Vets and Helmets

[TRECtastic]

This is not my practice, but was one of the things that sparked the debate in our practice:
Facebook
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This is the vets I use , I've always been really happy with Ali and the team who have treated my horses and will absolutely be supporting them in this hat rule they have bought in

 

[Gamebird]

Interesting post. I too think it's a good idea that employers should protect their staff, however I don't think it's unreasonable to equate inexperience or lack of confidence with wearing a helmet on every occasion. It's prudent to introduce work practices that keep inexperienced workers safe and that means confident, time served professionals normalise the practice.
My question is, why now ? I've been wearing a helmet to ride since the 1960s and wearing a helmet on the ground in circumstances where a fresh or fearful horse might behave unpredictably. My experience tells me to be prudent because I'm able to read the horses body language and err on the side of caution.
It's undeniable that anxious or inexperienced workers, who can't read cues, need extra protection.

For me the 'why now' is because of a slew of recent injuries to colleagues in other practices making us more aware of the risks and because we now employ a number of younger vets who wore helmets all through their student years so think it is a normal practice for them.

I have been doing this for 25+ years, and do find most horses easier than my younger colleagues - I am probably better at behavioural clues - but I am also aware of the dangers of complacency. I think if we decide on helmets I will probably have to lead by example. It also will remove the accusation of inexperience!

 

[cauda equina]

Maybe 'why now' has as much to do with ineffectual owners as with inexperieced vets

 

[Nasicus]

Wouldn't judge them at all, I'm not going to think less of someone for keeping themselves safe. Horses are unpredictable, especially so when they're uncomfortable, in pain or scared. What kind of person sits there and thinks 'What, you're scared of getting a little head injury? Pfft, amateur!'

 

[chaps89]

It’s funny, reading this thread I’m wondering now why my (wonderful amazing and now retired) vet never wore a hat around Madam.
Madam had something along the lines of ‘do not try to inject this horse in its legs’ in bold, red and underlined on her vet records.
We did from time to time have to nerve block and/or medicate various bits and she was a devil, it wasn’t something we undertook lightly. Looking back now we were mad not to have PPE on!
I think the transition phase would be a bit odd, but I always try and choose a horsey vet who has/had their own to try and ensure they have some horse sense and wouldn’t judge them for wearing a hat in the slightest.

 

[sakura]

This is just another example of the linfluence of big corporates taking over vets. VetPartners were promoting this. I am not saying it is wrong but personally if a vet put a hat on to give a jab, I would question their experience, doing teeth I can see why this would be a good idea.

Why? One of my worst injuries was when picking up my mares hoof routinely before turn out. She suddenly pulled it and hit me in the forehead. God knows why, I don't know how it happened or who was in what position to make it happen, but it did. She was probably off balance and just sorting herself out, but if I'd been wearing a hat, it wouldn't have hurt me at all.

I still don't wear a hat on the ground because I am the lazy idiot.

 

[cauda equina]

I've been whacked on the head twice while picking bot eggs off the old boy's legs; absolutely no malice involved, I was just in the wrong place
More experience should mean I'm more likely to wear a helmet as I'm more aware of the possibilities

 

[southerncomfort]

This reminds me of the Parelli's aassertion that only someone scared of their horse would choose to wear a helmet while riding! ?

Horses are unpredictable and anything that keeps anyone working with horses safe from injury is a good thing, and rather than thinking badly of a vet wearing a helmet, I'd think they were very sensible.

 

[Skib]

Culture is a funny thing. We have watched polo at Cowdray Park for years. Players wore Polo helmets. 20 years ago grooms wore berets. Then a blond woman groom appeared and she wore a hard hat. Now anyone riding in the grounds must wear a hat and many of the Argentine grooms prefer to walk and lead the horses back to the pony lines.

 

[Fellewell]

Maybe 'why now' has as much to do with ineffectual owners as with inexperieced vets

Absolutely this.

