Only this chap could be out overnight in this weather and come in with his tail looking like this! 💎🤍
Post-Op Livery - First Day
❓What does post-op livery look like? ❓
Something no horse owner wants to find out, until they’re in that position! We thought we’d show you a step-by-step of a post-op horse’s first day with us.
This poor chap has recently undergone colic surgery, and was discharged today from Chine House Equine Hospital💚
This is what his first day was like ⬇️
🚛 Arrived from the hospital and got settled in his new stable, in this case with wet hay ready for him
🌡️ Temperature taken and general observations made
🪡 Surgery site and dressing checked
💉 Passport and vaccinations double checked
📝 Discharge paperwork read and clarified with owner
💊 Medication noted down and secured in our meds cabinet
🔍 Supervised throughout the day
🍽️ Fed an appropriate dinner, wet mash in this case. Red buckets are used for horses on medication
🎥 Monitored throughout the evening and late at night on our stable camera, as well as in-person night checks from onsite staff
It can be a very daunting experience to have a horse undergo surgery, especially in an emergency. We are here to ease your worry, and to give your horse the best shot at a straightforward recovery 💪🏼
Wilma showing us just how much she loves the TheraPlate! TheraPlate treatments are great for Wilma, as they help to reduce stiffness in her joints as well as helping to manage her CPL symptoms 💪🏼
🩸WOUND CASE🩸 ⬇️
Here we have 21yo Quarter Horse gelding, Ebby 🧡
It seems as though poor Ebby was a little too inspired by the Olympics this year, and fancied trying his hand at gymnastics! He has previously undergone sarcoid removal via laser, which left a significant area of scar tissue around his stifle and sheath. Unfortunately scar tissue is much less flexible and supple than it would have been before, and this can leave it susceptible to tearing. The likely event is that Ebby slipped in the field and did the splits, leaving this rather enormous injury for his poor mum to find in the morning - he had torn almost completely from his stifle to his scrotum.
Luckily for Ebby, his mum was straight on the phone to us, and he was brought to ours and met by Tom (Chine House Equine Hospital) who assessed him.
As you’d imagine, given the very limited options in terms of bandaging or suturing due to the wound location, treatment has been steady and conservative. The wound has been diligently cleansed twice daily with Vaseline applied to the legs to prevent skin burns, and he has of course had a course of antibiotics and pain relief.
Ebby did develop an interesting (but not too unusual) complication, where air is ‘sucked in’ through the wound and becomes trapped under the skin - this is known as subcutaneous emphysema. This does create an added risk of air being trapped around the lungs and restricting breathing, so we closely monitored Ebby’s respiratory rate throughout each day. To reduce the spread of air Ebby was strictly box rested, as more movement means more air being pulled into the wound.
He has also received Low Level Laser Therapy treatments twice daily, and we have applied Manuka honey from Day 14 onward.
The wound is looking superb at this stage, the emphysema has completely gone and he has begun his daily handwalking. We are hoping to keep the tissue quite mobile as it heals, with the aim of preventing a similar incident occurrin
Naked days are finally starting 🤩☀️
It was a late one last night, but after waiting for the winds to die down we finally managed to get the first few horses moved into our new home 🏡
We spent the earlier part of the day prepping the stables and finishing off the fencing, went and collected the horses and finally tucked into our (very glamorous) dinner at 10pm 😴
Looking forward to getting the last couple of horses moved today, then the real fun begins 🎉
Jess McLeod Eventing
Lots of you that have been to the yard will have met my right hand woman Jess, and tomorrow she jets off to Australia!! 🇦🇺🐨
Luckily for us she’ll be back in April, but how could I resist putting together a little highlights reel before she leaves 🤪
Whilst obviously not looking to replace Jess (not sure we could!), we may be on the lookout for an extra pair of hands to help in the yard until she’s back. No rehab experience or riding necessary, but you MUST be confident and capable handling fresh and young horses. As you can see there’s plenty of fun to be had - self-inflicted pitchfork injuries optional 🏥🚑
If anyone can recommend a reliable yardie then please tag or pass on!
🦠 BIOSECURITY 🦠
A vital aspect of our routine here at HQ, and not something we take lightly!
💚All stables, stable fronts, walkways and tools are disinfected twice daily with a broad spectrum, animal-safe disinfectant.
💛In addition to this, all new and visiting horses are temperature checked, looked over on arrival for signs of ill health and are required to be fully vaccinated.
💙Our feed buckets are colour coded for each horse, and washed daily. Separate scoops and stirrers are always used for medicated horses to prevent cross-contamination.
🧡Therapy equipment and is wiped down between uses, and our TheraPlate is sprayed down between each horse.
We understand this is often a topic at the forefront of owners’ minds when sending their horses away, so we are always very happy to discuss our yard protocols with anyone who has any questions 😁
One more sleep!! 🎅🏼🌙
Our Christmas Eve prize is one of our biggest, with huge thanks to Imogen Moon ABIPP - Equine & Dog Photographer!! Imogen has very generously given a TWO HOUR long, PRIVATE photoshoot - perfect for capturing special moments and memories that will last a lifetime 🤍
Winning this fantastic prize (and hopefully having a very Merry Christmas) is Beth Kerslake! ⭐️
Huge congratulations Beth, we’d love to see how the pictures turn out 📸
It’s Christmas Eve Eve!
Today’s lucky winner will receive a private lesson with international rider Laurence Hunt Eventing 🤩
That person is … Claire Duffin! Congratulations Claire, please get in touch to claim your prize 🐎 🎅🏼
