7 VETERINARY SKILLS EVERY HORSE OWNER NEEDS

Learning a few fundamental techniques can help you become a more valuable partner with your veterinarian when your horse is sick or injured.

As an equine veterinarian, I rely on many resources to keep the horses in my practice healthy. From the drugs on my truck to consultations with my colleagues, I draw from a variety of assets to provide the best possible care. Among those assets are my clients, the horse owners.

A well-informed owner who is capable and confident doing a few basic horse health-care tasks is an incredibly valuable partner to a veterinarian. Of course, we don’t expect our clients to be able to diagnose illnesses or perform any complex treatments---in fact, trying to do so can backfire and make a situation worse. But under the guidance of a professional, an owner with fundamental horse-care skills can play a key role in a sick or injured horse’s recovery.

If you’ve owned horses for any length of time, you’ve probably done most, if not all, of these procedures. And chances are you’re pretty good at them. Most are fairly straightforward, but it’s still a good idea to refresh your skills from time to time. In

the same way that the best veterinarians continue their educations throughout their careers, the best owners take advantage of every opportunity to improve and expand their horse-care repertoire.

The most important skills fall into one of two categories: Gathering vital information about a horse’s condition prior to the veterinarian’s arrival, and aiding in the continuation of treatment after the veterinarian leaves. Here’s a quick look at seven techniques you’ll want to know how to do, along with my suggestions for how you can do them most effectively and efficiently. (To watch me demonstrate these techniques go to EquusMagazine.com.)