You or I might have time to assess an unknown horse before we handle it. Unfortunately these days a lot of vets have to hit the ground running and don't have time for such luxuries. There should always be an attendant with the horse, preferably one who knows the horse who can keep a close eye on things and be ready to lift a leg sharpish if needed. And they should wear a hat too!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Do you know the more I read this thread the more I wish my lovely vet wore a helmet. I had never even thought about it much until this thread was started (great thread by the way OP), and it reminded me of the nasty cow related accident my old vet had. I am very fond of my present vet, he is a lovely young man (well he is the same age as my middle age sons but to me that is a young man?), and really knows what he is doing and goes the extra mile, I would hate for him to get a kick off any horse let alone one of mine.

Next time he is here I will ask his opinion on the whole thing, the more I think the more I am wondering why it hasn't already become a normal health and safety thing with all professional hands on farriers, vets, back people etc. ?‍

 

[ester]

Id be more why didn’t they do that before rather than why now…

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The vet who got her helmet when she found out my horse was a TB did not ooze confidence. She kept an arms length away most of the time. The helmet didn’t bother me but her demeanour around Flo, who was standing still and happy did raise an eyebrow. Fortunately Flo didn’t bat an eye at her.

See to me I would find that weird. Usually a tb is an exracer and are perfectly fine with vets because they have been used to them doing various things throughout their racing careers. I would far rather deal with a tb than a "spoilt normal horse".

 

[scruffyponies]

Depends on the horse.
One of mine has had it in for the vet ever since being gelded, and I am impressed by his professionalism that he agrees to treat the pony at all.

 

[TPO]

On the drive to work today I saw an incompetent novice on a motorbike. I could spot them a mile away because they were wearing a helmet. Clearly they shouldn't be on a bike. I mean he was a police bike rider, surely they should be experienced to not need to use safety wear.



As I looked around all I could see were drivers wearing seat belts. Clearly they lack the superior skills & experience needed to deal with the unexpected on the road. I lost all respect fo them, never mind confidence in their abilities.

What is this world coming to?? H&S gone mad...

 

[Peglo]

See to me I would find that weird. Usually a tb is an exracer and are perfectly fine with vets because they have been used to them doing various things throughout their racing careers. I would far rather deal with a tb than a "spoilt normal horse".

Flo was an ex racer and you’re right, she was brilliant with the vets most likely because of her racing days. You’re also right that my cousins 13.2 Welsh X thing would kick up a massive fuss and rear if she’d gotten the same treatment as Flo did. She thinks fly spray could kill her whereas Flo stood happily while a vet student clumsily gave her an injection. But it didn’t bother me if the vet wore a helmet but I was more surprised she was so cautious of her even after seeing how content the horse was being.

 

[Gamebird]

See to me I would find that weird. Usually a tb is an exracer and are perfectly fine with vets because they have been used to them doing various things throughout their racing careers. I would far rather deal with a tb than a "spoilt normal horse".

Indeed I have always said that if I die at work it will be a middle aged cob that does it, not a 3yo racehorse. I remember one day scoping a load of yearling colts going to the sales (no sedation allowed, just bloody good handlers) and feeling quite confident about the whole thing. My next job was to photograph and advise on the sarcoids on a middle aged cob. I could have done the job without even touching it - but I couldn't even get near enough to take a photo!! Handlers are everything.

 

[Tiddlypom]

There was huge opposition at the time to the introduction of the compulsory wearing of seatbelts. Many people convinced themselves that you were safer without one, as they believed that it was safer to be thrown clear of the car in the event of a crash ?.

My late Dad was at the forefront of the campaign to make them compulsory. As an eye surgeon, he often got to operate on the car crash victims who were thrown through the windscreen, assuming that they had survived the other trauma they had suffered being 'thrown clear'.

I still remember that, pre legislation, it was common for the driver to mock a passenger who belted up 'Don't you trust my driving, then?'.

