Tough decisions

I have some additional comments to add to the two Veterinarian’s Viewpoint articles (“Bottom Line Horse Care,” EQUUS 483, and “Needs Versus Resources,” EQUUS 485), by David Ramey, DVM. I agree that owners need to be actively involved in the decisionmaking process when considering the care and treatment their horses. Here are some observations I would add:

Adc\"iZgb dlcZgh l]d ]VkZ XVgZY for many horses gain a strong empirical education about veterinary care. We may lack the university degree, but our knowledge should not be discounted.

Idd bVcn kZiZg^cVg^Vch Vgg^kZ dc bn farm with preconceived ideas about the care an individual horse will receive. These veterinarians tend to trample over the three important questions Ramey suggests owners ask: Why? What if I don’t? and Then what?

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:kZc lZVai]^Zg ]dghZ dlcZgh ]VkZ limits to how much of a financial hit they can take for the care of a single horse. The owner might also be paying a huge sum for emergency roof repairs, for example, or be facing a health crisis that could affect future earnings. All clients need to be presented with a range of financially balanced care options.

KZiZg^cVg^Vch cZZY id Vh` VWdji i]Z background and experience of their clients. A person with one or two backyard horses might be a novice. Or that person could have previously groomed Olympic champions, worked for years at a stud farm or competed on the A-level show circuit. Do not assume either extreme. Lynn Howland Maple Valley, Washington