Work-horse balance
Vet Katie Brickman
Katie Brickman is a full-time equine veterinary surgeon. She lives in Welburn, North Yorkshire, owns three horses and events up to BE100 level. A typical day…
I get up at 5.30am and go straight to the yard, unless I’m on call, in which case I go to the yard in the evening. My horses are on an assisted livery and I only have to muck out at weekends. Everything else — riding, feeding, grooming — I do myself seven days a week. I will usually eat something like a banana for breakfast and I take a coffee to the yard. It’s 15 minutes from my house, but it doesn’t matter if I smell like a horse at work, so I don’t need to go home and shower first. I work from 8.30am until 5.30pm, but tend to finish later. I then return to the yard to check the horses are OK before going home, having a shower and something to eat, then sitting down to watch television or do some work towards my orthopaedic certificate. I try to eat healthily, except on Friday night when I often buy a takeaway. I tend to plan my meals at the start of the week, otherwise I end up eating rubbish.
The commute…
I run the Ripon branch of Minster Equine Vets and spend most of my time dealing with sport horses with performance issues, as well as routine work. The clinic is 40 minutes from the yard, but I usually have calls out on the road as well, so my commute can be anything from 15 minutes to over an hour.
Fitting in the horses…
I have three horses. Mary is coming out at BE90 level this season, Flash is at BE100 level but currently recovering from an injury and Millie is a home-bred filly. She is three and just starting to be backed. I try to ride Mary and Flash before work. Sue Hirst, who runs the livery yard, will leave both horses in for me after their breakfast to save time. After work, I lunge or long-rein Millie. I like to have plenty of time for my sessions with her so that if anything goes wrong I have time to sort it out.
Finding time for family…
I organise my own eventing competitions and training, but I rely on my mum to take me places in our lorry. I couldn’t manage without her. My other half, Rob, has become a forced horsey person over the 12 years we’ve been together. On our second date, he even helped me muck out.
How I got my job…
I always wanted to be a vet. I’ve had horses since the age of nine and worked really hard to get into vet school. I went to the Royal Veterinary College in London for five years and, in my fourth year, we started rotations between the equine, small animal and farm departments. It was when I was tasked with looking after a sick
Sometimes I feel like I’m being pulled in a million different directions, but I just try to prioritise
foal that I realised I wanted to specialise in equine practice.
When I’m on call…
I’m on call one in every five weekends, plus one night every week. We try to make it so that the vets covering the weekends either side of the week are not on call during that week. Being on call at weekends starts at 5pm on Friday and finishes at 8am on Monday, so it can be tiring if you get a busy one.
Finding time to train…
I have one lesson at the weekend or after work, especially in summer. I’m a firm believer in not overdoing my horses and my regular riding is hacking to build up their stamina and strength without putting undue pressure on their tendons and ligaments.
The best part of my job…
The most satisfying part is seeing a horse and rider progress from having lots of problems to returning to competition, often at a higher level, after we have diagnosed and treated a problem. From personal experience I know how much our horses mean to us, and how frustrating it is when things aren’t going to plan and there seems no clear reason why.
The worst part…
Having to say goodbye to horses. I become emotionally attached and making that difficult decision is always hard. The worst bit about competing is studs. I hate putting them in, even though they’re so important.
Managing stress…
Life is hectic and my job can be stressful. Horses are a different type of stress, but riding relaxes me. Rob and I tend to go on holiday in November when my horses also have a break. People think I’m mad filling my life with horses, horses, horses, but I feel privileged to be able to help them and their owners.
Juggling it all…
Sometimes I feel like I’m being pulled in a million different directions, but I just try to prioritise. This may mean I miss a trip to the cinema (because I need to sleep!), but I love my life and all the horses in it. I wouldn’t change that for the world.