What would YOU do?

Persephone

Persephone

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Ok, here is the scenario.

Greener than grass novice buys a 5 year old ex racer. Horse seems nice enough but obviously it IS a 5 y/o TB. The horse is on a yardful of DIY people.

Said horse has been slightly off all day, off his food, up and down in the field. Just not quite right IMO. I pointed this out to the owner and was told " he is tired" (the horse has done nothing since arriving a fortnight ago)

This evening the horse comes in from the field, with cuts all up the insides of the hind legs, just superficial, and large area but still superficial scrapes on his hips, top of quarters, head, neck, shoulders. He didn't want to put one hind leg to the floor and the legs were quite warm. Two of us stated that we would have the vet to him were he ours, especially as there was the funny behaviour earlier. Horse is put in stable, liquid diarrhea, won't eat drink and keeps getting up and down although not rolling. When he is down he is groaning and looking at his side.

Again I stated that I would have the Vet this evening were he mine. Ignored again. Then the owner leaves, asking me to watch him while she gets some phone credit and rings a vet. I agreed. An hour later I am still waiting, no answer on her phone, horse is getting steadily worse. Against my better judgement I had no option but to leave the horse and drive to her house to say he's worse. As I parked up, she arrived behind me in her car complete with takeaway bags as they decided to eat before phoning a vet
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I don't think I managed to get through to her that this horse needs a vet ASAP.

This is not my responsibility but I am very worried for the horse.

What would you do in this situation?
 
Was the YO not around? At our yard, we have a rule that if the YO see fit to call the vet, then the vet must be called (if you dont, she will!) and owner of the horse must pay the fees, its in a written contract. I would have phoned the vets when she didnt return. tbh, I personally dont think this woman deserves a horse!
 
I have just given the Y/O the lowdown in case she doesn't pull her socks up.

I would have done it sooner but there was no answer and he just rang back, so at least there is a back up now. Felt like an awful telltale though.

I seriously don't think she was intending going back up there, and I feel awful and I want to be there for the poor horse, but he's not mine.

I really don't know what else I could do.

What could I say to her apart from your horse has colic, he could die?

I would like to feed her packets of refreshers, sherbert dips, two litres of really nasty lemonade, put her on a roller coaster, then deny her alka seltzer.
 
If the YO won't/can`t take up the slack, then I would volunteer to stay at the yard with the horse (purely for the horses sake) If novicy owners are seriously so clueless then maybe need a little advice by example.
It would be a pity if the poor animal died in the process of them learning a big lesson, so I for one, would do my best to show them how decent responsible/owners behave.
Of course if they re the ignorant type you may never get anywhere with them, but maybe you will help the poor horse on this occasion.
you can't really walk away can you?
 
Phone your YO. They have a duty of care now under the new Animal Welfare Act I believe? This is shocking and I cannot believe how this girl chooses to ignore someone with experience telling her her horse is ill.
 
On my yard the YO has put a clause into the contract about horses being in such a condition as to require veterinary treatment then if the owner cannot be contacted the YO will arrange a vet and cost passed on to owner. Don't know what else you could have done, its a difficult position to be in. Hope she has put her takeaway in the oven and called the vet now!!
 
I would have spoken the YO prior to leaving the yard to find the owner.

Will be interesting to read your update post tomorrow morning.......
 
Normally I wouldn't walk away, but tonight I had no choice.

You would not believe the hours I have invested trying to help this woman. Unfortunately she only listens to advice that suits her. Getting a vet involves money so obviously doesn't suit.

Anyhow Y/O is aware now, so that's out of my hands right? Still feels bad though.

She has made me so angry tonight.
 
If I had a mobile I would have suggested she use that to call vet to save her time.

Does the horse have a temperature? I would be calling the vet if my pony was not eating - it is often a sign of fever - also pony is very greedy.

Agree if my pony is ill I actually can't eat as I get so worried about him. Obviously the owner is not worried and is ignorant about the state of her horse - I would maybe have said to her that you had seen a horse with symptoms like that before that was very ill and had to be PTS so you are worried and perhaps that might persuade her to call vet.

I hope the horse is ok.
 
He wasn't in unfortunately. Anyhow he knows now, and he knows what I think about it.

I tried phoning her so many times and it went straight to answerphone so I had to leave. Didin't want to leave him unattended obviously.

The best bit was that when I got to her house she said "Know any vets numbers"? Turned out she's not actually registered with one yet.
 
Our livery contract stipulates (I think) that the YO can call out the vet if needed - and our YO is fabulous, no way would she let a horse suffer like that
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In your scenario I would have spoken to YO and made him/her call a vet, then would have hoped the owner choked on her flipping takeaway
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Such a difficult situation.
I think during the period when she asked you to be responsible for him (while she had takeaway priorities to deal with) I would have phoned the vet.
I would have texted her to tell her, saying I had called the vet on her behalf as I couldn't get hold of her, and he was worse.
And I'd have waited til she or the vet reappeared, I think.
It is so tricky though.
S
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Hurrah just got a call from her. The vet has been, he had colic (really?) he has had two jabs and he should be fine. Phew.

It was only after talking to the vet that she realised how serious it could have been and she will be up there every 2 hours overnight as instructed.

Thank goodness for that!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hurrah just got a call from her. The vet has been, he had colic (really?) he has had two jabs and he should be fine. Phew.

It was only after talking to the vet that she realised how serious it could have been and she will be up there every 2 hours overnight as instructed.

Thank goodness for that!

[/ QUOTE ]

Good news.
I can tell how relieved you are.
S
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Oh goodness I hope so. I hate to see anything suffer, but I don't know the legal ramifications of just taking over.

Anyhow hopefully this will be the first and last incident like this.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
Was the YO not around? At our yard, we have a rule that if the YO see fit to call the vet, then the vet must be called (if you dont, she will!) and owner of the horse must pay the fees, its in a written contract.

[/ QUOTE ]

We have the same - if I think a horse is ill and livery is not instantly contactable I would call the vet and they are liable for costs. Only had to do it twice - once with horse who broke her leg in the field and the other time when an "experienced" friend looked after one horse and fed it a bucketful of unsoaked sugar beet.
 
Gosh, so glad the horse is going to be ok. Hopefully now your YO can have a word and hope that she listens. Honestly, there are so many people out there who crave ownership of a horse and would be utterly devoted (as you all are) and then there are people like that who ruin a horse and so ruin the experience
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Silly. That horse was so lucky to have you on his side. Hugs hun.x
 
Thanks PF I am feeling rather frazzeled lol!

I am hoping that now the vet has told her the same as I did that she will listen next time.

Just glad it worked out this time, the horse is a real sweetie but overwhelmingly unsuitable for her at this time.
 
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