Emergency care plan

Jessey

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2004
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Suffolk, UK
I guess it's more relevant to those of you who keep your horses on your own yard, do you have an emergency care plan? how do you communicate that?

I hurt my back badly on Saturday, managed to drive home Sunday but was in pretty bad shape after that, then add brain fuzzing drugs and I barely managed to feed/check my guys Sunday night, by Monday night I had to call a friend to come and drive me to the horses, I wasn't really physically fit to do them but my brain was like treacle from the medicine the doc gave me so I couldn't find the words to explain to her what needed to be done and Jess' meds etc. And this isn't the first time I have been in this situation.

I know if I was unable to do them then my friends would rally and they would get their basic needs met (if I can get word to them) but I don't have a specific plan in place for their care. Perhaps its a little tougher because I live alone, don't keep them on livery and family is all 1.5 hrs+ away.
 
Oooh poor you, your back must be so sore - what happened? In answer - because ours are here at home, I'd be able to ask either of my horsey neighbours, assuming Mr T was also ill or looking after me. I think it's good to have backup, at our old house we had none really. Don't know how we would have coped looking back.
 
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So sorry to hear you have done your back in. Hopefully it will ease up sharpish for you.
I am much like you as I have mine on my own ground with no other horses etc I don't have a plan in place but I do have a great young girl who is my hubby's friends daughter. She is in her twenties and a very sensible girl and knowledgeable of horses and other farm animals. I know she would help me out anytime I need it and I can trust her 110%
 
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So sorry to hear you have done your back in. Hopefully it will ease up sharpish for you.
I am much like you as I have mine on my own ground with no other horses etc I don't have a plan in place but I do have a great young girl who is my hubby's friends daughter. She is in her twenties and a very sensible girl and knowledgeable of horses and other farm animals. I know she would help me out anytime I need it and I can trust her 110%
If something terrible happened or you got stranded somewhere without a phone, would she just know what to do/feed them etc? do you have a list left somewhere?
 
If something terrible happened or you got stranded somewhere without a phone, would she just know what to do/feed them etc? do you have a list left somewhere?

Yes I have a list that I leave in the feed/tack room with feed instructions for the two(as both have different feeds) and prascend dosage for both. I also have important phone numbers of vets, trimmer, other horsey friends in case she would need help. She has looked after them before though so knows the ropes. It's a great comfort to know that I have someone competent if needed.
She also has a set of keys for the yard and sheds etc
 
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This thread has prompted me to do a proper list again. Last time we ventured south my friend looked after them and I left everything ready, ie, feeds made up with labels and we use the same vet anyway. But if anything meant we had to be gone pronto, then maybe a list would be very useful and save me time stressing. All mine have different feeds and supplements and meds - so it could get confusing. Hmm.
 
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This thread has prompted me to do a proper list again. Last time we ventured south my friend looked after them and I left everything ready, ie, feeds made up with labels and we use the same vet anyway. But if anything meant we had to be gone pronto, then maybe a list would be very useful and save me time stressing. All mine have different feeds and supplements and meds - so it could get confusing. Hmm.
That's what I do when ever I am away too, as I think its too much faf to ask people to do the bit of this bit of that to make a feed routine on a favor :p
She also has a set of keys for the yard and sheds etc
My gate and shed are on number locks since I lost my keys after a weekend away with Jess last year, but inside I have various cabinets that I keep locked and most of those I only have 1 keys for, I really ought go and get another set cut, thanks for making me think of that :)
 
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Well on days where I have had a bad back, my mum has convinced my brother to feed the animals for me. He does it under protest. The animal side of things is down to me to do. He's says if you want them you do them. One off or for a few days he will do them if I'm ill. Its best if i can be there to supervise what needs doing. If he's left to it he has missed issues with the animals in the past, as he doesn't look close enough at them. So long term I couldn't rely on him. If I want hay put round in the shed hay racks. He will just open the bale and chuck wades in the racks. Where as I would fluff the wades up, so the sheep and cows eat it better. If I moan about this he tells me what I can do. So I just have to swallow it and keep quiet.
When I got crushed last year and had the boys still at the yard. I couldn't lift anything, so I persuaded him to come with me to the yard do the horses. I got him to take the hay to the field whilst I prepared the boys tea. But where as I would take the hay up the field and put in many piles round the field, he would just drop in two piles by the gate. It's not to my liking and not the way I'd do things but when your ill you just have to accept it.
With my long term health problems there have been discussions about not having the animals. Certainly if I can't do them then we would have to sell most off them.
 
My mum drove an hour and a half to come and help me when I was on crutches for weeks, I could manage basic care but pushing the wheelbarrow was impossible and after 2 weeks they were wallowing in poo and it desperately needed doing.
 
I am lucky in that daughter and I share, so we cover each other, other daughter and girl in village have covered on odd occasion both not available, we do same for the other girl but its very rare.
 
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