 

[SEL]

There was huge opposition at the time to the introduction of the compulsory wearing of seatbelts. Many people convinced themselves that you were safer without one, as they believed that it was safer to be thrown clear of the car in the event of a crash ?.

My late Dad was at the forefront of the campaign to make them compulsory. As an eye surgeon, he often got to operate on the car crash victims who were thrown through the windscreen, assuming that they had survived the other trauma they had suffered being 'thrown clear'.

I still remember that, pre legislation, it was common for the driver to mock a passenger who belted up 'Don't you trust my driving, then?'.

My grandmother had the scars from going through a windscreen in her mid 30s. I can remember my dad moaning about the seatbelt law because his was broken and had to be fixed (although if that particular car had crashed I think it would have disintegrated around him - held together by rust)

Helmets in GP dressage were a rarity until Charlotte started wearing one and for the trot up too I believe

I've always warned vets that my big Appy will kick with intent if they try a flexion test but I've had a couple who still thought it was a good idea. So there they are leaning in to grab the back leg of a 620kg mare who they have already been warned knows a flexion test hurts and doesn't want them anywhere near her. None have ever gone and got a helmet despite the fact I'm usually wearing mine for any lameness eval with that particular horse.

 

[chaps89]

My grandmother had the scars from going through a windscreen in her mid 30s. I can remember my dad moaning about the seatbelt law because his was broken and had to be fixed (although if that particular car had crashed I think it would have disintegrated around him - held together by rust)

Helmets in GP dressage were a rarity until Charlotte started wearing one and for the trot up too I believe

I've always warned vets that my big Appy will kick with intent if they try a flexion test but I've had a couple who still thought it was a good idea. So there they are leaning in to grab the back leg of a 620kg mare who they have already been warned knows a flexion test hurts and doesn't want them anywhere near her. None have ever gone and got a helmet despite the fact I'm usually wearing mine for any lameness eval with that particular horse.

On your last point, I wonder how many vets currently would even have a hat on board?

 

[scats]

Let’s remember that sedated horses can be more dangerous than non-sedated.
I sent a 16hh ISH in for a scope. While heavily sedated, he suddenly went bolt upright and came down on a vets head, who promptly had a seizure. They were air ambulanced to hospital and thankfully they made a full recovery.
I was told me he went from heavily sedated and out for the count, to waving his front legs around out of nowhere in a second. The scope was cancelled and I was told he was too dangerous to ever attempt that procedure on again. Thank god the vet was ok.

Please don’t assume a sedated horse isn’t going to hurt you.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Please don’t assume a sedated horse isn’t going to hurt you.

Fully agree, and they can go from out sparko to full on fighting mode in microseconds, without giving out any of the usual pre warning signals.

 

[EternalVetBills]

My grandmother had the scars from going through a windscreen in her mid 30s. I can remember my dad moaning about the seatbelt law because his was broken and had to be fixed (although if that particular car had crashed I think it would have disintegrated around him - held together by rust)

Helmets in GP dressage were a rarity until Charlotte started wearing one and for the trot up too I believe

I've always warned vets that my big Appy will kick with intent if they try a flexion test but I've had a couple who still thought it was a good idea. So there they are leaning in to grab the back leg of a 620kg mare who they have already been warned knows a flexion test hurts and doesn't want them anywhere near her. None have ever gone and got a helmet despite the fact I'm usually wearing mine for any lameness eval with that particular horse.

My grandma also has scars from going through a windshield when she was younger. The road they crashed on is a road I use regularly, nearly 60 years later and still, if I'm giving her a lift, she will make me go the long way round to avoid it.

I was clipping for most of this morning, one of which was my mums little pony whom I know like the back of my hand; he almost clocked me in the face with his foot because I clipped through a scab that I hadn't seen! I nearly always wear my hat if I'm clipping one that I know is really bad, but it just goes to show how even our little perfect dobbins can be just as dangerous if you catch them at the wrong moment.

