ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET- GO!!
It doesn’t matter whether you are going to Europe for a ski holiday, jet-setting to a majestic beach holiday or simply staying at home- you, and everyone around you, is gearing down for some well deserved R&R over the festive season.
BUT REMEMBER- your trusty steed requires the same level of care and attention that he is used to year round.
Before you go away…
- Routine is paramount- especially when it comes to feed time. Delayed or missed meals could trigger a bout of colic, so make sure that the highlight of your horse’s day is not disrupted. Make sure your horse is still turned out and, should your horse not be exercising, look to reduce the amount of concentrates fed daily.
- Don’t leave the ordering of feed, shavings and hay to the last minute. Many suppliers close down or are short staffed, and therefore cannot deliver timeously. The last thing you want to be doing is spending your hard earned Christmas bonus on urgent deliveries that are marked up at a premium.
- The current drought conditions are an additional concern this year – make provision for any water restrictions that may be imposed by having at least 1 day’s water supply on hand.
While you are away…
- Ensure that your First Aid kit is properly stocked: Bandage material; anti-bacterial wash; thermometer; wound dressings and wound ointment/ sprays are essential.
- Institute the daily monitoring of your horse’s temperature. This can alert you to any potential illness, especially at this time of year when African Horse Sickness and other insect borne diseases are rife. Although your regular groom is familiar with your horse’s demeanour and normal attitude, your house sitter may not be, so an elevated temperature could make it easier for them to pick up a problem early on.
- Make sure your groom and house sitter have all EMERGENCY numbers. These include your Veterinarian, Farrier, Insurance Company, instructor or friend; in fact, anyone that may have a part to play should things go wrong.
Display these numbers on your feed room board or in your tack room for quick and easy access.
- Remember to have someone on standby to transport your horse if it needs to be hospitalised.
- Ensure that your Veterinarian and anyone other person entrusted with your horse’s care know your feelings towards serious or life -threatening injuries and disease, such as colic.
What about Insurance?
- Note that if you only have life cover, you will not be paid out if you choose humane euthanasia instead of incurring the cost of a potentially life saving surgery or treatment.
- If you have critical care/ colic surgery cover, ensure that your guardian knows exactly what to decide in the event that you cannot be contacted. In addition, make sure they understand your feelings towards surgery – if you don’t feel comfortable subjecting your older horses to colic surgery, but feel the younger ones are more suited, be sure to let them know.
- Remember that insured horses may not be treated by anyone other than a Veterinarian. Ensure that no one is going to be administering pain killers or other medication to your horse unless it has been seen to and prescribed by a Veterinarian.
Failure to comply could result in the insurance company refusing to pay out.
From all of us at Fourways Equine Clinic, we wish you safe travels and happiness over the Festive Season, and a Happy New Year!!
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
VET: Fourways Equine Clinic Emergency
082 459 0129
FARRIER:
INSTRUCTOR:
NEXT OF KIN:
INSURANCE COMPANY:
FEED SUPPLIER:
TRANSPORT COMPANY:
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
VET: Fourways Equine Clinic Emergency
082 459 0129
FARRIER:
INSTRUCTOR:
NEXT OF KIN:
INSURANCE COMPANY:
FEED SUPPLIER:
TRANSPORT COMPANY:
