Which vet would you choose?

[Malibu_Stacy]

I've recently moved to just south of Harrogate and need a vet but I'm having trouble deciding which one - can you fine people please offer opinions/ thoughts?

Trawling the forum it seems Rainbow in Malton get superb reviews BUT they are just over an hour away from me, which I have to admit I find offputting in case of emergency.

Minster are closer (both Ripon and York branches about 40 minutes away) but they seem a bit marmite, with a few people swearing off them, but not giving reasons.

Malcolm Whitehead (Galtes) is also about 40 minutes away, seems a much smaller practice but generally positive reviews. I think my next door neighbours are with him, so there is also the potential for shared callouts. I've always been with larger practices though, what is emergency cover like with a smaller practice?

Park Hill (Hutchison Dunlop & Baird) is closest (25 mins away) but very little either positive or negative on them. They also seem very mixed specialist with vets working on both small animal and equine.

Any thoughts? Feel free to pm - thank you all

 

[Dazed'n'confused]

Will PM you!

 

[Malibu_Stacy]

Will PM you!

Thank you

 

[Carrots&Mints]

Hirds are over yorkshire way (bradford maybe) heard they are top vets

 

[Malibu_Stacy]

Hirds are over yorkshire way (bradford maybe) heard they are top vets

Thanks, think as with Rainbow they are possibly a bit far away?

 

[Identityincrisis]

I've heard good things about Rainbow. Just from personal experience, I've used an equine specialist vet who was approx 3/4 to 1 hour away but as they did so much work over our way time was never an issue if you had an emergency, perhaps that might be the case here?

 

[Princess Rosie]

Bishopton vets are very good and cover harrogate. I don't think Hirds will come that far. I went with Bishopton as heard a few stories about rainbow and I'm now closer to york and minster are ridiculously expensive.

I now use Jenny from Ridings Equine and just checked and she covers harrogate also, she is an amazing vet and as it's her practice and she mobile based she doesn't have the overheads other vets have, she also does region days so you can get a reduction on the call out fee on certain days and if you're on a yard with 5 or more registered with her then you get a free monthly vet visit (no call out fees) for routine work.

 

[pip6]

Don't be put off by smaller practices. They get cover for difficult things from larger practices by referral, and you get your named vet rather than whoever is on that day. Great to get same vet, builds really consistancy in horses treatment and they know your horse. We use a 3 vet practice, they are fab. Our vet lives just down road and knows all our neds on a personal level, and we can really trust him to handle them well.