Posted: 14th October 2022 | Back to news feed
When you run an equine business, horses are vital members of your team. Whether you are a racehorse trainer, riding school proprietor or professional rider, horse welfare will be your top priority. Therefore, having an equine vet you can rely on is essential to your business. From birth, routine vaccinations, dentistry and performance management through to lifesaving emergency surgery and end of life care, your vet will be an integral member of your team.
It’s easy to see why an equine vet you can trust and rely on is vital. This blog article explores some of the things to look for when choosing an equine vet practice for your equestrian business.
Knowledge, Experience and Understanding
Equine veterinary science is a highly specialist field. From understanding common (as well as less common) ailments and diseases, through to being able to detect and assess the most subtle case of lameness, your equine vet will be highly knowledgeable in the field of equine science.
Not only does it take several years to qualify as an equine vet in the UK, a vet who has been practising for a number of years is also hugely experienced. The more years of experience an equine vet has, the more likely they will be to have dealt with various ailments, symptoms and other problems involving equine health. This experience is highly valuable as it may enable the vet to achieve a better outcome for the horse, more effectively.
Your vet will also be a reliable source of expert advice. For equine businesses in particular, biosecurity, doping regulations and export papers are all important areas where you may require specialist advice and guidance. Therefore, when choosing a vet for your equine business, you need to ensure that they are knowledgeable in the areas that affect your business.
Specialists in the Field
Many equine vets will take a special interest in a particular field. This could be in equine reproduction / stud medicine, equine dentistry, lameness investigation or nutrition, for example. A vet that has chosen to specialise in a particular area may have additional qualifications and / or experience in that area. This could be especially valuable to clients who have specific requirements, such as a stud or racing yard.
A good equine vet practice is likely to have experts in a number of different areas. This enables the practice team to work together and take a holistic approach to the horse’s healthcare. This is especially beneficial in cases where the root cause of an issue (e.g. poor performance when ridden) could stem from a number of different areas (poor performance could result from a dental issue, poorly fitting tack, pain or discomfort in the limbs, back problems, gastric ulcers etc.).
At Avonvale we invest heavily in further training for all our vets and nurses and are proud to have certificate holders and RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioners in Equine Medicine and Surgery.
Compassionate Care
Equine vets and vet nurses are valued not only for their expertise, but also for their compassion. Horses are sensitive animals that require a calm and patient approach. A vet that understands your horse’s individual needs will endeavor to make their visit as stress-free for the horse as possible.
Compassionate care may be as simple as ensuring a horse does not become too stressed whilst having routine vaccinations or checkups. However, it may also extend to helping you make bigger and often more difficult decisions around the horse’s healthcare. These scenarios may involve deciding whether to go ahead with surgery, which treatment options to use or whether euthanasia should be considered. For some equine businesses - a competition yard, for example - the vet will need to liaise with you as the business owner as well as other stakeholders (e.g. the horse’s owner(s), coaches, farriers, etc.).
Avonvale Equine Vet Practice
Avonvale Equine Vet Practice is an independent equine vet clinic based in Ratley, Oxfordshire. Our equine vets and veterinary nurses form part of a highly skilled, experienced and dedicated team. Our client base includes a large number of equestrian businesses and commercial yards and studs.
We work closely with our clients to manage their horses’ health on an ongoing basis through our worming programmes, free zone visits, regular gastroscope clinics and check-ups. We also have full surgical facilities at our clinic, which allows us to carry out a range of routine and emergency procedures, including emergency colic surgery. Our vets are always happy to advise on various veterinary issues, and we can also certify horses to travel abroad and carry out JMB measuring services and pre-purchase examinations.
Our equine vet practice also offers 24/7 emergency call outs. As an independent equine vet practice, you will always see an Avonvale Equine vet, no matter what time of day or night you need us.
Our coverage area extends to Warwickshire, parts of Northamptonshire (including Brackley and Towcester), Oxfordshire and The Cotswolds, Worcestershire and The West Midlands. You can access a map of our coverage area here or call us on 01295 670 501 to discuss your requirements.
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