

 

[NooNoo59]

Not sure where in the South East that you are but if you do have no joy finding a vet who will dart then give Montgomery Vets a ring on 01303 813756. The vet you need is Jane who is the vet for port lympne and howletts. I'm sure they will try their best to help. The vets is located near Ashford, Kent

Lovely practice, wouldnt go any where else for cats and dogs and jane is used to dealing with rhinos so horse should be easy!!

 

[spike123]

Lovely practice, wouldnt go any where else for cats and dogs and jane is used to dealing with rhinos so horse should be easy!!

I use them for my cats and dog too. Have also had them out to do routine jabs for the horses as well in the past as they are only up the road from me although I still use Milbourn for all other things equine related. I have been with Montgomery since not long after they opened and it's been lovely to watch the practise grow in that time. Brilliant vets and wouldn't consider anyone else either for my small animals. They also specialise in reptiles I gather which aparantly there are not many vets that do