Vets and Helmets

[Gamebird]

What would you think if your vet turned up wearing a helmet? Standard policy. Not because they thought your horse was a liability or because they felt it was a potentially dangerous situation, but for every single procedure, from a vaccine upwards?

 

[cauda equina]

I'd think fair enough
Surely any interaction with a horse is a potentially dangerous situation?

 

[EternalVetBills]

I'd think that they were pretty sensible TBH. I'm a freelance groom myself and often think about how mad it is of me to go out to all of these different horses and very, very rarely do I wear my hat unless I'm riding.
One of my close friends was killed by a horse she was clipping for someone else not so long ago. She'd never been out to that horse before and had been told he was absolutely fine, only to find out later that he kicked something dreadful when you went under his belly!
I definitely think it should be more common place to wear hats around horses, especially ones we don't know well.

 

[Peglo]

I had a vet out to see my horse and when I said she was a thoroughbred she went to the car to get her helmet. As it turned out Flo was always impeccably well behaved for the vet. But she was the first one I’ve had out that I’ve seen wear one.
eta I didn’t judge. It is sensible. Much more sensible than I am.

 

[SilverLinings]

I'd think that was fairly sensible as they presumably don't know every horse they see, and even though some horses are very calm and sensible they are all unpredictable animals at the end of the day. I would expect that no vet wants to be off work due to injury, or to potentially end up with a life-changing head injury. My vets don't wear hats, but I would have no problem if they started doing so.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The routine wearing of crash hats by equine vets when handling horses is well overdue.

 

[AntiPuck]

I'd think they were smarter than most.

 

[ycbm]

The only noticeable hat damage I've ever had was from a horse who reared and struck me on the head with a foot, quite deliberately. I'd say the vet was very sensible. And nobody knows whether that vet is on blood thinners or has a head injury or some other reason why it makes it essential for them to wear a hat.
.

 

[Britestar]

I would be happy, as they are protecting themselves

 

[nagblagger]

I wouldn't have a problem, or even if the farrier wore one. I would have thought their insurance would have insisted on it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

And EDTs.

 

[irishdraft]

A large very well known equine clinic near me has implemented this policy for all of their vets x

 

[Flame_]

Honestly, if I didn't know them I might be a bit like "Oh God are they a muppet?" If they came in, did the job and said smart stuff, I'd think "fair dos, they're very safety conscious", if they said muppety stuff or took half an hour to manage to do a jab, I'd consider the first impression apprehension correct, IYSWIM?

The worst equine related head injury I've had was clipping, not riding, tbf.

 

[dottylottie]

honestly, i don’t think it would even register they were wearing one right away - wearing a hat whilst around horses wouldn’t strike me as odd at all.

now that i’m thinking about it, im questioning why i haven’t ever seen a vet wearing one.

 

[[153312]]

absolutely fair enough. If anyone wanted to wear a helmet around my horses (EDT, vet, farrier, even just a friend who'd come to see them) I'd think fair enough - it's their head after all!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Our vets all wear crash hats as at beginning of last year, it started with doing dental work or checks, easier to have torch attached to it.

 

[Burnerbee]

Watching trainers, behaviourists, farriers, physios etc not wear a hat around horses, especially ones they don’t know, makes me wonder if they appreciate life enough.

 

[NinjaPony]

I’d feel much more comfortable about the poor vet having to dodge my pony’s back legs!! Sounds very sensible to me.

 

[Rowreach]

I'd be delighted if they did.

 

[Orangehorse]

A EDT was killed when the horse they were treating, and wearing the metal brace, swung his head round and gave the person a broken skull.

I would have thought that head injuries are rarer than broken bones, but I would think it a sensible policy.

 

[millitiger]

Makes sense to me.
You wonder logically why all professionals, dealing with strange horses, didn't start doing it years ago.

 

[Cortez]

You don't want to know what I'd think, but suffice to say it wouldn't chime with everyone else on here.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Our vets have worn helmets for a long time. I'm not sure if it's because they often have students with them and are setting a sensible example?

 

[HashRouge]

Pretty sensible, I'd say. My vet did go and put a hat on before she tried to take a swab of my mare's cellulitis, but she was very reactive when it was touched so I'd say that was a very good idea.

 

[twiggy2]

No problem, would bother me if anyone attending a horse wore any form of protective clothing

 

[SEL]

Had that chat with a vet a while back. They said their worst near miss was a Shetland who went vertical and clipped the side of her head. She said that had made her think but usually if a horse is looking like it's going to cause a problem it gets sedated.

Wouldn't bother me but I do try and keep the vet safe!

 

[Dexter]

I'd probably feel a bit embarrassed that I hadn't thought to put mine on. We all tend to be a bit lax, but look at the comments about people dying just on this thread alone.

 

[Sandstone1]

I would think its their head their choice. I wouldnt have a problem with it.

 

[oldie48]

No problem tbh I think we are all a bit cavalier when it comes to being around horses. I'm on blood thinners and having seen how much I bleed even with the slightest scratch, I try to look after my head!

 

[tristar]

i think vets should wear helmets and gloves around horses

if you are thinking about wearing one i would admire your sense, and initiative after all it only takes one horse to knock you up the wall to crack your head.

someone has to start the trend