 

[ycbm]

Let’s remember that sedated horses can be more dangerous than non-sedated.
I sent a 16hh ISH in for a scope. While heavily sedated, he suddenly went bolt upright and came down on a vets head, who promptly had a seizure. They were air ambulanced to hospital and thankfully they made a full recovery.
I was told me he went from heavily sedated and out for the count, to waving his front legs around out of nowhere in a second. The scope was cancelled and I was told he was too dangerous to ever attempt that procedure on again. Thank god the vet was ok.

Please don’t assume a sedated horse isn’t going to hurt you.

And in the other direction, some breeds of horses are so easy to over sedate that they can fall right into/onto you and this is most likely of the big heavies.

I had to warn a vet twice to get rid of half the stuff in the syringe he was about to put in my cob in a confined space where he would get thrown into a wall if hit by him as he fell.
.

 

[OldNag]

Wouldn't bother me, and quite honestly I would think them very sensible.

 

[Auslander]

Indeed I have always said that if I die at work it will be a middle aged cob that does it, not a 3yo racehorse. I remember one day scoping a load of yearling colts going to the sales (no sedation allowed, just bloody good handlers) and feeling quite confident about the whole thing. My next job was to photograph and advise on the sarcoids on a middle aged cob. I could have done the job without even touching it - but I couldn't even get near enough to take a photo!! Handlers are everything.

The trickiest one on my yard is a 12 year old shetland x, who was found on a Dublin council estate with his eye so badly damaged that it had to be removed. He was divested of a magnificent set of testicles at around the same time, and learned that anyone going near his jugular vein tends to mean he loses a useful body part. Three vets have tried to IV sedate him so far - 2 older and very experienced, and one young and agile - no joy so far, even after IM sedation first. He is the canniest pony I have ever dealt with, and he is about as street smart as can be!

 

[Sossigpoker]

One of my horses picked a vet up by her pony tail! How she wasn't scalped is a miracle ! I bet that vet wished she'd been wearing a hat!

 

[follysienna]

My vet complimented me for wearing gloves and a hat while handling my ponies. I won't do anything without it. All it takes is a pheasant to fly out of the hedge. I certainly wouldn't judge any vet for wearing one, in fact I wish more more vets, farriers etc would.

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

Why do you immediately think "inexperienced" though? Experience doesn't make someone less likely to be injured by horses objecting to having a needle inserted/other procedures.
My vet doesn't wear a helmet, but she keeps one in her car, in case she is in a situation where she thinks she might need it. I wouldn't bat an eyelid if she decided to wear one every time she came near a horse - and she is a vet with 20+ years experience.

I agree and I actually read an article that said the more experienced vets are the ones more likely to get injured by horses. They become comfortable and slightly less “on alert” than a newer or inexperienced vet (according to the article anyway

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

Interesting post. I too think it's a good idea that employers should protect their staff, however I don't think it's unreasonable to equate inexperience or lack of confidence with wearing a helmet on every occasion. It's prudent to introduce work practices that keep inexperienced workers safe and that means confident, time served professionals normalise the practice.
My question is, why now ? I've been wearing a helmet to ride since the 1960s and wearing a helmet on the ground in circumstances where a fresh or fearful horse might behave unpredictably. My experience tells me to be prudent because I'm able to read the horses body language and err on the side of caution.
It's undeniable that anxious or inexperienced workers, who can't read cues, need extra protection.

I would say with a vet when you’re working with unfamiliar horses it’s always a risk no matter the horse. As several people have pointed out on here already their usually quiet horses have struck vets and injured them. I have the same experience of a usually well behaved horse on our yard, good in every way, but was extremely needle phobic, and would rear up the moment a needle was stuck in (no matter how much time our execellent vet spent comfortable and getting to know the horse before hand). So in my mind it’s always better safe than sorry.